National Republican., 1873-05-06
PERSONAL goURSALisN.

Mr.. Henry Watterson, the editor Of the
Louisville CoWier-Journdi, In an address on
journalism few days ago to convention Of
editors In Indiana, gave his ideas on personal
journalism as follows ave have heard deal
OF late years about personal and iInpcrsonal
Journalism. In the press Of America we must
needs have an abundance Of personal jour
nalismi Il Is an appcndagc TO our condition as
well as result Of our character. During
our civil war Il was remarked by foreign OFF,
GERS Of experience, who had come here to OBJ
sorve the progress Of military eyents, that
individual yalor and exploits not merely count
for more with US than they do with European
armies, but that they arc required by our SOL
diery, who keep close watch on their lead
ors. This Is republican habit, and, as far
as editors are concerned, IL Is rendered the
more scrutlniEing and Inevitable by tho COM
paratiye smallneee Of our towns, which are not
large enough to afford conccalment to an lndl-
yidunl occupying q consplcuous local Ilace.
Those who read a newspaper are pretty sure
| TO nnd out who edits IL; there Is no possible
escape; the mans simple comings In and 20.
ings ont viii discover him, and just rs he
happens TO be person Of exceptional char
acter or characteristics Is he likely to be
marked and talked Of, until, being presently
very well known, and having himself charged
with all the virtues and all the ofenses of his
| JOhihhit uC ~ tuNOiuuthIhNt u ltTbDudl Jour
nalist. There Is impersonal Journalism In
England, because tho English press Is con.
Quoted by scholarly dummies, who, dwelling
In London, to which the press Is confined
are able to lead exclusive lives, and who, be,
Ing for the most part the employees Of men
who publish newspapers as they would trafiC
In breadstufis, are not paid enough or permit
ted 10 display q costly and offensive lndiyidu'
allty. In America the power Of the press |.
not consolidated In single great city. Al
tho larger towns have their journal,
and their Journalists some OF then
Of the richest and most notable. In this way
journalism with US, as In France, though fol
an opposite reason, opeps road to wealth
and fame which Is closed to the journalist Of
England, who, from necessity and not from
choice, we may he sure, leads an obscure life
and goes 10 his grave 'unwcpt, unhonored
and unsung." Men Of vigorous parts and
sound Understandings do not willingly par
with their Identity. That Is portion Of the
heritage which God has given TO mankind
our nner part for It causes us TO strive, u
labor, 10 aspire, 70 keep ourselves honorabl,
and pure, TO seek the good will and good re
port Of our fellow-men. Personalisni Is only
| Objectionable when Il becomes physically
blatant or absurd, and degenoratcs into mer,
| childish vanity or idiotic conceit. II Is consid
ored, and II Is, q most ennobling and admirn
BILE quality. when II causes Morton anC
schurE to detach themselves from the rest II
order that they, may tell millions Of theil
countrymen what they think ON this question
and on that. The journalist does not, In hi
most personal moments, display himself hal
so much as these, and, while he Is TO b
warned against using his great vehicle TO tn
mere tickling Of his own vanity, he Is surel
not to be blamed for going In Of the from
door instead Of creeping around byway o
the back alley, nor sugmatized for holding
his head mp In the face Of all the world, mo-
stbt, sed toto JeNifum &C credere n,undo."