The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-05-30

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necessity to the intellectual life of
the reading population of the Union,
as daily food is to the life of the
body. Instead of crusading against
the entire newspaper Press, tie op-
ponents of "disjointed thinking"
should confine there well-meant eff
forts to discriminating assault on
the vicious portion thereof By so
doing, disreputable, sensational
sheets will be tabooed, just as are
corrupt volumes, whose object is the
dissemination of unwholesome as
well as "disjointed thoughts" May
not the Press Association of Ten
nessee give encouragement and as
sistance in this crusade against objec-
tiOnable newspapers If not by war,
open war, then by close study and
rigid practice of the principles which
it is the purpose of this Association
to teach by practicing a courtesy
and dignity which will abase these
predatory pretenders to journalism !;
by cultiVating an elevated tone of
thought and of expression, which
these editorial "shysters" can never
reach or emulate. The power to en-
force as we'll as to decree is ours, if
we will but practice what we preach.
A well conducted Press is the great
educator of the people, mentally and
morally. 1t is the certain cOnserva-
tor of popular and governmental Or
der. And it needs no legal censor
ship to make sure that the press is
well conducted. The remedy is in
our own hands as individual mem
bers of the Press, encouraged and
aided by such Association as this
which now / address. Wherever
here is personal hostility among
members of the same fraternity, there
will be discussions and descriptions,
and a consequent lack of progress
and prosperity. Whenever, from
envy, hatred or malice, from differ
ences of opinion, or from disagree
ment between the business managers
of different papers, the personal
character of member of the Press is
assailed, there will and ought to be
personal hostility. The man, in or
out of the press circle, who submits
TO personal denunciation, and then,
without retraction, explanation or
apology, clasps the hand of his
denunciator with friendly grasp, is
devoid of self-respect, and being so,
cannot long retain the respect of his
fellow-men.
We have heard much said oflate
about schools of journalism. There
has been as yet no sufficient test of
any experiment for us to obtain any
II0ht from tho 1oVny1 "a
After having received a thorough
education in the branches generally
taught in our schools, that there are
certain further studies better calcula-
ted than others, aye, necessary, to fit
for a successful career him who in
tends to make journalism the bust
ness ofhis life, | cannot doubt. But
1t is not my purpose now to enter
upon discussion of the necessity or
propriety of establishing schools Of
journalism. If attempted the iour1l-
alistic world, at least, viii be benefit
ed by a knowledge gained from eX-
perience, whether the attempt fail or
be successful. My duty tonight is
not to speak for the future, but to
and for the Tennessee Press of to-
day, that the living present may be
improved, that we
Departing" may 'leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time"
Therefore, without eXpatiating up-
on schools of journalism, it is our
duty to our profession and to our
selves, that we do not encourage the
ignorant nor the wilful to enter up
on duties on the faithful, intelligent
and honest discharge of which de-
ponds the happiness of mspkind.
Encourage no one to enter the field
of journalism unless he feels that he
has an aptitude for the profession
and an ardent desire to become
eminent therein. If he enters upon
its labors merely as means of gain
ing, temporarily, livelihood, he
will never do honor to the profess
ion. If he desire a position on the
editorial staff only that be may be-
come deadhead, he will soon be- |
come dead-beat. If he seek, solely, |
his own political preferment he can
not serve the public, nor, very long, |
himself. / do not mean that an edi- |
tor should never hold an office, nor
ever be candidate. Upon the con.
trary, | think an editor would gain
very profitable experience by being a
every few years, especially
4 political editor. He would learn
little more OF human nature than if
he constantly, exclusively, devoted
himself TO his profession. He would
est the sincerity of those political
aspirants who would die tor him
while they are candidates. He
night perhaps learn that some of
hose who were his warmest friends
md admirers, while endeavoring to
IdVance their own aspirations,
would be his coolest supporters
when he was soliciting official posi-
ion. He might find that some of
hose who were loudest in their &C
,nowledgments of his personal worth
nd party service, would be the last
o recognize bis claims to political
IonOrs or party rewards. But to re-
urn Nor is it every educated young
nan whe is capable of making sue !
essful editor. This requires some
hing more than the pen of a ready
writer; something more than a
of books. 1t requires the
Ourage to bear and forbear, as we'll
8 the couage to do. 1t requires
Judgment as nearly infallible as is
to human nature, 1t re-
uires a prescience almost divine.
he physician may make a mistake {
4 his diagnosis or his prescription
ut none, not even his unfortunate :
atient, knows it. The lawyer may {
listake the remedy for his clients
but he escapes detection,
nder the proyerbial uncertainty of /
ne law aud the trial by jury. But ,
ne position which journalist takes,
ne policy he advocates, is publicly 7
day after day, is read and
nown of all men. If his position I
rove untenable, if his policy be
unsuccessful, then people, jealous
f their rights and watchful of their S
lterests, will be. swift to condemn.
'thers who concurred in opinion I
nd in action may escape in the
loom of silence, or in the general
,norance of their concurrence in ac-
on, but for the editor there is no :
Ouse of refuge.
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