The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-11-06
ADIEUI
Thirty Years in the Editorial sanctum


connection with the JOURNAL. AS
a journalist he has done q life time
service, beginning in 1874 as Asso-
ciate Editor Of p. G. Grier with the
Augusta COnstitati0"alist, and con-
tinuing, with little interruption, as
Editor of the "Marietta Advocate"
--",he Constitutional Union"-"the
Southern Statesman and "the Ma.
rictta Journal'--embracing q period
of thirty years! Many of the ear
hest readers of his paper are read
ers of the JOURNAL to-day and they
will affirm the truth of the state
ment that throughout this moment
GUS period, he has endeavored to
promote, above all other cons'derA-
tions, the best interests of his Sec
ton and country. In doing this he
has often been painfully subjected to
the alienation of political friends
and the frowns of dominant parties
but he has never hesitated to aban-
don them or brave their displeasure,
when, as he conceived, the welfare
of the country demanded the sacri-
fee. 1t was so 10 1850 when the
Unconstitutional Union" opposed the
movement developed through the
Nashville Convention it was so in
1860 when the "Sonthern States
man" opposed separate State action
and urged the combined action OF
the Southern States with the view
that some compromise of our nation
al difficulties would be found to save
us from impending ruin; it was SO in
1868, when in the midst Of war, the
"Marietta Advocate inaugurated
the Georgia Policy" by urging
negotiation through a Convention Of
all the States, movement which
Mr.. Davis and his Commissioner
defeated at the Monroe Conference
But, he will not go over these
things again. They pro6ted hin
nothing in the past and reference i
made to them simply to illustrate
principle. 1t has been said tina
.honesty lie the best policy" In &C
cepting it, however, let Us not forge
that an eminent Poet has said, 9Th
reward Of virtue is not bread" Nc
nor ia il gold, or the gratitude Of tn
populace Far oftencr is il llemlocl
or Crucifixion in some form or 9th
or. A thorny path ye tread, oh
We lovers of truth ! Better far, I
all public affairs, you should adop
the reading Of Mr.. A. II. Stephens
that craftsmanship and demagogue
ism are the same and the mai
who best succeeds in leading tn
people or most adroitly floau8 along
hurrahing with the thoughtles
crowd, or cunningly follows II, j
the best of statesmen. In public
life this is the most astute reading
and unfortunately, lie practical truth
and based upon the fact that few
men risk martyrdom for the sake o.
truth, while oil seek their individual
advancement. The popular mind
does not readily recognize It's best
friends or benefactors--but Is al
ways a willing victim to plausible
impos.ure. Pity it is so--that aP
peals to prejudice and passion are
always more powerful than the so
Der dictates of reason--bnt il is hu
man nature.
But enough Of this. When tn
war ended Marietta aud surrounding
country was scene of desolatiOn--
everything destroyed with not a per
ceptible foothold for industry t
make q start. There were one o
two little provision stores in Mariet
ia, dealing with thoroughly imPov
erished people, and when ] Propos
ed from the then outlook, to start
paper, i, excited among my friend
q somewhat ghastly smile. But
Sherman's soldiers having left th'
frame of hand press. | sent il ia
the Messrs. Hoe 10 New York, ha ]
it rebuilt, and, with enough new ma
terial, issued in December, 1866
the first Number Of the "MARIETTA
JOURNAL" The paper, moderately
sustained, has grown with the coun-
ty and is now issued from one Of the
best appointed offices in the State.
j enjoy reward from my later edi
torial labors, more valuable than
riches, IN ,he fact, tina. the Journal
was made, from the start a beacon
light, guiding our people 10 the way