The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-16
The Model Journalist.
BY W. ]. L. HOLLAND.

BY W. J. L. HOLLAND.
Man, at the season of life when he
attains his majority, is being of error
and weakness. In the image of his Gre
ator, he stands, impotently waiting, at
the threshold of manhood, full of vigor,
flushed with hope, and fresh in the prom
lse and power of his ambition. Untaught
by experience, unburdened by mistor-
tune, he steps proudly into the arena of
life, only to be astounded Mt the strange
scenes around him, and dismayed at his
own shortcomings. Mindful of these
imperfections, he contemplates the
changeful course before him, and his
heart sinks in dreamy detection. Gath
erlng his self-possessi0n, he feels that he
is sojourner in a vast world, and that
he must be the sculptor of his own des-
tiny. Like new craft, with sails all
spread and pennants flying, he weighs
anchor and starts upon the voyage of life,
to be tossed by the waves and shattered
by the storms. And, with this brief
allusion to the beginning of mans life IN
its general application, will invite your
attention, as | shall discourse him in my
theme, to THE MODEL JOURNALIST.
A journalist is the conductor or con-
ductOr or the contributor to a public
journal. He is the brain power that
commands, moves and masters the Gree
press = he is the soul that breathes life,
action and effect into journalism he is
the genius that inspires and governs the
machinery of printing; and he is the
imperial sovereign that sits upon the
throne of liberty, and Yields the sceptre
of freedom, before which tyrants tremble
and wrong-doing crumbles away. He is
justice, H' ifmParFi6tg;' 9fRGfgpRnRor, aud
which has made them triumph in all ages
since journalism existed. He is the
champion of the people, standing like a
giant, in the pathway that leads to the
dwelling-plaee of Liberty, ready to greet
her friends or grapple her foes. For ages
his strength has been increasing, and his
influence widening, until the little pen
he Yields has become mightier than the
sword" Now, this is the journalist.
But, true experience and cultivation
have lifted from among his fellows q
loftier type of the profession. One to
whom genius has eonflded the password
to greatness, and in whom we behold
THE MODEL JOURNALIST; endowed by
nature, trained by wisdom, exalted by
education, and ennobled by virtue and
truth, he is the embodiment Of the nOblest
and grandest gifts of God to man. Pure
in thought, the soul of magnanimity, he
is the perfection of man as a journalist.
To attain this prominence is distinction
allotted to the ambition of but few men,
an event that occurs rarely in century,
an honor that shiues brighter than the di-
adem of the Caesars. We have the
model philosopher, the model statesman,
and the model soldier, the highest rank
attained by master minds, but the model
journalist outshines them all, for each
one of these he combines in his profess
sion, that he may make it complete and
perfect. l take it that model journal
ist loves his God, loves his country, loves
his people, loves his honor and his prin-
ciples, and that for the glory and veal OF
these he devotes bis labors and bestows
his life A Christian man, he walks in
the way of righteousness, sustains the
Bible, defends the church, gives TO char
| ity, loves the Lord with all his heart
and his 'neighbor as himself. With nc
creed but conscience, no religion but hii
Bible, no idol but his God, he looks 4
heaven, moving onward and upward Il
the accomplishment of his glorious mis-
/ sion,
The son of Freedom, he mingles hi
love Of liberty with his love of country
and is as quick to assist the one as he i
to guard and defend the other. He is al
advocate of measures and men who's
usefulness and worth are unquestioned
| He makes duty paramount to persona
prefernient, and invividual opinion sub
servient to public good. Laboring foI
its prosperity and progressin days of peace
and renown and triumph in days of war
his country's glory is first IN his ambition
As an evidence of his patriotic yea, no
a few of the glOries that garland he
shrine are culled and interviewer there b,
his own hands.
Being one of the people, he under
stands their needs, appreciates their Pri
! vations, and knows theirwrongss In tn
triune capacity of GUARDIAN counsellor
and champion, he stands q sleePless sen
| tinel upon the parapet Of duty, eager Z
shield them from oppression, warn then
of danger, and rescue them IN despair
He is no time-servef, no place-hunter
4 no paid partisan. Neither does he as
or accept reward, but lives to labor in tn
faithful fulfllment Of his duty as jour
nalist. Conscious of his recfitude, he
alike indifferent to applause and fearies
Of condemnation. He mOulds- publ
opinion By stating facts, originating idea
and calculating them with clearness an
aptitude. His influence over his readers
mastery Of practical language, and faul
less Judgment, together with knowledg
Of human nature, enable him 10 afor
them every advantage for forming fai
end impartial opinions. gs.a4;r ~,
Occupying position of such distin'
ton, position he Is capable Of turnin
to such good account, It is not strang
lthat he should endeavoF TO elevate b.
GhonghGs, awaken his energies and mu
i fiPly his efforts ~ heightan its aims az
"A widen itB usefulness. fa