River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-11-09
Communicated
THE LOCAL PAPER, AND ITS Ed
ITOR.

OIdJOIS frequently ucilNCl GliC SdhiV
address to different audiences with to-
tally opposite effects. In the one case
their finest rhetorical efforts will be
met with passive indifference, in the
other they will awaken the widest
enthusiasm. What causes this differ
ence The matter, the manner, and
the zeal of the orator is the same in
both cases; but in the one case he has
the sympathy of his auditors, while in
the other he lacks it.
The sympathy of the audience is not
less essential to the success of the ora
tor than is the sympathy and aid of
the community to the prosperity of the
local paper.
No issue of the press stands i'll so
close relations to society, no periodical
is so eagerly received by the public as
the local. In it are recorded the
events that most interest our daily
lives; the thoughts, the actions, the
employments, and the aspirations, not
of distant cities and countries, not of
strangers and aliens, but of friends,
neighbors and companions.
Next to self-preservation and family
protection is the peace and well-being
of ones immediate community. The
establishment of a general government
and the framing of laws are but a
means to this end.
The past political CONFUSION of the
country is important to us, only as its
results shall secure to our neighbOr-
hood present tranquility and happiness.
Viewed in another light it concerns
us no more than volcanic eruption
on the moon.
1t is the local editor who stands be
tween us and our neighbors; who
translates to us their thoughts, when
he tells of their actions; who informs
us when our neighbor was born, when
he was married, what he sells, and
when he dies who cheerfully COM
mends to the public, goods that we
have not the brass to praise ourselves
who discourses of our learning, our
business tact, and energy, and our re-
markable talents, in way that aston
ishes us and sometimes almost induces
us to try to do something for our
selves; who notices our large potatoes,
our huge melons, our corpulent pork
ers, our beautiful residences, our
healthy babies, and our immense crops;
who acquaints the public when we
come to town and of the very pleasant
call we made; who at least, when we
have made our final exit from the
stage of life, writes us long obituary,
speaks of the appropriate and touching
remarks of the minister at the funer-
al; who stands so intimately connected
with all the amenities and necessities
of our social life, and occupies posi-
ton where he is so susceptible of SYM
pathy as is the orator before his audi.
ence.
All the philosophy of Greeley, or the
diligence of Bennett, or the wit OF
Prentice could not make a local paper
successful unless it had the sympathy
of the surrounding community.
The local editor will do more for
small pay for the town or county
where he resides than any other midi
vidual, if he can only feel that the
sentiment of the people is with him.
The future of the country and its pres
emf prosperity is due more to local ed
itors than to any other class of people
on the American Continent. Let the
local editors of the United States
unite upon one man for President, and
that man would be elected, ali the
howlings and vituperations OF state,
country, and cosmopolitan journals to
the contrary Notwithstanding. That
this engine of power, the local paper,
power of our country, should be strong,
high-minded, and valiant is impera-
tive. To give it encouragement, is
among the first obligations of every
citizen of the country. lie who will
disregard these obligations especially
when their fulfillment is so easily ac-
complished. so palpably rebounds to
his own interest, and is a source OF so
much pleasure to his family, is I'M
worthy the name of az American
citizen.