Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-16

SAID and written about the freedom 81 the
press but it can safely bc c0ntended that the
press Possesses MI the freedom that IL necessary
In q country where the expression OF honorable
sentiments the defense Of the grandnst princi.
pies and tOlcia, consideration Ut all religious
and political questions are esteemed thc culni
nations Of refinement education and civilization
That the drift Of the popular !ninl Is upwaid and
elevating IL III a great measure due to t!.a ever
increasing influences and ever extending faeili
ties OF knowledge afforded by the press.
Ny practical experience AZ journalist has
chiefly been that Of news.edtor, and II were
asked to state ~ the result Of observation what
considered the deficiency of the Southern press,
should say that not enolgh time or space Is
devoted to the home interests and 10 the enc0f'
agencnt and development Of the mechanical, in.
'lustrial and intellectual pursuits OF the home
people.
Beyond doubt, the first great purpose Of the
Newspaper il the news The news! How
seldom do we stop to think how mach Is implied
IN that one word. 1t means Livingstone search.
Africa-LivingstOnc dying and Stanley IN a
brave expedition for his relief. II means Sir
John Franklin. the Engl;shnan amid the eter.
nal SHOWS Of the North barred only by NOM.
taitis OF ice from the open sea beyond. 1t means
Kane the American. on like expedition and III
thr lame Of humanity searching for the lost
nobIeman. IT means the greed Of the United
Kingdom for dominion In India, it, Slow but
sure processes OF c0nairsts, aud the equally
slow but sure establishment OF Western ideas III
!hc Orient. 1t means the chaos OF the Southern
Ecpnplics-thc incidents ofsnperst.tion and reli-
glons bg0try which marks them rs less peaceful,
less prosperous, and therefore less happy than
the Aztec powers they supplanted. II means
the steady drive OF the railroad spike on the
longitudinal line towards Mexico and soon to
drive ont The modern type, OF ancient cruelty
ami establish agriculture, commerce, laws and
peace. 1t means Prof Crookes estimating the
motive power ola ray of light 1t means the
plcythcmo.,aph mensinjDg thought aith the
same accuracy that the sensation Of pain Is
measured. II means Darwin with hi. phiioso.
ply Of evolution which has startled the intel.
lrctual world. 1t means the Nihilists of Russia
and Communists rverywhere-cruel and indie.
ftnsib}e, bat who attest the itstinctivc revolt Of
the human mind at tyranny and oppression. 1t
means the suicide whose violent ending brings
into view sometimes the f0lles of Ihisspcnt
life and sometimes mans inMlmanity to man. y
1t means the robbery and plumber Of public Off.
Gals that warn us of the decay Of private con.
rienrc, Of public morals and Of public laws. 1t
means all these and other events IA endless IN
human actions and the physical changes OF the
earth all showing the progress man Is making
towards the still unseen pinnacle Of excellence.
! lhc greatest mistake that an editor can make liz
that ut running his paper il, "a mere partizail
groove: No man who talks at the end Of pen
can afford to have this label or even snsp iciol
Of It attached to his name. He must be free and
unbiased in his convictions or the power Of his
differences, even with those whom lc has to
serve is greatly diminished. The enthusiasm Of
Il raifizan Is practically worth very little, fol
partizaEship is always blind and arguments that
are stnltlfird by prejudice can carry very little
weight to the mind Of any man who is inlepen
dent enough to think.
The strongest fight an editor has TO make i.
against popular plcjudccs. The greatest victory
that he has owin il TO induce his readers to the
adoption of liberal opinions and the progressive
modes of Thought.
In the great trade centres of or land tho
might OF the printed work is almost ncalcnla
bic, and by an inverse process Of reasoning
conclude that as we iccrdc from these centres Of
civilization and knowledge, the influence OF the
NEWSPAPER because of the practically utter alb
seneca. contradiction ploportolat.ly increases
and beyond those States whose hills and valley,
and fertile meadow lands are ribbed with stec
rails and strung together with the wirrs Of III,
telegraph. the isolated populations become il
almost III indefinite degree dependent npon thei,
nearest newspaper for their knowledge of eur
rent events and for the formation OF their opin
ions on e.iI9tht topics.
!, this splendid, iillow State Of ours has made til,
turn, and il slowly but surely on the move to
wards a better era and climax OF peace, cultuI
and prosperity. At present. while the railroad
and telegraph wires that will some day lock he
IN frequent towns and villages in long ant
friendly chain are mostly only IN the minds ey'
! of the capitalist the editors Of the State have i
; all their own way with a responsibility ftst;n.
upon them that can hardly be ovclestimated il
its Importance.
The Louisiana editor has no mere partisan
mission to perform. His duties take highr
range. He should exert his influence against III
sectional prriuticcs that unfortunately in
measure, still, exist III the minds of our people
The triumph nt freeing the popular mind from
prejudice is within his grasp, and the editor win
rises above the influences Of partizanship, whe
Their in poiiIics "r in morals, who sees things a
they are and tries to make them what they ough
to b" who adopts for hia motto that grand ol,
wAtchwOrd, ''TrnriplrS-nDt men, Is bound (.
acquire the leadership of the people about him
and to carry them with him into the realms o
more exalted thoughts and nobler actions. Their,
is an enthusiasm in the Right, an elogncnce il
the Good that all tn. unfortunate victories of tn,
cneniics of the right and the good have not sue
rrrdcd in crushing ont Of our people, and il il
with the right and with the good that every in
terest Of the Pres, should b. intimately ilen
tiled.
The Chair stated that the proceeding.
Of the Convention and Association wonlG
be published in supplement and pam
phet form by the Secretary, and fur
nishcd at cost in such numbers as Nigh,
be required.
Mr.. WoodcOck offered this resolution
with view to reference to the EXccu.
tive Committee:
| Resolved That it be a custom of the
Association to make choice at each meet
ing Of the subjects proper to be cOnsi,l.
cred by this body, >nch as subscriptions,
advertising, etc., and assign an indivi
dual member to each, to report his views
at the next meeting.
There being no objection, the Chai,
declared the resolution referred to the
Executive Committee.
The President called the attention OF
the members Of the Executive Commit.
tee to the importance Of their functions
and suggested an efficient performance
of their duties as essential to the well.
being of the Association.
Mr.. Jastrcmski expressed his gratih-
cation at the pleasant and successful
character Of the reunion and the forma
-. u l.. 4 I ~