The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-10-06

prlnteo or not rests in the discretion
of the editor, having reference TO his own
private interest and to his apprehension
of the public good. Nor is he bound
to give any reason for his refusal. It is
purely in his discretion whether ho will
admit reply to anything that has ap.
peared in his columns. No one has right
to demand it, Courtesy and policy may
grant it, but the right to it does not exist y
Then again "the advertiser acquires no
moro rights in the newspaper than the
subscriber. He is entitled to use the
space for which he pays by the insertion
of such material rs is approved by the
editor. He gains no interest in any
other part Of the paper, and has nc more
claim to any space in the editorial col.
umn than any other one Of the public.
10 give him such space would be unhus.
inesslike, and the extension of q prefer.
encc which would be unjust to the rest of
the public. Nothing more quickly de.
slroys the character Of Il journal, oegets
distrust of j., and 80 reduces is value,
than the we'll founded suspicion that its
editorial columns are the property of ad.
vertisers. Even religious Journal will
after awhile, be injured by this" There
is nothing in all this to affect what to
most people is the most important
aspect Of the newspaper, the editors re.
sspons!bility to the public for its contents.
Mr.. Warner says:
1T is sufficient briefly to say, here.
that it is exactly tho responsibility
OF every other person in socie.
ty-the full responsibility Of his
opportunity. He has voluntarily
taken position in which he can do n
great deal of good or great deal of evil,
and he should be held and judged by his
opportunity. II is greater than that of
the preacher, the teacher, the congress.
man, the physician. He occupies the
loftiest pulpit; he is in his teachers desk
seven days in the week; his voice can be
heard further than that of the most
lusty foghorn politician; and often,
am sorry to say, his columns outshino the
shelves of the druggist in display of pro-
prietary. medicines. Nothing else ever
invented has the public attention rs the
newspaper has, or is an influence 30 con.
slant and universal. It is this large op-
portunity that has given the impression
that has given the impression that the
newspaper is public rather than a pri.
Vate enterprise"
This is true to the letter. The news
PuPei mas enormous power Tor good and
for evil, and when that power is abused
the penalty is sure to follow.
In South Carolina and in the South
generally there has been very errone-
GUS and mischievous idea of the func.
tions of the newspaper. 1t has been
regarded usually rs public property,
which everybody has a right to control
except those who pay the weekly bills.
That sort of thing is incompatible with
independence in journalism. The news
paper is the absolute property of its own
ers to do with as they please, and their
self-interest, to take no higer motives
into account, can be depended on to
cause the newspaper to move in harmony
with the best thoughts and interests Of
the. people amongst whom i: circuates
and from, whom it deri7es the buff of its
support Ne,Os and Courier.