The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-10-06
Tho Newspaper-To Whom Does II BE.
long and Why Is II Published,

nying themselves the satisfaction and
advantage of reading it any longer, is the
Anderson LnfeiGgencer, which opposes
the proposed repeal of the law. II is
presumed that the irate Andersouians
had not paid for their paper in advance.
When newspaper has been paid for in
advance the reader rarely does more
than resolve, in moment of irritation,
that he will not renew his subscription,
and by the time that ak or twelve months
have passed he has occasion to get in q
good humor again. When the stopping
OF paper causes the subscriber to lose
something that he has actually paid for, he
Is apt to pause and consider. In saving
1t expense the stoppage then will DO the
newspaper good instead of harm. SO we
suppose the Andersonians had not paid
for their paper, and felt entirely indepen-
dent. So docs the InteAigcncer That
paper improves the occasiOn BY giving
its readers generally some wholesome
talk, the gist of which is that it does not
expect or try to agree with every person,
and that "the newspaper which does is
no account" The InteNigcncer then
says:
PUBLIC questions arise continually,
and as they come up we are expected to
present our views upon them. We have
always done SO freely, cRndidly and as
plainly as we have been able, and intend
rs long rs we remain in journalism 10 do
so. 1t is not TO be expected that we shall
always agree With the opinions enter
tanned by all of our subscribers, or even
majority of them, and we never stop
TO inquire whether VIC are in accord
with their views or not. We give our
opinions for what they are worth, and
any subscriber or citizen who desires to
combat them will be afforded the amplest
opportunity of doing so. In all impor.
tant issues the course of the HteAigencer
has been clear and unmistakable. We
do not now intend to be lodging about
in search ofthe popular side Of any ques-
tion, and if our friends want to advance
their opinions it must be by arugments
published to combat our arguments.
They cannot drive us by dictation to any
course. The paper which can be turned
from its true opinions by popular camor
or by considerations as to the effect the
expression of its opinions may have on
its subscription list, is either pitifully
weak in ability or deplorably currupt in
its morals. We shall continue to adyo.
cate what we believe to be right and op.
pose what we think wrong or injurious,
whether the majority be with or opposed
to US on any question"
This is manly and right, and the Intel
igencer does service 10 the press of the
State in speaking 80 plainly. Nowhere
is there more apparent confusion
concerning the relations of the press
to the public than in South Carolina,
and it all flows from inability or unwill.
ipgness tc realize the simple truth that
the newspaper belongs to those who pub
lish it and not to those who read it.
Mr.. Charles Dudley Warner, of the
Hartford Courant, puts this clearly in
Science Association. Mr.. Warner said :
The newspaper is private enterprise.
It's object is to make money for its owner.
Whatever motive may be given out for
starting newspaper, expectation Of
profit by it is the real one, whether the
newspaper is religious, political, scien-
tihc or literary. The exceptional cases
of newspapers devoted to ideas or
causes without regard to profit are SO
few as not TO effect the rule. Commonly
the cause, the sect, the party, the trade,
the delusion, the idea gets its newspaper,
Its organ, its advocate, only when some
individual thinks he can sec pecuniary
return in establishing it. This motive
is not lower than that which leads people
into any other occupation or profession.
To make living and to have a career is
the original incentive in all cases. Even
purely philantropic enterprises ihe driv-
ing wheel that keeps them in motion for
any length of time is the salary paid the
working members.
"The excellence of a newpaper is not
always measured by its proftableness;
1T is generally true that ifit does not pay
its owner it is valueless to the public.
Not all newspapers which make money
are good, for.some succeed by catering to
the lowest taste Of respectable people,
and to the prejudice, ignorance and pas
sion of the lowest class; but ns a rule
the successful journal pecuniarily is the
best journal. The reasons for this are on
the surface. The impecunious ncwspa-
per cannot give its readers promptly the
news, nor able discussion Of the news,
and, still worse it cannot be independent.
The political journal that relies for sup
port upon -drippings of party favor or
patronage; the general newspaper that
finds it necessary to existence to manip3
n!ate stock reports the religious week
iy that draws precarious support from
putting doubtful enterprises the literary
paper that depends upon the approval of
publishers, are poor affairs, and in the
long run or shOrtrun come to grief. Some
newspapers dosucceed by sensationalism,
as some preachers do; by kind of
quackery,, as some doctors do; by, trim.
ming and shifting to any homentary
popular prejudice, as some politicians do /;
by becoming the paid advocate of per-
sonal ambition or corporate enterprise,
as some lawyers do; but the newspaper
only becomes real power when it is
able on the basis of pecuniary indepcn-
dence to free itselfirom all such cntangle-
ments. An editor who stands with hat
in hand has the respect accorded to any
other beggar."
The recognition of the fact that the
newspaper is q private and purely bust
ness enterprise will help to define the
mutual relations of the editor and the
public. Mr. Warner says:
His claim upon the public is exactly
that of any manufacturer or dealer. 1t is
that of the man who makes cloth or the
grocer who opens shop neither has a
right to complain if the public does not
like cloth half shoddy or coffee half
chickory, he will go elsewhere. If the
subscriber does not like one newspaper
he takes another, or none. The appeal
for newspaper support Oh the ground
that such journal ought to be sustained
by an enlightened community, or on any
other ground than that it is n good article
that people want--or would want if they
knew its value-is purely childish, in