The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-01-06
.ILAN EXCHANGE
JOURNALISM

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During the recent exciting State
canvass we have met with the remark
by a number Of eur contemporaries
that such ard such papers did not
s'represen5s the wishes and opinions of
the people In whose midst it was pub
lished. The meaning of this, in plain
English, rsust be that the paper had
no head Of It's own, but should be
blind follower Of other peoples opin-
Ions, and was merely an echo of
somebody else's ideas. And this leads
US TO remark that the newspaper that
sets up to represent somebody else ia
stead cf itssif has never risen to the
true plane Of journalism, and has no
conception Of its true dignity and po-
sitioa. Its Wanted boast that it is
free is mere bosh, since it is really
slave to others, without an idea Of
trne independence. True journalism
is free and unshackled, but it lie la
mentable to have to confess that
large majority of the American press
is utterly subservient. Instead Of be-
ing itself a teacher and an educator,
it blindly follows the opinions of 9TH
ers. 1t follows party, no matter bow
wrong the party may be. 1t is afraid
to differ with it, under a cowardiy
dread that it may be read out Of the
party. Itnever realizes that its true
mission is to teach the party rightly
and to save it from the consequences
OF its errors and blunders-to lead
and not to follow. 1t is afraid of
criticism, instead of being itself the
critic. Not that we assume that the
newspaper is infallible, and itself new
or errs, but it should only through
the medium of reason and argument
strive TO convince its readers of the
soundness and the truth of its posi-
lions. If it fails to convince, has at
least acted honestly. If its readers do
not adopt its views, it has acted fairly
towards them and done its duty.
In the conduct of the Examiner
since its foundation, over quarter
OF century ago, we have acted up
10 our own rule, and upon all public
questions have been truly independent.
In doing 50 we have had to encounter
abuse AID obloquy, but it has never
deferred US from our sense of duty.
We have very often had occasion to
differ with our own party, and with
prominent members of it. edo not
assame that we have at all times been
Tight. for that is not the lot of man.
but We have always been sincere.
The journalist that blindly follows
party will never be of any service to
his age and time and will never make
any good Impression upon it. lie
owes It to his people to deal fairly by
them nn,l To point out the right path
way. And if he knowingly acts 9TH
erwise, he is deceiving them. He
should have a mind and soul Of his
own, and be able to call it his own.
This Journal belongs to its proprietors,
and no party has a dollars interest in
it and never had. The party to which
il has attached itself has no claim up
on ii and is not, in any degree, re-
sponsihle for its utterances, for they
arc always those of its editors. 1t
"represents" no body else in the world
except them, and If those who differ
NTH it don't like it, "ihey can lump
it," as the saying is. We think for
ourselves and If that thinking displeas-
e., we regret that we cannot convince
them that We are right and they
wrong, and that is all of it. The Elk
Hminer is the only Representative" of
the Examiner. - GalIGtin Erdniner.