Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-05-28

poses an editorial. Reading Of the
particulars of any important event,
at least outside of politics, in any
newspaper. and finding an editorial
on the subject, he may be surprised
to find that the editor aud himself
think just alike. Intelligent mon
arrive pretty much at the came con-
clusion OIL the generaity of subjects,
though they may take different routes
to reach the same goal, aud differ on
intermediate propositions. The press
thereforse after all, il not only the
recorder of the acts. of man, but it 10
also simply the reflector of his opiu-
ions. The benefits Of the press have
been reciprocal. AS man is advanc.
ed, the press improves. and In return
still further advances man.
But there are after all u great many
diverse, varied aud antagonistic
opinions among men. They are col
ored by individual character, local
prejudices aud surrounding oiroum-
stances. The newspaper brings these
various opinions hope TO each aud
every person. Each aud every per-
sou reads his own opinion aud
that of every other person.
There are three conditions Of
MUD in tho intelligent, t,paper-resdin z
citizen. They originate in reading
things that he believes, things that
| he does not believe, and things that
he does not know whether to believe
or not. .' s.'saah.1 f- q
In this constant attrition grows up
All in ipter-dependence of judgment, aud
he finds himself frequently going
through this mental experience, viz:
That the things believed true are un.
| true, that the things relieved untrue
are true, and OH the other proposition
we will leave him still in doubt.
Now, this character is reflected In The
newspaper. 1t is subject to the res.
sonable laws of evolution. Aud any
one who will examine the files of tho
great papers of the land only for
few years past will bs surprised to
find how much more rapidly evolu-
tiou acts in the mental than the
physical world.
In presenting observations on the
| character of the American press Of
to-day l would not be doing the sub.
| ject justice II 1 failed to sketch some
of the traits of the editor. All pre-
'essions stamp their followers with
Exception 90 the general rule. Like
all the rest of US, he 10 of the earth,
earthly, and peculiarly human. What
[ mean by human 10 that ae 10 an
observer and student of human No.
ture, and that always eulsrges ones
mind aud improves ONES heart. He
is u pretty fair type of the American,
Ia hol ~ M orb nd ohnN 80 navO-
at least, in all the virtues. He takos
things philosophically. and 10 rather
INCLINED TO BE TOLERANT.
He ought to be. He hss seen bis
most cherished opinions trampled
down, idols destroyed, his heroes
knocked down aud his party crushed.
Yet still he is no pessimist. He has
faith in man, faith In right and faith
i'll God. The slough of, depend he
avoids, and warns others from It.
His loves are strong, his friendships
firm and his dislikes equally 90. He
has his faults, his iolliss, his feibles
and his prejudices l shall not
analyze them, nor will l-dwell upen
the faults of the newspapers. In
looking at a. painting of genius typi.
flying All immortal idea sie CRATES
harshly on the ear to have noble re-
hections inspired by genius msr-
red by the qusrulous criticism
of detail aud formality. So
with my subject to. day. In
the light of magnificent achieve
ments and possibilities 1 eau not Stop
10 point to aud expatiate on insieni6.
cant faults that time will cerrect. But
about the editor, again. He 10 usually
independent and always fearless. He
has his ideas ON every subject, from
the manner of slauyhtering beef.
killing dog or punishing x"J0i.
prit, to commanding an army, select
ing a president or governing o ma
ton. He is just aud fair in every.
thing except politics. Euter that
domain in time Of a heated campaign
aud he Is another person altogether.
But there are hopes from evolution
here. And take him all in all, he 10
a very worthy representative In the
advanced guard Of civilization aud
progress.
have now presented in q desulto..
ry way some observations on the
character of the press, and ct the
same time suggssted elemeats OF in.
fiuence. 1t would be ., .aource OF
| pAooSuiO w uAO W AWOA uROA VbOVg
characteristics, to call attention 70
qualities Of honesty, Independents
and capacity in every field Of iutsl.
must hurry to Q conclusion. In eur
free land the influence of the press 10
almost supreme. 1t is because, Of the
possession of the very qualities
| have detailed.
1t is the voiced opinion Of pSUple
bent on exalting the standard 0flo ua.
tlOnality symbolizing the better els-
ments and aspirations of our nature.
and guaranteeing in its strength eli
tue rights belonging to Edmanlty.
Gentlemen Of the Association, you
are soldiers iu the army Of iutSlioct.
Your corps is camped in' Missouri.
Aside from your work laeoouuaCtiou
with the national arm, You ara .aspec.
tally detailed for local work here. It
is useless for nae to inform you Of
your responsibilities and The field
given you for glorious achievement.
State competition, patriotism ina the
pride of your profession att.ooaenieo
TO URGk YoU. issss;5 SIS
to more than ordinary exertiong e
is no idle assertion make whepu[aav
a new era dawns now upon 0Vf 10.
loved state. Your werk has kSlpsd
to bring it about, and your continsisd
efforts will soon carry her to the pos.
ition to which she is entitled-ths
leading state Of the Vallsy-sf the
Mississippi. .. lose
And what says prophecy Of the
future work of the press Of Amer.
lea? 1t has something to war for be.
side home achievements. We have,
as you know, no governmental diplo-
macy. Whatever our opinions may
be as people. our government never
interferes to carry them out even %
against the most horrible wrongs
across the water. But the press acts
IS our diplomatic aud promulgatss
our opinions. 1t has Q relative over
there, who has been, and still; 10,
working against very fesrful odds,
but who has pushed forward very
considerably on the road to fudepsh-
dsnce and power. Ut late years they
have become bound together with
the cables of electricity. WGknow
now nearly everything occurripg in
Europe, and our diplomatic tells
the people what we think about Il
and advises them what they ought to
think about it. And if there is oue