The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-04-02

slabs. There sits the grave composltor
before the cases full Of type, the copy
set up before him and the grooved stick
in his hand, which gradually fills with
work nothing Of that quick, unerring nip
which marks the fingers Of modern
compositor, as they fly among the type
and seize the very letter wanted in q
trice. With quiet and steady pace and
many thoughtful pause, his fingers
travel through their task. The master
printer in his furred gown moves through
the room, directs the wedging of a page
or sheet, and then resumes his high
stool to complete the reading of proof
pulled freshly from the press.
Is it necessary that should draw the
parallel of such master and such a
printing establishment in our own day
in order to impress upon your minds
what progress has been made in journal
ism I? Must [ follow up the small, semi
occasional publications until the issues
become monthly, semi monthly. weekly,
semi and tri-weekly, and finally culmi-
nate in grand establishments under the
direction ofintellectual giants, each with
scores of associates and reportorial sub
ordinates Z? Shall I follow the steady
development Of the profession until the
newspaper measurably supplants the
IOIuul, SIlll ULbhCO UHutl IGS SUPER
and care the instruction and guidance Of
the world in government in literature,
science and commerce.. But I am adj
dressing professional journalists, to
whom the procession Of journalistic ex-
cellence is familiar, and 1 may therefore
be allowed to pass on to other matters.
So many grand events mark the pro-
gress made in journalism that the
thoughtful writer must pause, appalled,
at the responsibilities of his office.
The persistent and partisan arguments
of the press have famed differences into
|desolating wars; it's emphatic assertions
have enthroned some as kings, while the
sting of it's bitter retort has caused the
degradation Of others, and at all times it
has been the instrument Of peace, the
engine of war, the defender of the rights
and the avenger of the wrongs of man,
the sword of nations and the pulse of
the people.
If T were called upon to provide a
motto or monitory tablet, to be placed
over the desk of every journalist, I
would take these words from Pericles:
"Iassume the lists.
Nor aek advice Of any other thought.
But faithfulness and courage
The Journalist is the historian of yes
terday with an alert ear for the Fremont
lions of the morroW-a monarch of
opinion if he dscrown not himself. His
realm is the best on earth if he sways it
Alright, for he addresses the best i'm
pulses and staidest judgment Of his
readers His utterances may not alwa VS.
motive and just solicitude for social
interests they are certain to command
respect.
The greater the expenditure OF truth
by the journalist, the more he enriches
himself with capacity for truth, and
the more certain his value to the public,
as training hardens the muscles of an
athlete. Wolsey, shorn of his honors
and contrlte for his errors, contributes
the best of admonitions to the journalist
Be just aud fear not.
Lar a' the ends thou airas'i ct be thy country's
Thy Gods and truths"
The American press may we'll excite
wonder for its compass and resources
Like huge spider its web spans oceans
and enmeshes events like flies which are
dragged into its covert, punctured with
pens and sucked dry.
Gladstone's trOWn, BlSmarck's wary
smile. the new Irish or Indian ferment
are rehearsed to us the next morning as
readily as the street brawl on our mex
block. The whole enlightened world il
constrained to be candid. The telegraph
abolishes leagues, makes US jostle
| elbows, imposes upon the statesman {
responsibility not limited to his OWL
country, and quickens all civilization te
a stern police-poWer over all men who
stand upon forums, who seize the helms
Of State or lead revolutionary vans witt
an avowed purpose to serve it. The da.
has come when the newspaper is more
fro of ~, rfSfn nro1t
speech, or any other single agency O
communicating thought-a great journa
is all this; it is the difference between
an occasional hammer and a trip-ham
mer that persistently smites. This is
great service. Cromwell dispersed par
| lament: the press has shattered dozens
on both sides of the Atlantic. Vas
numbers of men in mischievous civic O.
military organizations find a more effec
tual check in newspapers than in artil
lery, because the newspapers are gener
ally loaded with a just public opinion
And just so long as the press right.
interprets and vindicates, that instinc
of Justice and fair play which is rooted
! in every mans nature, just so long viii
| it be a stout, growing oak, drawing nur
ture from the moral soil in which it i
planted; its foliage and fruit will Away
| be grateful and wholesome boons.
There is an evil in journalism, som
people would call it minor one, bu
which is all too prevalent. I refer to tn
cowardice of some journalists who's
'1policy sits above conscience" VIII
write with an askant eye upon the ad
yertising columns and coin their opin
ions to suit popular prejudices. /
journalist worthy Of the name is
/ teacher whose calling it is to express
what he conceives to be the best opinion
in the public interests. If he borrow
opinions and is a mere echo Of hi
patrons, he is recreant to his trust
f'"Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,
90 for little. There must be the fibr
Of conviction in editorial matter, as if
were written, not with a flaccid hand
but with a resolute fist. Truth deserve
candid avoWal, and the journalist tina
falters subtracts from it.
And yet there is another vice anothe
need and place for progress. A journal
as have said, that's SO largely discharge
its functions as tract and speech, shout
be strictly mindful of it's literary method
It's sentences should be arrows, no
clumsy clubs. There is too frequen
excess Of verbiage in our newspape
columns, by reason of which the purpos
conveyed plays a sort Of bo-peep witt
the reader. 1t is something like the
wind-swept snow, which drifts here ant
leaves the ground naked there. Tn
writer's duty is to incarnate his though
and implant the sinews in its limbs, il
order that it may approach the reader
mind, rend open that minds door ant
command Intellectual hospitality within
| i 4 I.