The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-10-19
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The IfrnAlp has ell along iofeseen ihe
llnlouitlos that must Inevitably grow ou'
n personal journalism, and haa pcfhst'
,ntly closed Ne columns against such mat
Ter, proferring as matter OF right ana
sound business policy to discuss principles
and not men, TO furnish news and night the
battles, not.indlylduals quarrels'
or champion their private grievances inc
wisdom Of such course Is illustrated by
variety as well as great multiplicity oil
facts, not one the least Of which is the re,
cent bloody affair in the editorial rooms OIL
the Post Dispatch in st. Louis. Such
scene sooner or later in such an ONCE was
inevitable, and was the legitimate out
growth Of the style of journalism pursued
by the Post Dispatch. AS an evening paper
in st. Louis it has reached large circu-
lation by its reckless and venomous at'achs
mon the best citizens Of its city and state
hut IL can be- surely, but poor success
that is founded upon the villification Of
character, the ruin of homes and the dreau
that all men have of seeing their private
acts and foibles paraded before the public
A journal has no earthly right to attack a
mans private life or character, and when
II enters so 6isreputable domain oil jour
palism men of honor and spirit cannot be
expected to submit tamely to it. SUCH
tragedies, therefore, as the killing of Colo
MEL SLAYBAcK must naturally follow The
editor of the paper can have but little sym
pathy in his trouble, for, as one OF his
contemporaries says, he attempted the ruin
of his victims character and then
slew him for having the manhood to at
tempt to protect it. 1t is unfortunate ior
the country, and particularly the profession
of journalism that so many papers are run
in such a personal and unwise manner.
The HERALD has had occasion frequently Of
late TO refer to instances OF bitter and un'
digniiled warfare between influential public
prints, where trouble has resulted thai
could easily have been avoided by dliler'
ent and wiser courses But few months
since the editors of the Times-Democra'
and Picayune, of New Orleans, met in
duel, in which one of them was seriously
injured. A disgraceful and vindictiVt
quarrel has been for some time in progress
between the Cincinnati papers, and 1t Il
quite fortunate that nothing in the way o
a personal encounter with unhappy con
sequences has as yet resulted. News
papers, while in one sense private property
are also to great degree the property o
the public, issued for the public's intorma
ton and education, in the interests OF wha
is best in society, business and politics, ant
to drop the great aims of such publications
or what ought to be the aims, and descen'
to personalities in an Ishmaelitish way, is
as we have repeatedly said, fraud upol
society, sore on the body polite, andonlI
productive of harm and confusion, wher'
oood should be done constantly. 1t is
source of as infinite satisfaction to the IN
telligent and air.minded management OF
properly conducted newspaper, to looi
hack upon an uninterrupted course OF Just
and personal and impartial conduct
in the publication Of their paper, a.
it is to true gentleman to emo.
4 the sweet consciousness of honorable an'
conscientiously correct private live in hi
several relations to the business, social an'
political worlds. That paper which neye
forpets its true and legitimate scope or it
relations 10 the public, whose teacher ant
vet servant it is at one and the same time
will never have to look back upon BLOODY
scenes. ruined homes, vituperation anC
abuse of character, and public curses lout
and deep attending its publication. 1t VII
dig no graves and blight no prospects, no
sadden any hearts, but becomes constantly
the firmer and greater enterprise as IL con
Times TO command the public's respec
and patronage from its unvaryint
determination and endeaYor to d(
at all times what its patrons have
the right to expect from it. A newspaper
must be run as any other enterprise anc
upon correct business principles, and il
ceases to be worthy of public support ano
favor when it degenerates into a vehicle O
abuse or q mere escape pipe for the Dao
passions that rage in the breasts oil its
editors, proprietors or the envious and dis
appointed of the great popuiace. Such re-
Elections as these have been ever uppermos'
in the minds of those who are now publish
ing this paper, and we cannot, therefore
but Join most vigorously with the general
public in Just decentralization of the cruel and
unwise-policy that will control the publ
cation Of bitter, personal and free-lancG
! journal.
4 ra. CON EssI oS.AL CONTEST IN THp