The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1882-06-16
THE EDITORIAL ave. <


ters which do not concern them iu the
least. For example, here is a correspon.
dent who makes .he startling revelation
that he is a constant reader of our val.
uable and influential paper. and would
like to be informed why it is an editor
or newspaper writer, when speaking of
himself in bis writings, invariably uses
the plural pronoun 1--WE" instead OF the
angular. II"
There are several reasons. Self pres
ervation is the first law of nature. It
begins at home, like old Mother Charity.
There is some human nature about an
edition public opinion to the contrary
notwithstanding An editor thinks too
much Of his TSP to wearthem in mourn
ing, and therefore when speaking Of
some slab-sided six footer rs miserable
red nosed, pucillanimous, wife beating,
snoozer, he considers it the better part
Of valor, to drop an occasional "we.''
This creates ia the mind of the six. footer
the impression that the editorial force
consists Of standing army, armed with
deadly "we"apons
Furthermore, in cases where the vic.
tim comes around TO the Office to kill the
writer of any particular item, it is so
pleasant to have the guilty mans identi-
ty buried in the obscurity of the plural
i've. The editor-in-chief, the com
mercIal editor, the city editor, the local
editor, the reporters, the book keepers,
compnsitors, bookbinders, jobbers, press
men. devil, and all the delivery boys are
thus placed on a common footing by the
prououn 1--WE" and when the enraged
person looks about him and finds how
many homes he would make desolate,
how many wives he would make widows
and how many children orphans, by kill
ling of all included IN the little ''we''
at one fell swoop, he siclens of the san
culinary undertaking, turns sadly away,
goes TO some bar room, lakes drink,
condemns the paper, prophecies that it is
ceing run into the ground, and declares
that he will hencefor th use his political
influence to squelch the sheet.
And again, having tackled this subject
we feel called upon to correct an errone.
GUS impression, which has gone forth
through the Vaccinations and manipula.
tions OF the machine. A few years age
the dieuds Of the opposition, for whom
We have but feelings Of contempt and
lJaihlng, and for whom we can hnd IN
cnr book Of synonyms no sufficiently op.
probrius or condemuatory title, caused
to be published in certain sheets which
we will not mention, story to the effect
that, the use cf the pronoun ''we" by
the newspapers originated in this wise
"In England the king, lords and com.
mons, constituted the three estates of the
realm. The king spoke of himself as
we the lords themselves as we, and
he commons in the same mauner."
The scurrilons article referred to above
endeavored TO convey the impression that
the editors tried to'ape the customs ol
tie king and the lords and by consider.
lug the newspapers the fourth estate
they acquired the habit of using the pre-
noun ''we." This is most ridiculous
assumption, as the intelligent readers o
the Derrick will see at glance, and the
story was gotten up merely to detraci
something from the popularity of tht
newspapers. The facts in the case are
these: The editors commenced usinl
the word "we' long before the kings ant
lords ever thought Of such a thing bu
after awhile, the kings, lords ETC., adop
ed the style, unler the impression tina
they could deadhead their way into som'
Of the female minstrel shows. But i
didn't work, and, after being kicked on
few times. they tried to make folks be
lieve the use Of the plural pronoun orig
mated with them.
There are other reasons. When motto
ing marriage or birth "wer implie
that at least box Of cigars Will be re
required to go around.
An editor says "we" when advising
the president how to conduct his admin
istration, because the president migll
not act on his suggestion il fit was writ
ten plain 'I''f
When telling a minister how to preac
the editor uses ''we,'' because be ha
consulted his wife about the matter, an
she having been teacher a few years b
fore. Of course, knows all about il.
/; eve" is sometimes used because {
the writer's modesty. Most writer's AZ
troubled in this respect.
In short. we use we" because no on
/ mar, oo,.f1 ofbarusaa anrvfxa fha trial.