The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-09
10 81 PublIe.

Having decided 70 accept employment
in the editorial department Of TIE
CLARION, / deem it best to make public
announcement of the fact. If there be
any persons curious to know Why was
selected to perform the responsible duties
imposed by my present undertaking,
say to them, that the selection was the
result of intimate personal relations
heretofore existing between Col. Power
and myself, which relations We desire to
promote and continue under an arrange
ment apparently mutually advantageous
It IS hardly necessary for me 10 indi-
cate the future course Of The CLARION.
On many Of the great public questions
it has spoken with emphasis and bold
ness. and the "logic of events" has not
vet convicted it of error. To say that
there will be no change in views hereto
fore announced, in the sense that, right
or wrong, it will endeavor TO maintain
position already taken, would be to ad-
vertise a degree of stupidity in the con-
duct of the paper for which ! do not de-
sire to be held responsible; for | recog-
nize the truth to be that the doctrine OF
newspaper infallibility, though some
times asserted has never been sustained.
Nor shall it be said, with reason, during
nv connection with The CLARION, that
it is the sport of every passing breeze OF
popular opinion.
The most important relations of the
public journalist of to-day are with the
masses-those who by reason of the en-
plcyment of their time in the struggle
for existence, do not possess the oPpor-
tunities for acquiring exact and accurate
information about the matters of public
concern on which they are called to act,
and the influence of whose conduct in
shaping the destinies of the State is not
always foreseen. The public journalist
however, occupies more favored posi-
ton in this respect and, if he be consci-
entious, his labors viii be unselfsh. He
will study the interests of his fellow men
and strive to look beyond passing events
that he may apprise those who seek
| counsel Of him, of their ultimate effect
A newspaper which simply registers tht
will Of the masses for the time being
performs no useful Office, and occupies
the lowest plane of journalism.
As Democratic newspaper, TIL
CLARION will be bound by the author
lied utterances of the Democratic party
State and National, and it will continue
to insist that party pledges are something
more than catch-words and must b.
redeemed as opportunity offers. To thi
extent must every party newspape
suffer encroachment on the right of in
dependent action and utterance. 1t j
the doctrine of party fealty, which ma!
be sententiously expressed by the phrase
''the majority should rule" and means
as it concerns party newspaper, that a
to party matters, the effort shall be t
influence party associates to adopt o
reject certain propositions, with a pledg
to abide the judgment of the tribuna
organized to consider them.
congratulate myself that The CLAIR
ION has no euemies to punish-is afflict
ed with no jealousies and no rivalries
In its intercourse with the press of tn
State it will endeavor to avoid misun
derstandings of any and every kind ant
will expect like treatment in return.
/ have always felt warm interest il
matters affecting the welfare of Jackson
and her citizens, and derive more thar
ordinary pleasure from the thought tina
l may aid, through the columns of Til
CLARION, all useful enterprises of a loca
character.
If. in my editorial career, Ishall prove
| myself worthy of the kind expression
Of him whom / have the honor to sue
coed, l shall be more than compensated
for the troublesome doubts which hover
around me as l ask from the press the
right hand of fellowship and make my
bow to the pu slic.
OLIVER CLIFTON.