The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-26

! of all that is said of him by his fellows
and perhaps more. In the eyes of the
public it Is 'dog eat dog" Furthermore
it is disgusting to the general reader A
few morbid tastes may delight in such
personalities, but the common.sense
reader. upon whom we must depend for
genuine appreciation and Ultimate sup
port, is annoyed beyond measure. / APP
peal to any of you to tell me if a quarrel
between editors conducted through the
columns of their papers, of which you
are disinterested reader, is not ridicu-
lous and disgusting. Next time you feel
like provoking or carrying on quarrel
with your neighbor, put yourself in a
sensible readers place and remember
your bread and butter. We cannot at-
ford to stand up before the public eye
and scalp one another for the delecta-
ton of a mob of hoodlums while the best
sense of cur community of readers turns
away in disgust and, if it oyerlooks the
/ transgression, does 50 with weakened
respect for the transgressor
But criticism of fellow editors and the
products of their pens is frequently not
merely proper but necessary it is often
our duty to differ most positively with
the professional or public bearing OF
fellow editor it is often necessary to
call attention to his professional or even
personal faults and to contradict and op-
pose him strenuously. But all this can
be done in a courteous spirit and with
out breach of professional etiquette or of
the decorum which should mark the in
tercourse of gentlemen. There is no
member of this association who is not
emitted to the respect of all men much
more should he command it from his
fellow journalists, who may be supposed
to recognize the repectability and
high honor of our common profess
sion.
Where no personal acquaintance ex-
lists there is little regard for personal
feelings. But such gatherings as this,
repeated at intervals, promotes friend
ship, sottens prejudices, obliterates base
less antagonisms and makes us brethren |
in acquaintance as we are in business, |
1t seems to me that IN this particular a
marked benefit has already resulted |
since the organic meeting of this Asso-
citation.
And this avoidance of coarseness
should be observed in all personal criti-
cisms. 1t is very frequently the plov-
ince of the newspaper to discuss the re-
cords of qualifications of men occupying
or seeking public position. If it appears
to be duty to disapprove of their pub
lie acts or aspirations, that duty can be
most effectively performed in spirit of
deceney, gentility and fair conscience,
remembering that such men have friends
and that offensive language will convert
them into enemies of your paper and
will not add one to its list of friends.
Fair and honorable criticism is ever
most impressive and shows greater dig
nifty and stronger case than do coarse
and scandalous language, unwarrantable
denunciations and assertions that con-
not be maintained | do not mean to
convey the inference that paper may
be successfully conducted and ever oc-
cupy a place in the affections of all men.
He is either an inactive or an insignifi-
cant person who lives in this crowded,
struggling world without occasionally
interfering with the pleasures, pursuits
or ambitions of his fellows. So it is with
the great individuality called news
paper. If it is alert and progressive,
with firm ideas on all subjects, conducted
without fear, favor or malice, it must of
necessity touch sore spots here and there
ana incite envy and enmity, but at the
same time it will receive due respect
Personal as well as professional pride
is as necessary to successful editorial
work as to any other vocation. While
the editor may be sort of impersonal
existence buried beneath the obscurity
of the pronoun eve" yet his readers
especially of a country paper quickly
give him "a local habitation and a name"
and by his editorial columns and the
general conduct of his paper measure his
character and weigh his mental caliber.
The editorial page, while by no means
the most important feature of the paper,
should be conducted with infinite care,
50 that it may be brilliant frame work
for the picture formed by your news
columns as well as the wand by which
to guide public opinion and attract per-
sonal respect. In that department of
the paper avoid slouchy, careless style;
express no hasty, ill-considered opin-
ions; be honest and consistent in your
expressions lest your lack of sincerity
be discovered and ytur influence weak
ed back your ideas with arguments for
the human mind turns upon the pivot of
reason be fearless in attacking what you
believe to deserve attack, for even un-
availing bravery is more admirable than
l4dCJlVlby OF CONdEutCC ACulDulOCA eAde
through the medium of the types you
are speaking to an immense audience
that comprises many critics. Above all
do not give up any portion of your in
dependence to politicians or political
parties; they Will favor you only so long
as you can advantage them, they res
pect you orly while they fear you, and
they will reward you, if at all, only with
the crumbs that fall from the richly
laden tables at which you have assisted
to provide them with seats. The public
regards the editorial column as the mir
ror Of the papers individuality conduct
it with the fairness, feaTlessness, honesty
and decency which. should characterize
your personal bearing should you seek
to obtain personal favor in the public
a,,a o,ad ~ will rodo,tnd fo the benefit of /