The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-05
SHALL THE EDITOR GO?

SHALL THE EDITOR GO?
Mr. r. S. Menamin handles the sub
ject of modern newspaper editorial
work in late number of the Printers
Circular with force and ability, but
whether he is altogether right or not
in his judgement remains to be seen.
He advocates the entire abandonment
of the editorial page to the general
news columns. In such enlightened
communities as those reached by the
daily papers of large cities, editorial
comment is becoming daily more and
more a matter of secondary importance
and the reportive feature of the journal
advances to the foremost place, claim
ing the first and closest attention of the
general reader. With city newspapers
the days of long -winded editorials are
over. With the exception of the New
York Times almost every metropolitan
journal has adopted the brief paragraph
ical style of editorial comment, and
these, as in the case of the Philadel
phia Press and Meas, are just as light
and frivolous, though keen and to the
point, as they can possibly be made. A
really busy man has not time to read a
three column field review of the Ser
Wan war, wherein some aimable Nc
Cauley endeavors to air his verbosity,
when all he cares to know about it can
be found elsewhere in a three lined
paragraph. Viewed in one light this
reveals tendepG" OF the people to
tiff Fl { away from the deep and solid,
seeking that which will result in no
lasting benefit, but only remain the
pleasure or profit of an idle moment.
The world used to feel that it could
afford the time to pause and view all
important national question in length
and detail, now it allows the scholarly
analysis to slip by while it hurriedly
devours the brief and unConcluSive
comment. That newspapers are read
to day for their news we will admit, but
it is mistake to suppose that the mass
of readers are capable or willing to
make their own comments upon the
national or social topic that may be
uppermost, thereby relieving the editor
of his weary work. In another sense
we do not believe there is an editor in
the land who will submit to tine eXclu
sion of the editorial page from his
paper. If he is conscientious writer
and not mere scribbler ambitious to
attain local glory and distinction, he
will take an humble pride in the three
or four columns which it becomes his
sacred duty to supply with original
comment. If he is man of keen, calm,
judgment, with perfect knowledge of
literature, and fluent, yet frank and
unassuming style of composition he will
be able to delight his readers with in
teresting and oftentimes eloquent arti-
cles on passing events of the day, or
whatever subject his wisdom guides
him in selecting as suitable for his read
ers. The news is read first in a paper,
as is natural, but after that the "con-
slant reader wishes to meet with a
well-founded and well expressed opin-
ion upon some topic which has won his
attention, and he at once seeks the
editorial page. He uses the editor,
opinion, if agreeable to him, in accord
ance with his own when conversing
upon the subject, and if it does not
meet his views in every particular he
is delighted to have some topic upon
which he can expatiate and reveal his |
finer judgment and keener insight. In
important affairs of the nation, OF his !
own community, or of individuals no
editor feels that he can deal within the !,
reporters or paragraphers mood. 1t
should receive an ardent, earnest treat
n.ent and he must find words to express !
himself from the fountain heads of rhet-
oric and grammar. He must become
the little scholar of his class, and dress
the topic up IN such garb as it might
have worn had Addison, McCaulay, or
Carlyle dealt with it. Can such fea-
ture of the rural or city newspaper be
entirely dispensed with2 Never, SO long
as journalism desires to be nobly sus-
tanned. What is needed most is a
higher and more friendly appreciation
of the editor work, a more kindly re-
gard for his opinion, and fuller accord
ance with whatever cause he advocates
in agreement and harmony with the
measures he plans and proposes. The
bright, precise, and reasonable editorial
writer must not go, nor can we see
Justice or discretion in the idea that the
editorial page should be abolished.
There is in fact, SO much crime and
wickedness in the reportorial and news
departments of modern paper, that
some little relief must be felt by read
ers when they peruse the editors earn
est, manly appeals for resurrection of
the moral qualities in mans nature.