The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-03
The Country Editor.

Fledglings of the city press have, from
time to time, set on the thoughtless to
speak and write slightingly of the coun-
try editor. More from ignorance than
malice have proceeded the sneers and
jokes at those members of the journal
istic profession who labor zealously and
acceptably in the regions removed from
the centres of population. Admitted
that editors of country newspapers
know nothing of art topics; are hazy
in their knowledge of European politics,
and in many cases write more forcibly
than elegantly, the truth still remains
that they, as a class, are worthy of re-
spect and homer. They are the best and
most effective pioneers in the great work
of civilization, while those that incon-
siderately contemn rural journalists,
yet praise our country's growth, dis
play their own ignorance; for they
ignore the very men to whom, above all
others, our country owes its rapid de-
velOpment No sooner is settlement
projected in any one of the States or
Territories, than there steps forth from
some of the older communities brave,
daring man, usually practical printer,
who announces his willingness to un-
dergo the severe and unremunerative
labor OF starting newspaper in a viii
derness. He receives warm welcome
from those he is DESTROYS of serving;
shares their trials and hardships; seldom
participates in the profits that accrue to
the enterprising men that grow up with
new settlement. being as a rule well
satisfied with having established news
paper that yields influence among the
people that know it best and value it
most. From his peculiar position the
country editor is forced into politics;
not infrequently he gains the prize of
office; and in hundreds of instances the
obscure journalists, that have gradu-
ated from the printers cases, have sat
in the seats of United States Senators
and Representatives Their elevation
and fitness for high honors are so uni
yersally acknowledged, and have been
so frequent, as to cease to call special
remark. Somewhat haekneyed have
become the overcoming narratives of
country editors developing into states
Yet, with the glaring light of expert.
ence to guide them, certain small wits
of tie great city journals cannot see
the usefulness, the Importance and the
honor of country journalism. All
country editors do. not become promin-
ent legislators. A large number of them,
by unaided efforts, indomitable per-
severance, an enthusiasm that sur
mounts the most formidable obstacles, 4
succeed in building up little by little. in
luential and profitable Journals
journals that WELD far more power than
any one of the old-established city news
papers that, from their foundation, have
bubbled over with polished wit and
classical diction. Such journals are
growing now in the West and South,
and in the interior of our own and other
of the older States. They are in the
rough at present, using such means as
are best adapted to the communities
among which they are struggling. Silly
in the extreme, therefore; is it to cast
ridicule upon class of worthy men
because they labor in rugged fields.
As a rule, the country editor does not
trouble himself as to what his city con-
temporaries say or think of him; he
has set himself hard task to perform
and he tolls at it with an honest, de
termined purpose that compels the adj
mi-ation of all right-thinking men.
More than silly-unjust is it. for the
pampered members of his own calling
to sheer at him. He can well afford to
pass by the slurs and jestS, as he usual
ly does, in utter silence. He has
manlier work to do, and, as a rule, does
it well and thoroughly. All linen with
capacity for journalism cannot toll in
the large cities; probably would not if
they could. More robust and original
natures are required in sparsely-settled
sections than in the older and densely
populated regions. For the strongest
mental fibre of American, journalism,
We must look to the rough, energetic, 4
Woodworking, great-hearted country
ditors.-Printers' Circular. ~