Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-10-16
WHOLE NO. 2,736.
journalism and Journalists.

The ideal editor need not be, nay,
he must not be, neutral, or "free
lance" Often the worst kinds Of SER
Witty and corruption are found mas
querading under the pretense, and
sometimes the actual belief, of ''inde-
pendence. No man can amount to
much in this world who does not be-
lieve in something, and who has not
some method in his believing, and to
say OF man that he is not partisan is
to imply that he is either scamp or
skeptic, The ideal editor may be MS
partisan as he pleases But he must be
disenterested; that is to say, he must be
what he claims to be, and must seek to
represent truth, as he sees it, Tor truths
sake, and not for the sake OF an office.
or job. He must deal iairlv and
frankly by the public. Even The pro-
lessed advocates OF special interests, by
doing so, have gained great credit: how
much more credit is TO be gained and
merited by one who dedicates himself
wholly to the general interest? Too
honest to be bought and too brave to
be bullled, such one needs only ca
paclty TO compass every end possible
to the reason OF his being. He will es-
tablish between his. readers and himself
a perfect understanding: just such an
understanding as is established betweeh
the upright banker and his dep0sitors,
or the honest lawyer and his clients.
Journalism, II journalists would only
see it, is quite as exact n science as law
and banking, and to it the same gener-
al principles should be applied as are
applied to othe. professions which de-
pend upon the faith and creditof the
many, and which look for their rewards
to the service they render the public.
The banker who neglects his bank, the
llwyer who quits his Office to seek other
kinds OF profit, or lancied profit, politi-
cal or otherwise, than belong to his.
legitimate business, loses-no matter
what he NAV gain by his venture-pro-
fessional character and custom. So will
and SO does the journalists. Journal
ism 10 no less jealous mistress than.
law, and will as reluctantly divide
her favors with another. Indeed, in
public lie the best, and all, that any
man can have, is constituency; and
this, once acquired, maXnot be triAel
with. He VINO is true to it will stand.
as he who is not will fall, and the rule.
works precisely the same in the press
HIS in politics. There have been, OF
course, some journalists who have
shone in official life; but not many, be-
cause the conditions that make
a man brilliant in journalism are
the reverse of those which
make him brilliant in office.
The business OF the journalist is to ar
rest the attention of the public from
day to day, and this puts strain upon
the inventive faculties and the nervous
energy which are at war withthe steady
and sturdy comnos,,re, indispensable
to successful administration. In ms
public intercourse the journalist -
debator, not an administrator, He
must be ready upou the instant for all
: comers, is allowed no time TO reflect or
prepare, and has to speak to every dis
, jointed thought, giving each its proper
ton. An event, an idea, no bigger
! than the first ray Of the morning sun
appears above the surface OF affairs;
he can not wait for this to disclose it.
self, but must deal with it at once; il
shows its face little more, and be
, must note the change and deal with that
and, finally, by the time it has reached
, its complete development and is ready
for statesmen to take hold of it, the
J journalist has putt before his readers
! in many ways, according as it may have
altered its aspects in the process o
t rising above the horizon and ascending
, to It's zenith. He who is unwilling t6
} submit himself to the limitations which
I such work as this imposes had best leave
; journalism severly alone; but to those
, who realize it and accept it there ar,
. lively times and plenty Of usefulness
ahead, for few pursuits in the world ar,
: more variable and exciting than journal
, sm.--Henry Watterson.