The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-05-26
Personal JOURNALISM.


We extract from the address deliver
ed by W. A. Henry, before the Press
Convention, held at Grenada, the fol-
lowing reference to personal Journal
ism:
II is one of the mwritten laws ofthis
Association that each member thereof
has the right to conduct his journal SIS
his own wisdom may dictate. The AS
sociation does not assume to control or
be responsible for the action of any
editor nor that Its judgment is superior
to that of the humblest publisher in the
land in matters especially affecting his
own interests. 1t, therefore, leaves to
editors, proprietors and publishers the
management of their journal, free from
any rule or laws adopted by the Asso-
citation. 1t may make recommends
ton, but it never attempts to control
further than this. While this is true,
still the spirit of aerimony that has
characterized large and influential
portion of the Press of this State for
months past has been viewed by the
more conservative members of the pro-
fession with deep pain and astonish-
ment. 1t is contrary to the purposes
for which the Association was organ
lied and the general principles which
ii has endeavored to implant deep
down in the hearts of its members,
namely, "friendly relation, and by inter-
change OF opinions and measures to in-
crease the usefulness, promote the in-
terests and elevate the standard of
journalism throughout the State
The Mississippi Press would indeed
be remarkable did all Its members
agree on all public questions. That
they will disagree is not only expected,
but beneficial to the interests they la
Dor so hard aud faithfully to subserve.
Thus discussion is brought about and
all sides of question presented to the
public, its merits and dement's laid
bare, enabling those most interested to
form intelligent opinions and act adj
visedly. Broad, manly discussion is al
all times desirable, for II brings fortl
truth and reveals error, but such dis
cussion can only be conducted by thos'
tolerant of the opinions of their cotem
poraries. The safe rule is to conccd,
to those who differ with you the SAM
honesty of motive, action and convic
ton which you claim for yourself, ant
seek to convince with argument rsthel
than silence with abuse. A dcpartur,
t from this rule has been the prim
cause of extreme bitterness that ha
{ marked many of the journals of on
State for many months past, a state O
D affairs trucly dcplorable, the recurrenc
0 of which il Is to be earnestly hope'
r may never be experienced in Mississir
T pi. Such journalism does the cause II
, which it is enlisted no good; II pre-
! duces only strife and does not recciv
t the sanction or continued support Q
! the more intelligent people, but on th
: contrary their condemnation. The!
I properly think that the mission of tn
. Press should be above and beyond thi
: plane-that IL should endeavor to elt
:, vate and educate the masses to tn
+ high sense of responsibility that rest
upon them-morally, socially, politi
cally and in material point of view.
Jonathan Swift gave 1t as his opin
e ion. that whoever could make two ear
I, of corn or two blades of grass to gro'
upon spot of ground where only ont
Y grew before, would deserve better o
}, mankind, and do more essential servic
to his country, than the whole race O
politicians put together" So the edi
: tor who through his pen is instrumen
: tal in the establishment of some indus
: trial pursuit, however small, who assist
! in advancing the cause ofmorality an
education, however slightly, who labor
: to secure good government and bull
: up his State, county and town, howeve
Z little may result from his work, WIN
contributes, though only mite, to
b ward the elevation of society, towar'
!, making men and women purer an
! better, accomplishes more real goo
/, than all the personal journalism tina
: was ever pcnned or may be recorde
i in all future times.
Let the freedom OF the Press, whlc
!. has been denominated the palladium
of our liberty, be maintained, and new
Y papers be independent and speak ou
|. fearlessly on all matters of public col
y Germ, but let care also be taken not t
exceed the bounds which such freedor
implies and betray editors into uttel
ances which legimate journalism cal
not justify.
"Be just and fear not.
u Let all the ends thou aim'st at be tn
L country's,
= Thy Gods and Truths"
l.