The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1888-05-12
NO. 43

our actions as community that we ap-
preciate the Press, for we have two prose
porous newspapers in our midst, both of
which, though of the same political sens
timents, are well sustained, and are doing
great good in the country.
The dignity and importance and infu.
ence Of the editorial profession cannot be
exaggerated 1t is highly intellectual
pursuit, and intellectually exalts any
calling in which it is prominently called
into play The thoug ght of thinking souls
controls the world. In this age the
strength of a people consists in their in
tellectuality. knowledge is power in all
departments of life There is no place
where ignorance is bliss. Hence the
high position of the editor who from his
tripod furnishes mental food to the peoz
pie, gives expression to their highest as
pirations, and is the herald in the march
of progress. He places before the COM
munity and by the ubiquity of the press
makes that ideal . common aspiration,
and the people in struggling up toward
lit move on to a grand destiny. Society
is elevated, the evil eliminated, the good
promoted, and permanent step taken in
advance One thing is very sure, that
while community or an individual may
fall far short of the high ideal they may
place before themselves, they can never
60 beyond that ideal-they car never be
better than their theory. No man in
practice ever goes beyond the theory that
controls him. Hence the importance of
an elevated press-hence good newspa-
| Iers, education, progress, all move on
together. \ brainy editor, with high
purposes and manly spirit, is power
for good in any community. How can
an editor be otherwise than influential
when he constantly addresses the minds
Of men il their most reflective and res
ceptive moods. All men are controlled
by their convictions whether they be of q
high or low grade. Besides, general in
teligence-a knowledge of past and cur
rent events, an insight into the causes of
things, the forces and principles that
move man and nature-ls recognized as
conferring greater dignity upon the in
dividual than even wealth, and the edis
tor is constantly touching up and i'm
proving this intelligence by the emana-
tions of his pen.
The editor should be a man of broad
and liberal views and high and noble
impulses, FIR intellectually is never so
potent as when moved by pure and lofty
motives and character. Besides, however
great may be the evils of society, the in
nate impulses of the masses of men ap.
prove Of virtue, ard even the editor dare
not oppose these innate convictions.
Even if he advocates bad cause, he is
compelled to clothe it in a specious garb
of truth ana right and obey the injunc-
tion of the play, assume virtue if you
have it not" The editor should avoid
al harsh personalities as inconsistent
with the dignity of truth. Bitter per-
sonality never advanced any good cause.
"Honor all men," from Scripture-"Still
in thy right hand carry peace" from
Shakespeare, should be the invariable
maxims of the Press. An editor, with q
big idea approved by reason and demand
ed by the philosophy Of the situation,
can, if he has the courage of his convic-
,ions and . sufficient supply of never
surrender, as a general rue, bring it into
full or partial recognition and adoption.
Henry Watterson has been hammering
away on vicious, iniquitous and illog~
ical tariff until it has become the issue
before the country with victory waving
her crown toward the side Of right and
Justice No Wonder such a man is hon.
ored by tie Chief Magistrate of the
country with a long private interview,
as he was on q recent visit to Washing
ton.
Never before in the history of Missis-
sippi and the SGuta did We have greater
need for high editorial efficiency than at
TIE present time. For many years after
the sinking OF the conquered banner, the
bare right to exist under conditions bare-
ly tocrah'e to existence, with our plain
est ard .a.ienable rights secured to us,
was tn" I.t'lost boundary of our hopes
and aspru,Ons. No word of progress
could be uttered. Those rights were
+, reatened in the form Of suffrage by q
black oligarchv controlled by alien leads
ers and these leaders again controlled by
a political junta at Washington. Such
was the plan to Offset the political inhu'
ence of the white population Of the
South. Thanks to a good Providence
and a nice political justice in the cvolu-
tion of events, this plan of our enemies
has been completely foiled, with added
advantages to ourselves, and the "poisons
ed chalice' intended for us commended
to their own lips. Their confusion will
be even greater when large mass, if not
a majority of the colored voters of the
South, shall in November give their free
and voluntary suffrage to Grover Cleve-
land for a seccnd Presidential term.
Such is our preseL, condition--a condi-
ton of hope, harmony and progress-of
universal development in all directions.
A condition in which we need all the
Ijudicious guidance and encouragement
and instruction which the Press only