The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-06-22

OF the profession until the
per m 4sss nay sHpplants the
and care the instruction and guidance OF
the world In government, In literature,
science and commerceP But ! am ad-
dressing professional Journalists, to
Is aa ID sr
be allowed to pass on to other matters.
So many grand events mark the pro-
gress made In journalism that the
thoSghtf1l w I,t';. must pHuse appalled,
The persistent and partisan arguments
Of the press have famed differences into
desolating wars; its emphatic assertions
have enthroned some as kings, while the
sting 81 tts bitter retort has cS N the
has been the instrument Of peace, the
engine OF war, the defender Of the rights
and the avenger OF the wrongs of man,
the sword of nations and the pulse OF
the people.
If I we're called upon to provide q
motto or monitory tablet, to be placed
over the desk OF every journalist,
would take these words from Pericles:
II a.sume the lists.
Ss :f s;SYSs 2, s9K osh:s
The journalist is the historian Of yes
terday with an alert ear for the premoni.
lions of the morrow-a monarch of
opinion If he dhscrown not himself. His
realm Is the best on earth II he sways 1t
Alright, for he addresses the best i'm
pulses and staidest Judgment IT his
be welcome, but II they disclose a'virtle
motive and just soliCitude for social
interests they are certain to command
respect.
The greater tho expenditure OF truth
himself with q capacity for truth, and
the more certain his value to the public,
as training hardens the muscles Of an
athlete. Wolsey, ehorn OF his honors
the best Of admonitions to the journalist
Lss =! tss ENDS thca s,mss at be thy oountry's,
Thy Gods and truths"
The American press may we'll excite
wonder for its compass and resources.
Like huge spider its web spans oceans
dragged into its covert, punctured with
pens and sucked dry.
Gladstone's frown, Bismarck's wary
smile, the new Irish or Indian ferment,
are rehearsed to us the next morning as
block. The whole enlightened world is
constrained to be candid. The telegraph
abolishes leagues, makes us jostle
elbows, imposes upon the statesman a
country, and quickens all civilization to
q stern police-power over all men who
stand upon forums, who seize the helms
OF State or lead revolutionary vans with
an avowed purpose to serve It. The day
has come when the newspaper is more
speech, or any other single agency Of
communicating thoughts great journal
is all this it Is the difference between
an occasional hammer and trip ham,
great service. Cromwell dispersed par
lament; the press has shattered dozens
on both sides of the Atlantic. Vast
numbers OF men In mischievous civic or
military organizations find q more effec-
tual check In newspapers than in artil-
lery, because the newspapers are gener-
ally loaded with just public opinion.
And just SO long as the press rightly
interpretS and vindicates that instinct
Of justice and fair play which is rooted
it be stout, growing oak, drawing nur-
ture from the moral soil In which It is
planted; its foliage and fruit will always
be grateful and wholesome boons.
people would call it a minor one, but
which Is all too prevalent. ! refer to the
cowardice of some journalists whose
policy. sits above conscience;" who
write with an askant eye upon the ad-
yertising columns and coin their opin-
journalist worthy Of the name is q q
teacher whose calling 1t is to express
what he concefves to be the best opinions
in the public interests. II he borrows
opinions and is a mere echo Of his
patrons, he is recreant to his trust
s.Taffeta phrases, siiken terms precise, .
go for little. There must be the fibre
Of conviction In editorial matter, as IL 1,
were written, not with a fiaccid hand
but with q resolute fist. Truth deserves
candid ayownl, and the journalist tina,
falters subtracts from it.
Aid yet there Is another vice-anothel
need and place for progress. A journal
as have said, that SO largely discharges
it's functions as tract and speech, shoulc
Its sentences should be arrows, no
clumsy clubs. There is too frequen'
excess OF verbiage in our newspaper
columns, by reason Of which the purpose
conveyed plays u sort OF bo-peep with
the re-der. It is something like the
wind-swept snow, which drifts here ant
leaves the ground naked there. The
writer's duty is to incarnate his though
and implant tho sinews In it's limbs, IN
mind, rend open that minds door ant
command intellectual hospitality within
A thought limping under the burden O
an "aims basket OF words" is an un
profitable messenger that cannot claim
O guests rights.
10 arrest this prodigality OF words 1,
an especial need of progressive journal
ism. A bullet can defend O public righ
better than q thousand sponges. We
journal, not mass OF grapes, hillside
and eHtangling vines. A thought worth
OF an editorial should not turn per
upon itself, as did Brutus his sword, but
advance like an eager lancer, bearing q
shining, fncisive point for direct attack