The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-11-16

Post, trihing fact which hs assumes Mr. Bryant neither knew of nor concerned himself about in tho least This admission might warrant the damAg- ing charge against MT. stoddard of having bssn himself journalist; we might, indeed, % further and say that he has been guilty os ssing 1t e stepping -stOne to the petition he now holds-thAt of poet and ltteratewr. But to such . charge hs night and probably would, retort, that, of all our American authors, there is scarcely one who has not at time other been identified with jour- nalism, and found the weekly stipend received for his journalistic writings most welcome aid to tide over the gaps between remittances from the magazine editors or the book publications for his purely literary work.
 understand MT. Stoddard's strictures on jour- nalists to apply to those editors who write for papers representing opposite opinions from their own and who basely accept pay for their services This, in MT. Stoddards opinion, constitutes mis- erable hireling, man whom it is e disgrace to employ; yet there Is great number Of these paid hreings employed the press of to- day, and some of them, while doing routine newspaper work, writing editorials, voiciDg, not their own senti- ments, but those of the paper that employs them, find time to do some pretty good literary work work that Is winning for them place among the hterGti of the land. Indeed, the ethics of m odern journalism on this point clear. The journalist can be doing the best and most conscientious work of which he Is capable, and yet be doing the very thing against which Mir Stoddard animadverts % freely. It Is understood, in a strict professional sesse, to be entirely legitimate Is bright and capable journalist to go begging in the streets or renounce his profession, simply because he cannot ind work on paper having the same political views as his own1 Among western journalists can recall now more honored name than that of JAmes.W. SheehAn, who for many long years was the leading political editorial writer on the Chicago | Tribune, and who was himself rock ribbed, esr- nest, consistent Democrat. But his individuality, as is that of every editorial writer on the metro poitan press, is buried in that of the paper. The reading public is not looking for his utterances 1t neither knows nor cares anything about him. The editorial writer dies resigns and the public does not as e rule, miss him. Those who have looked and still look to the editorial columns for political light and guidance still find them and what mat ters 1t by whom the editorials written % long as the dignity power and policy of great journal remain unimpaired2
 Finally, insist that the poet or novelist com- pelled to work editor journalist, or even as . common newspaper man, can still preserve his honor and integrity still be true to his muse or his genius as writer, he who, possessing the faculties and ambitions Is compelled to ritter away his best days as a paid employe of the gov ernment. Roger Sherman mended shoes and while he sewed or pounded, studied and read, and used the humble calling of a shoemaker to aid him towards that of great lawmaker and statesman. And, inasmuch as the shoemaker may be called upon to make shoes which his own ideas of sense, comfort and health tell him should not be made, yet professionally he has not stultiAed himself in making them, the journalist trained to his work, may write for the paper that employs him arti- cle ct utter variance with his own ideas on the