The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-07-18

blue eyes, and so did Horace Greeley wht
followed in his lead. History does no
record a case wherein little devil became
so wonderful a parsonage as did Benjamin
franklin. None have approached him
unless it be our own beloved Uncle Re
mus, who before be was in his teens va:
the little red-hsired devil Of the Ole
Plantation in Eatonten.
In course of time the editor oil i paper
becomes man Of consequence, and ~
was known by name as the ruling spirit
the responsible party, the moulder of al
its utterances but now the editor is lost
in the superior power Of the stockholders
and the general manager. We know Of
the Herald, and the Tribune, and the
Times, ard the Courier.Journal, and the
Detroit Free Press, and the Chicago
Inter Ocean, but who knows who are the
editors? Who writes the leaders that
shape our politics and our craftsmanship
Henry Watterson spends q year in
Europe and Whitelaw Reid is minister to
France; but still the thunders of their
papers roll on aud agitate the republic
Who knows the leading writer's on the
Atlanta Constitution Who knows the
mental power that is behind the throne
power that is greater than the throne,
but is generally too poor and too modern
to assert itself? The manager shapes the
general drift of a political newspaper for
the mouey that is in it. The editor
would like to shape it inaccordance With
his convictions, but be cannot always do
it. Ifthe manager sees profit or adgan.
tage in advocating tariff reform the editor
must conform and write upon that side.
Not long ago an editor told me that all
his convictions were against protection,
but his employment depended upon his
writing in its favor. l have known an
editor 10 thunder against the debasing
influence of gambling in stocks and lot.
teries, but the advertisement Of the Lou
isiana lottery continued in the columns Of
the paper and mention vas carefully
made of every man who drew glitteling
prize.
The FIRST newspaper ! ever saw was the
Youths Companion, and for more than
fifty yeeis it has not been long out ot
sight, except during the period Of The
war. Ny father was net 2 partisan, but
always took papers on opposite side
in politics Chronicle, and the Con-
ssitutionalist and the Federal Union and
Southern Recorder, He used to say that
it WAS safest to believe only the better
half of each, but nevertheless he was q
democrat, and of course I followed in his
lead. The Recorder represented the
wings who were more wealthy and aristo.
cratic than the democrats. They owned
perhaps, Is per cent. Of tue slaves in the
States, and the Recorders column.of run.
away negroes was three times as long as
the one in Federal Union. The little
wood cuts Of the runsways with the hiud
leg on the trot and the bundle and stick
over the shoulder were lined down the
columns in military precision, and l used
to wonder if all the runaways were just
alike, and all carried the same sized
bundle of clothes. The whig boys Of our
town used TO boast of their paper and it's
more numerous runaways and would
taunt US by saying "You democrats
haven't got enough niggers to get up q
runaway"
Itis instructive and humiliating to look
back now over the political past-the
strife and struggles between wings and
democrats, the excitement and tumult
and bitterness, aud all without sufficient
cause or necessity. elimination and re.
crimina'ion, slander and bloodshed, and
all for the benefit of the Office seekers
and demagogues. How the politicians
did fatten upon the people! The time
was when I really believed that if the
wings were put in possession of the
power the country WAS in peril, but ]
have lived long enough to learn that the
real issue between the two great parties
are the spoils of Office; this is polite:
in its last analysis. But still politics
must not be neglected. The people mus
take choice, and tho responsibility il
greater upon the country press than any
other power or influence. 1 believe thai
this power is to-day more Independent
than it has ever been. The editors O
our weeklies are less subsidized by the
great dailes or the great leaders in poll
tics. They sre bolder in expressing
their own convictions upon the tariff ant
education and agriculture and monopolie
and finance than ever before. There is M
wall defined psrty line. The countr,
press is more individua!ized and speaks
for itself. This is we'll. When there i
one good weekly newspaper in county
towa The people will get the editor
honest convictions When there are twl
there will be strife and insincerity
What ore advocates the other will oppos
OF condemn. One hotel, and one paper
ard one school are enough if they ar
good and the community should sustain
them with confidence and liberality
What world of gsatuitous comfort tn
weekly paper gives us. just think Of tn
homely freside news that comes iron
every precinct through the unpaid zen
of Slim Jim and Grinning Jake aud Su
san Jane and Daisy. Think of the ar,i
val of accomplished men andi charmin!
women that are recorded with compli
ments that gladden. the hearts of Al
concerned and dident costa cent. Thinl
of the lovely bride and the manly groom
and all their angelic attendants, and Q
the officiating clergyman who got fir
dollars for tying the knot, but the poo
editor got nothing bu: a chunk of cake