The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-05-15
JOURNALISM.

The character Of a newspaper is but
the reflection of the editors estimate
of its dignity. The sheet may be de-
void of the touch Of genius, from the
title to the last reading notice, and yet
there may shine through every column
the evident purpose of its editor to in
vest it with all the dignity and force
that he can command, and to avoid
all personal controversies and entan-
clements that would belittle its char
acter or drag it down..from its high
standard as an organ Of the people
toward the lower atmosphere where
newspapers founder in.the,fllth of spite
and malice.
If the "editor Of our whining con-
temporary is a slab sided, knock -kneed,
lop-eared specimen, ofdoubtful origin, y
it is not necessary to state the fact, for
the people are not interested in it.
They have no interest in the droop Of
the contemporaries ears, in the shape
of his legs, nor in his pedigree. In
fact, all these points will be passed
over without thought or comment, il
he will but faithfully discharge hi:
duty to the public by producing good
clean newspaper that will assist, anC
not retard the substantial and mora
growth of the community.
An editor has no right to turn hi:
paper into a weapon for venting spleeI
on a rival concern, or an individual
The public cares nothing for his per
sonal feeling toward this or that jour
nal or his neighbor. His subscriber
do not pay for such information.
Let the newspaper publisher who ha
lived to past middle age cast his ey
over the list of country newspaper
that have steadily grown to an honora
bic and desirable prestige in their re
spective communities and he will lear
that during their period Of growth the
were guided by men who held to sue
views of their relation to the peopl
that they would not descend to person
al attack or utilization, even whe
goaded almost beyond endurance b
some blatant contemporary. The
let him review the wrecks of journals
tic debauchery that he can call t
memory, some of them perhaps stil
struggling for precarious existence
and their analysis reveal the fact tia
nearly every failure was due to lo'
estimate of the dignity of journalism
in most cases the proprietor having ii
fused his own low personality into tn
columns of his paper.
! The public wants the truth, an
honors the truth. 1t is ready to accor
praise and confidence, or condemns
ton and distrust and in nearly ever
case the public estimate is correct.
may seem a smart thing for new:
paper man to force his paper into sue
den recognition by pandering to tn
local taste for sensationalsm, but he
sure to meet reaction sooner or late
and his descent will be more rapid tina
his growth. No editor ever built hin
self up to an honorable place in tt
estimation of his community by abusin
his fellow editor or any other individl
al. If he succeeded in winning ii
high regard of the public, that cour:
was not the means by which it W;
gained. OF two newspapers in a Il
callty-one resorting to personal Wit,
peration, mud Singing and sensation
alism, the other pursuing calm, pc
sistent, upright course of gathering tt
news and publishing it without fear {
favor, never STOPPING to reply to tt
waspish attacks Of its rival--the latte
will ride safely on the broad sea
public confidence and respect Ion
after the wreck of the former has bee
cast upon the rocks of disaster and di
grace.-Press and Type.