Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-07
THE EDITORS MISSION.
Some Views Of the Duty Of an Infiu.
entail Journaiist---Not 20 Follow,
Hut 60 Lead

Some Views Of the Duty of an Infiu.
entail Journaiist.--Not 20 Follow,
Hut TO Lead.
Under the head What is An Editor
for In Growing Town" an exchange of
recent date combats the pop Ilar idea that
an editor ought 10 reflect public opinion,
that he ought to advocate what major
ity of the people think is right. that he
ought not to be stubborn and contrary
aud stand up for any thing or cause un-
less there is majority to go with It.
The same paper truly says that too much
of modern journalism is edited on the
cute idea of trying to ascertain the pop
ulsr thing, even II 1t is thing Of passing
public passion. or violent prejudice. and
then making money for the newspaper by
going In aud psndering to the produce.
or increasing the passion. 1t adds:
The fathers OF journalism. especially
the strong men who laid broad and deep
the foundations of real American jour,
nslism. taught that an editor was man
Of conscience, a man who had the cour~
age to stand for that which he thought
tn be right. man who could stand
in minority il need he and have
no lingering regret that he was
not with the majority. man who
could dare to be true to his own con.
viction, a man who WAS willing to stand
alone 10 state or nation II need REQUIRE,
To espouse an idea or advocate a cause
There never has been a strong newspaper
printed in this country or any other
which has not made a great deal Of its
established fame and power 5y standing
in the minority and fighting some great
battle for living principle which the
editor had too much conscience TO aban>
don.
Yet popular criticism of newspapers
falls generally against the paper which
stands for ideas. for what 1t believes to
be correct things. for what 1t believes
ought to be done. rather than against
the paper that has no higher motive in
journalism than to find which Is the
popular side and go with it. The pa
pers that do stand up, that are not
ashamed of being in the minority when
con science and duty demand il, that are
willing TO put their own prosp erity into
peril for principle II need ne. that are
willing to sink and be unpopular and go
down IL that shall come, rather than to
surrender in cowardice and selfishness,
these are the papers that in a country or
state, with pride in itself and loyalty to
principle. should weather the storm, and
he NallaA tho raanu 81 ~ -
the people and the times
1t is well To read the words Of Horace
Greeley. In his day he WAS called most
every thing but n fool. He was never
charged with being a coward. People
who read his paper always knew where
! tue paper stood. II there was majority
To 20 with it the Tribune was in the ma
jority If duty or principle required the
Tribune To stand in the minority. it stood
there valiantly. Its stewardship, as far
as Mr.. Greeley is concerned has been
made up. AS the men who n All il while
he lived, look back toward IL. and Ms the
men who know il only by history look
back toward it. they will see in the great
! column and pillar of strength and
power that Horace Greeley made
VI tut ATtOuHos NOT any lulnk tnAt cow
srdice helped To rear. but som slhlng that
courage and consci nee raised up for
American respect ana admiration. both Ia
his own day and for all time to come
Who viii say this Is not the greater sort
/ and the truer sort of edilor2
The noble words of Mr.. Greeley ahov,
referred to. were as follows:
i have repeatedly been stlng by III,
receipt of letters gravsly informing mt
| that nv course and views 90 a current
topic were adverse to public opinion. iht
writers evidently assuming, as matter
of course. that Was a mere jumping.
jack. who only needed To know what
other people thought To insure nv in.
slant and ahiect conformity 10 their pre-
JUDGES That II jour
nalist was in any sense publ teacher
that he necessarily had convictions
and was not likely 10 suppress them be-
cause they were not shared nv others-ir
short, that his calling was other and
higher than that of waiter at restau.
rant. expected to furnish whatever was
called for. so as the pay was forthcoming
- these exsubscribers had evidently no,
for one moment suspected That such
persons have little or no capacity to in
suit, is very true; and yet q man is some.
what degraded in his own regard by
learning that his vocation is be d in such
low esteem by Others.