The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-06-12
GhrDrmurraf-S Star
EDITORS.

he CGfhOttc hHight OF n fecen
d.te quotes Rev. 7. II. Cronin''
PAPER read at a convention o
Catholic editors a, sembled in Buf
Ialo. 1t is such a splendid article.
il IN uld he universally read:
1T is often asserted, says the
reverend gentlemen, 10y superficial
observers that this is an age of
news and that editorials are Il
srperlluiiy, that men want facts
and have no time for opinions.
Never was there a greater mistake.
Opinions are most patent lactS,
and The very hurry and rush which
demand condensed news, denotes
also that opinions regarding that
news shall be placed before the
public in The same manner. Here
in lies The mission OF The editorial
page:
At formulates opinions for the
busy. moullS The thought of The
minimizing, encourages the aSplr-
Ing and instruCts Inc ignorant. II
j. The gieat safeguard against mis-.
representation. 1t EXPOSES talla-
cies, supports HE trdth, applauds
virtue, liagellaleS WRONG, defends
the weak and binds the strong.
As he press is the vast safeguard
OF popular sovereignty, 50 the edl-
lorial page is lie irumpet-tOngued
voice Of The Tree.
10 say that paper which fur
nl>hes only facts Is the ideal jour
nal of the future, Is to say, by
analogy, that the coming man
should be dumb. He may convey
intelligence but he may not speak.
lie may see aud know what others
do, but he need not discuss the oc
currence. He may think but he
should not share his thoughts, as
that would be a waste OF time. In
like proportion, we would be de-
prived Of the benefit aii-ing from
the thoughts Of others.
Such y person would, from
present standards, appear a most
unfortunate and unhappy being.
Yet, by comparison, that would be
Just lie condition Of n newspaper
from which The editorial page was
lacking. 1t might record news, it
might be intelligent and accurate,
conscientious and enlerpriSing, but
1T would be lacking the most i'm
portant function for the d. semina-
ting of knoWieIge-a voice.
mo, whatever the revolution Of
journalism may be in the discre.
ZION of better news facilities, the
editorial page will always continue
TO be The essential feature of The
paper.
From constant association and
ever-groWlng experience, the editor
is fitted to estimate more justly
and correctly than The lay reaGer
The relative value and inherent
importance Of The facts that are
flashed 10 him on lhe wings of The
Lightning from all the boundaries
OF The world. His mental vision
is wider so far as the news service
opens to him a more extended
horizon OF teleLraphic facts and to
that degree he is enaLlcd TO be at
once more conservative and more
exact than those who have only
one avenue of information where (
he has thousands. Hence the edl-
ter, like the trained professional
man in any branch Of human ser
vice mu t always be a necessity 10
a great, progressive and influential
paper.
Moreover, no journal that hopes
10 be a power-and where j. there
one that does not will ever
dream of sacrificing the tremend-
Ous lever it has III The large con
s%iiluenry If readers who are too
careless, 100 indifferent, or too in
dolent TO formulate their own
opinions. Such people readily
adopt the editorial news Of their
favoriie paper and 10y a sort oil
mental attraction become its en-
thuSiaslic advocates. This is The
lass after all which furnish the
power and impose the responsible
~, so far as the editorial page is
concerned. The editors ability TO
away their opinions makes his jour.
nal a living and a vital force in all
questions in which this easy going
constituency figure as factors, while
their ready acquiesceuce renders
his task one of great d~elicacy, CON
science and responsibility. In pro.
portion, therefore, as he is made
the steward of such an immense
power and influence either his
fame Is great, il he is high and no.
bic In his administration of his
trust, Or his name is infamous, il
he Is venal, shutting or corrupt"
An editor was asked If he ever
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