The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-09-18
COUNTRY NEWSPAPERS.


papers that seems to be always true is
that they are never satisfactory to the
people who support them. Yet there
is nothing so hard to kill as a country
newspaper, however unpopular it may
be. a paper that really does not
amountto much ordinarily may amount
to good deal if an intruder comes in
to its field, and gentlemen looking for
locations should be careful of starting
newspapers in towns for no other rea.
son than that the people encourage
them.
An ordinary business is rated a fail
ure if it does not pay. There are plen-
ty Of country papers that have not
made dollar in twenty years, but the
publishers hold on with foolish stub
bornness, though they might succeed
in some other calling; they seem 10
imagine that little red man will wrig
gle up through their Office floors some
day, and make their good will as
valuable as they believe it to be. /
have heard many men say they were
certain they could not succeed as doc
tor. lawyer. merchant, dentist, or what
not, but | have never heard one say
he could not succeed as an editor, par.
tlcularly as a country editor. Really
good newspaper men are scarce in the
country, for 4 business man and writ
or must be combined to insure sue
cess but there is no lack of newspa-
pers, and as half the people seem to
be waiting to give the business a trial.
| feel certain that the supply will al
ways be considerably greater than the
demand.
Although as nation we are sup
posed to have unusual confidence in
newspapers, shall always believe that
there is strong undercurrent of op-
position to them among our liberty
loving people. If all the papers In 4
town unite in favOring 4 measure, u
large proportion of the people are sure
to oppose it. The three papers of a
certain small city once united in op-
posing candidate for an important
Office, but the people elected the can
didate by the largest majority ever
heard Of in that region. The candidate
was elected to fill an unexpired term,
and when he came up for the same Of
flee year later, the papers all agreed
not to mention his name, and the OBJ
jectionable candidate was defeated. l
have known so many editors to fail in
forcing the people into a particular
way of thinking that | am inclined to
believe it is safest modestly to follow
the best public sentiment One of the
best newspaper men | ever knew, and
who had the reputation of being al
ways original, once confessed to me
that most of his matter was cleaned
from others. He cultivated the bright
men in the community, and his note
book was ottener used in taking down
opinions and suggestions than in CLEAN
ing news items. / have heard of a
bright fellow who went to Dakota with
a printing outfit, but being unable to
find suitable town, he took up a
claim. The crops failed, and he issued
small weekly paper from an imagine
ry town, giving it name, and creating
men and women, and institutions. His
comments were very breezy, as can
well believe, since he was responsible
to no one somehow it is SO much
easier to say. 1T serves him right"
than it is to say, 1T serves you right"
He criticized imaginary plays at imag-
mary theaters he criticized imaginary
judges OF imaginary courts he ridiculed
an imaginary society, and generally
hit off popular delusions so we'll that
his paper attracted attention, and a
town was finally built on his farm.
But this is very rare case, even If 1t
be true. The newspaper usually iol-
lows civilization, and the newspaper
usually follows public opinion.
The longer saying has been accep-
ted and used, the greater the likelihood
that it is true therefore | have great
confidence in the saying that "the
voice of the people is the voice OF
Cod 1t will be observed that ! have
used the English of this quotation, al
though l am perfectly familiar with
the Latin Of it, having seen it so much
in country papers.
Country editors quarrel with one an
other too much too many of them
imagine that they are buzz saws, and
long for opportunity to prove it. The
people are not interested in these
quarrels, and as a rule do not like
them. A tilt between editors may be
occasionally interesting, but only wher
the parties to it are exceptionally
clever. In a newspaper controversy
an editor cannot defend himself mod
esty will not permit it he can only at
tack the other editor, SO that while
both are besmirched, neither is cham
pioned. There is one name that should
be kept out of newspaper, whereve
DuhliShed and that ic the name of thf