The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-13
THE COUNTRY EDITOR.
PRACTICAL POINTS FOR PUBLISHERS
AND PRINTERS.

Remarks of Hugh Wilson, OF the Alb
beyiIIe Press and Banner, at the
South Carolina State Press Associ'
alton, Anderson, July 2, 1892.
Without assuming to know more OF the
printing business than the youngest orotnel
in the profession. and being embarrassed by
the conviction that much which Will say
will be rejected by my brethren, offer these
suggestions Tor what they are worth, without
IN any way seeking to assert that my opln.
ions are more correct or more eXpedient Than
are the experiences and observations OF oth
ers. .
The subject OF Country Journalist and
Printer" Is SO comprehensive and touches so
many OF the details of the newspaper buSi.
ness that hardly know what Is expected OF
me. Even II be lack ing In abll1ty iuliy 10
perform the task which has been assigned TO
me, can assure my brethren that / have no
desire and will make no effort to DO more
than to discharge the duty which was allotted
10 me.
Discussing the first part of the subject
which has been assigned TO me, would say
that would magnify the office OF editor and
journalist. The best success demands the
highest talent, the most Intelligent and most
conscientious convictions Of right and wrong.
1t requires seli-denial and the most un.
fiinchng and untiring discharge OF honest
lie for moral aid and material support In the
pursuit OF the highest of all the earthly profess
sions-that OF journalist. l make no excep.
tion.
MORAL AGENT AND TEACHER.
Asa moral agent and as q teacher OF good
manners and as dissemination OF christian
truths the ideal journalist is far In the lead,
and does more for education. morality and
christianity than all the preachers and teach
ers within his sphere.
THE RIGHT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
Ithas been said that Journalism is now
truly an estate OF the realm; more powerful
than any OF the other estates; more powerful
than all of them combined" and we would
add, If The Individual journalist would stand
intelligent Judgment and must exercise ms
opinion without being influenced by any col
lateral circumstances. He should hare no
other aim than 10 do the right-Gnd TO ito he
An editor 10 be successful must have decld-
ed convictions, but he should express them
with due and proper regard for the conVlc-
tions OF those who differ from him.
MUST LOOK TO THE WHOLE PUBLIC FOR SUP
PORT.
He should realize the fact, that while pub.
fishing newspaper he must look TO the great
public for his support. He should mark out
his line OF duty, and he should NOT swerve
from II or compromise principle for tempo
rary gain in money or popuarity:-The eyes
OF the world are upon him, and II he sacrifice
principle or yield his convictions to please
any set or coterie, he will in fact gain nothing,
but will lose much.
The whims and desires Of factions and CO.
teries are as variable and as changeable as
views in the revolving Kaleidoscope. and he
who seeks to follow The dictates OF others or
undertakes TO express the sentiments of those
who may assume TO control Will fail TO reach
the highest success.
EDITOR SHOULD CONQUER SUCCESS.
Instead of existing "by your per-
mission" the journalist should conquer
saccess, and command reasonable considera.
tion both at the hands OF individuals and
OF the public. Instead of accepting any
own, having only the right in view. Those
who establish organs and play set tunes will
soon tire the public, when they must sink
out OF sight, and 60 down into financial ruin.
NEW AND OLD PAPERS.
1t is seldom best 10 establish new paper.
1t Is often better 10 buy out the old es.
tablished office. 1t has been well said tina q
new paper may he set down as an eX pertinent
for the first eight years of its existence. Even
when the new paper succeeds In establishing
itself, 1t will require years and the undertak-
Ing is always attended with great outlay In
money, and the labor, anxiety and constant
effort necessary for the success OF new pn-
per will greatly exceed the cost OF buying out
the old paper. 1t is cheaper 10 buy the old
paper than Ii Is TO Kill II.
REQUISITES TO SUCCESS.
The success full editor must be in sympathy
with the great ma S Of the people In their re-
llgiOus cOnv vlctlons.
No man who has in his heart a feeling OF
disrespect for the things which they hold ga
cred, should enter journalism.
To win the best success. and to be most use
full the country editor should cater for the
support OF the reliy ious and moral element
nothing offensive 10 morals or religion should
ever appear in his paper.
Eotta Cor 10 oh ~ ron % m
notifies In SO far as ottice-seeking is concern
lie can better serve the people by proclaim
ing his own views. while being just TO his op-
ponents. AS one not seeking votes. he can af-
FORD 10 praise or blame his own faction, and
he can with greater propriety grant merit or
award censure to his opponents BY adopt
ing n plan or right, he can thus De more USE
fuI 10 the public aud gain greater success for
himself.
The newspaper which is partisan in its con-
duct and unfair to the opposition cannot
hope for the largest measure OF success. Inc
most successful and the most influential
newspaper will give fair and impartial reports
of meetings, discussions or other occurrences,
without Injecting its own Views and diStort.
ing the facts The reports should he descrip-
tive and the reporter should refrain, as much
as possible from ieStfyint except as 10 c,s laGts
The people care very little for the editor
opinion so long as he is respectful, and sci
dom take any offence because OF opinion
OF the manner OF the expression, and not be-
cause o. the opinion.
PERSONS WHO SHOULD NOT EDIT NEwsrA-
PERS.
No man who proposes TO subordinate the
printing business 10 anything else should &c
into the newspaper business.
II he neglects his office for balls, tennis par
ties, whist parties, social gatherings. fishing
parties or other amusements, he should quit
Ir he is unwilling to do an indefinite
amount Of work and to spend the necessary
cash to publish good paper he mas missed
If he places the subscription price too low
he places an insurmountable barrier between
himself and snccess.
1T IS A MISTAKE TO MAKE A Low SUBScRlP
TIoN PRICE.
No man can furnish as good paper for ont
dollar as can be furnished Tor Two ooilars
10 two dollars, If the paper is worth the price
and according to my way OF thinking Two uoi
lars Is as low as any man can afford TO puo
lish paper which will be satisfactory 10 th'
people.
have been made to establish papers In Soul
Carolina at low subscription price. BY Ia
the greater number OF such ventures haV'
either passed out OF existence or increased
their subscription price.
ONE EDITORS UNSUCCESSFUL CAREER
About forty years ago. the 1ndepe,aaaeen ndp,aaee,
press which was afterwards CONSOLIDATED
with the AbbeviIle Banner. was started as
dollar noper, 1t caught the popular breeZ
for which the people were ready very Inucl
as they we're in 1890, and II did then as man!