Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1892-03-05

All agree that politicians are
not appreciative of the ser
vices rendered by the news
papers and that while in the
heat of a political contest they
are anxious that their favorite
paper should fire effective
broadsides into the opposition,
after the battle is won, they
have not the manliness to
stand up for the editors who
have stood up for them, but
endeavor to curry favor with
everyone. One of the best
articles on the subject which
it has been our pleasure to
perusc comes from the trench
ant pen of editor Ash, of the
Cecil Democrat. He says:
There is a prevailing opin-
ion that newspapers are
merely public servants TO be
used and abused at the public
discretion. and that their edi-
tors, managers and proprie-
tors are creatures of small mo-
ment except where they can
be used as the means to at
tain some desired end. If a
subscribers suffers some insult,
fancied or real. he thinks his
diaper ought to take up the
cudgels in his defence. If an
advertiser is pressed by a
competitor he thinks his pa
per ought to advocate the
removal of his rival from the
current of trade. If a church
suffers some indignity it ex-
poets the united press to de
nounce in the most extreme
terms the party who takes
issue with it. If a public
measure of some kind is sug-
gested the local papers are
expected to take up the mat
ter and push it to a success
full completion. If a politician
announces himself as a candi-
date for an office, lowly or ex-
allied, the paper which he
favors with his patronage
no matter how limited that
my be-must eulogize him in
glowing terms and pour forth
a stream of mud and censure
upon his opponent. If the
particular party or faction,
with which the paper has po-
litical utilization, is engaged in
a campaign, the paper is
expected to bear the brunt Of
the battle. to have its columns
bristling with verbal bayonets,
and each issue to be a broad
side poured into the ranks oI
the enemy.
All this is expected, and
that without the slightest ref
erence to the manner in which
it will affect the editors OF
owners of the paper or its
business interests.
Now why should this be so
True the press of the country
is the 9or bobnlI, but the
newspaper business is a.
much a commercial business
as the selling of merchandise
and with very isolated excep
tons all those engaged in il
are SO engaged for pecuniarl
profit, and they should not be
expected to express opinions
are assume positions which
are inconsistent with their
business interests or in which
there is neither profit noI
advancement. IL they are to
be entirely public servants LEI
the public subsidize them anc
place their managers upon d
salary and them command
them at its own sweet will.
So far as the demands
made by political candidate.
are concerned they are jusr
and right so far as the candi
date is the exponent of III,
sentiments of the paper. bur
to be expected to enter into a
bitter personal contest. the
result of which would make
more enemies than friends foi
the paper, is exacting toe
much. No candidate shoulc
desire his paper to laud hin
up to the skies. nor to US,
such exaggerated expression.
of praise that they refuse L
flow readily from the eulo
gist's pen but hang lik,
mother at its point. Neithc
should he expect or desire hi
organ to say all manner o
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