The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-07-25
THE JOURNALISTS IN COUNCIL.
Annual Meeting OF the State Press
H Association.

ing in the city of Columbia on the 10tl
and Goth of July. The attendance wa
unusually large, and the business wa
dispatched satisfactorily.
President w. III. Wallace, of the
Newberry Observer, called the meet
Sidi III. Browne, OF the Christian
Neighbor, to open tho proceedings with
After the Introductory exercises
President Wallace delivered the follow
ing address
1t gives me great pleasure to meet
so many members of the South Caro-
lima Press Association here to-day.
hope this large attendance augurs 9
new era and an upward movement In
the association. 1t would be good
whom we serve, IL we, the moulders
OF thought" could see more Of each
other. Personal association for q short
time once year at our State meet
ings would make us better acquainted
with each other, and serve the good
purpose of rubbing off some of our
sharp angles and corners. The result
would be that our discussions and con-
troversies would take more liberal
turn, and there would be more respect
and consideration for each others
often degenerating into abuse, would
give place to discussions of public ques-
tions on the high plane of reason and
argument.
There never was time in the his
tory of this State when so great q
responsibility rested on the profession
of journalism. Whether newspapers
shape or only reflect public sentiment,
there is no doubt they give tone and
character to popular discussion. 1t Is
time that calls for moderation in
maintaining opinions and liberation
towards the opinions of others. There
is nothing so intclerant as ignorance,
hence those who know the least are
most impatient Of contradiction Or
correction.
In these days passion and prejudice
run high-they have largely usurped
the throne of reason-and there is no
telling to what lengths they may go
if not checked by the sober Judgment
and the good example of these who
speak to the people day after day and
week after week. 1t Is in their power,
to large degree, to still the tempest
of passion and prejudice that RACES in
the hearts of the people. Not by q
nnanimity of opinion on public matters,
for that is not possible, and not desira
BILE If it were possible; but by spirit
of liberation, each man" giving every
other man credit for honesty of opinion
and rightfulness of purpose.
There is bitter fight raging be-
tween radicalism and conservatism
Or more properly speaking, between
innovation and stagnation. There is
much that is commendable on both
sides of the question. It is the same
contest that has been waged with more
or less vigor and venom for centuries.
The journalist is strongly tempted to
rush headlong into the thickest of the
fight, to charge with the impetuous
radicals or to resist the onslaught with
the mossbacks. But wisdom dictates
that in this case, as in all others, the
true position is somewhere midway
between the two extremes and it is
the province and the sacred duty of
the journalist to keep level head and
firm foot as he treads this narrow path;
so that out of all the turmoil and strife
that RACES around him he may be able
to separate the good from the bad and
discern the true from the false. At
this time the qualification most needful
to the journalist, after intelligence and
information--for which there are no
substitutes-is an even temper. This,
and this only, will same him from
becoming prey to his own and others
passion and prejudice and the puppet
of u clique or faction, and will enable
impartially and calmly. The editor
who frets and fumes because things
don't go his way is like spoiled child
and makes himself q public nuisance,
besides destroying his own usefulness.
The journalist who stays near the
line that divides the two extremes is
oftenest right, and enjoys the greatest
serenity of mind. The calm is in the
trough of the sea, not on the crest OF
the waves. He who occupies the
"golden mean" between two extremes
is sometimes spoken of contemptuously
as trimmer; but such an one will
be respected far above him who sees
nothing good except on one side, and
whose chief occupation and delight it
is TO eulogiZe whatever his side does
and belitile whatever is done by the
other.
The tendency in journalism is to ex-
trrmes, because the extreme journals
app ear to the superficial observers to
exercise great power. Such journals
appear to exert a wonderful influence
over the public mind, and their editors
vainly imagine they are raising tire.
always what they seem. 1t is the old
fable of the fly on the chariot wheel.
So far from extreme newspapers
exercising controlling influence
they simply float on the tide and are
carried along by it. 1t is easy to float
The test of strength comes when one
buffets against the waves. The
journalist with the majority appears
to be doing great things; but he Is
only following, not leading.
And here arises the question thai
presents itself at one time or another
to every conscientious editor How
shall be governed in the conduct o
my paper by the opinions of the peo
pie? The argument on one side is
that the people are the rightful rulers
and therefore entitled to have theil
own views and measure carried out
that this is government of the people
by the people, for the people, ant
therefore whatever they want done
should be done, and that 1t is undemo
cratic to oppose them. The more
pleasant course would assuredly be t.
90 with the people or the majority
That involves no effort and no sacrifice
and il entities one to be regarded-b
politicians at least-as a friend o
the people," If newspaper Is to b
simply the mOuth-piece of q clique
whether large or small, that Is tn
proper course but II it aspires to b
an exponent of truth and right, regard
less OF majorities or minorities o
factions, it must form Its opinions O
Il