The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-26
JOURNALISTS IN COUNCIL.
Annual Meeting of the State Press Associa-
tion-Able and Interesting Address
n> of President Wallace.
News and Courier. |

News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, July 19.-The Worlds
Far elixir, and the growing interests
10 Journalism and the State Press Asso-
cirtion have combined to make the
anneal meeting quite successful
event. The attendance is especially
large and representative, and what Is
more, the interest in the work of the
editor is keenly shown. The Associa-
ton can now be considered on the
high road to success, and it will not be
long before every active newspaper
man is. enrolled as member The
association has been partiularly FORUM
ate in its selection Of officers, as harder
workers could not very we'll have been
found.
Twentyt seven new members were
elected to-day.
The meeting of the State Press Asso-
citation was called to order by Presi-
dent w. II. Wallace, of the New berry
Observer, who called upon Chaplain
Brown, of the Christian Neighbor, to
open the meeting with prayer. After
~ the devotional exercises President Wal
lace said that he thought it in place to
say word or two to his friends, the
members.
PRESIDENT WALLACE,
4 who is the distinguished editor of the
Newberry Observer, made straight
forward talk. He has been in the news
paper business since 1876, first as editor
of the Newberry Herald and since 1888
of the Observer. which he has made
one of the leading papers Of the State,
He said:
It gives NE great pleasure to meet so
many members Of the South Carolina
State Press Association here to-day.
hope this large attendance augurs
new era and upward movement in the
association. It would be good thing
for Us all and for the public whom we
serve, five, the "moulders of thought"
could see more of each other. Personal
association for short time once year
at our State meetings would make US
better acquainted with each other, ano
serve the good purpose of rubbing Oh
some of our sharp angles AID corners.
The result would he that our discus
sions and controversies would take a
more liberal turn, and there would be
more respect and consideration foreach
others opinions. Personal controver-
sizes, so often degenerating into abuse,
: would give place 10 discussions Of pub
lie questions ON the high plane Of rea-
son and argument.
There never was a time in The his
tory of this State when so great a re-
sponsisility rested on the profession Of
journalism. Whether newspapers shape
or reflect public sentiment, there is no
doubt that they give tone and charac-
ter to public discussion. 1t is time
that calls for moderation in maintain
ing opinions and federation towards the
opinions of others. There is nothing
so ointolerant as ignorance; hence those
who know the least are most impa-
tient 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 good example of those 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 una
nimity of opinion on public matters,
for that is not possible, and not desira-
bleif it were possible, but by a spirit of
federation, each man giving every
other man credit for honesty of opinion
and rightfulness Of purpose.
There is bitter fight raging between
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 journal
ist is strongly tempted to rush head
long into the thickest of this fight, to
charge with the impetuous radicals or
to resist the onslaught with the moss
backs. But wisdom dictates that IN
this case, as in all others, the true po-
sition is between the two extremes, and
it is the province and the sacred duty
of the journalist to keep level head
and 8 firm foot as he treads this narrow
path, so that cut of all the turmoil and
strife that rage around him he may be
able to separate the good from the bad
and discern the true from the false.
At this time the qualifications most
needful to the journalist, after intelli-
eence and information, for which there
are no substitutes, is an even temper.
This, aud this only, will save him from
becominga prey to his own and others
passions and prejudices and the pup
pet Of clique or faction, and will en-
able him to consider every public ques-
ton inpartially and calmly. The editor
who frets and fumes because things
don't go bis way is like spoiled child
and makes Himself 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, and not on the crest