The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-26

! Until he can be convinced of It's correctness
1t would be n fatal error in any brother to &C
cept any suggestion which have made. The
| fact is, reduced to the last analysis, every
man must be law unto himself
GENERAL REMARKS.
Every editor should aspire to be right
While every editor should follow the dictates
OF his own conscience. he should yield proper
respect for the judgment or others.
No editor should allow any mans dictum
to control his conduct, but that editor will be
wrecked who is so selfsufficient as tI
and he who cares not to have his own opin.
ions fortified by the approval OF good men
will sooner or later come TO grief :,
A newspaper Is supported by the educated
the mora and the religious classes. and every
successful editor must cater to these elements
believe the newspapers OF South Caro-
lima VIII ond Tish those
mistakes for the simple reason that 1t Is easi-
er TO point out the errors OF the past than II
Is to blaze out new and better paths for the
future.
And l know that what I have said will
have no greater influence upon the men,
bers OF this Association than their own
writings generally have upon the great mass
of their own readers.
II there Is an editor anywhere in this broad
land VIII fears to express his own couvic-
tions In the presence OF any living man, be
they what they may, he has missed his call
ing.
Il any newspaper man feels his In feriority
and looks reliantly to any human being rs
his guide and file leader. he cannot be an ed
itor IN the true sense OF the word.
Those who have cast Iron rules and never
change their opinions, live In past age, and
success can never come to them.
Those who pride themselves on their con-
sIstency, too often proclaim their Own
inability to progress with the age, and those
who are most consistent furnish the best
proof Of their own lack OF adaptability to sur.
surroundings, which confront them.
While there are certain principles that are
as Interchangeable as the everlasting hills, yet
II must not be forgotten that iu our progress
ON the road to knowledge and success. there
are thousand instances where consistency
is fool.
The demands npon as are such that we
often give expressions OF opinion on the spur
OF the moment, and sometimes without full
knowledge OF all the facts.
In such cases IL frequently occurs that
when we have had q better acquaintance
with the circumstances and when we have
had more time for reflection, that we change
And changing our minds. we should change
our utterances 10 conform to the convictions
of more mature thought.
In our editorial expressions we should be
ourselves, and proclaim our own principles.
Lot no man fatter himself with the Idea
that he can deceive the puolic or hide from
them his true character and his real mo-
The editor works in the broadest OF all the
fields.
His utterances are not an evanescent breath
which Is lost with the hearts first pulsatiOn,
but hey are placed In cold type before the
eve where they may be as lasting as time
Itself and where friends and foes alike may
place construction TO suit their respective
desires and sentiments.
While the people are true to their neWspa.
pers, and stick TO them with an uneqalled
fidelity, and In a thousand insta noes give evil
dence OF O loyalty which is unsurpassed,
they demand OF the editor the exercise or
broad and liberal views, and they expect him
TO keep out OF the narrow ruts into which 9th.
ers would be excused for falling.
The editor, from the very nature OF his sur
roundings, and because Of the important du.
ties which he assumes, should know that
be Is man, and he should realize the pres-
ence OF God in his own heart. And his con-
slant ambition should be TO reach that ex.
alted pos tIon which will enable him TO WELD
an influence for the good OF man and for the
glory OF God.
/ have finished.
Conscious OF my inability 10 come up to
the full measure OF what might be expected
of one who has undertaken to speak before
thisi Association, crave your Indulgence
while expressing the desire for cordial and
friendly relations with each and every editor
In South Carolina.