The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-26
THE AMENITIES -
And Mistakes Of Journalism
Annual Address Before the State
Press Association i'm Columbia
July 10, 1898. by Hugh WflsOn,
Editor Of the AbbeviIle Press and

Banner.
In accepting the invitatio on 10 say some
thing to you tonight, 1 did no with many
misgivings.
Having long since learned to doubt my
own ability IL iy with diffidence that appear
before this Association, in whose ranks l see
so many ut whose feet might sit and lear
lessons Of wisdom, and at whose hands ]
might we'll receive instruction.
Believing as do, that ours Is second to no
profession on earth. I claim for 1t the highest
rank In the polite Il, the educational and the
religious world. Properly directed It's inhn.
ence Is unbounoed, and its power for good Is
incom paraby greater than that OF the teach
er. the orator, and the preacher.
The influence Of the teacher Is circumscrlb-
Ell by the limits OF the walls within which
he meets his classes; the power OF the orator
voice, while only the small portion OF any
community which embraces his particua
religious creed realizes anything OF the eio
ouence and earnestness with which the
preacher presents the living truths oi saw
ing grace.
But the press is far reaching and touches
humanity In all the walks OF life.
1t regards not the limited bounds OF reli-
gious creed. 1t over-steps the narrow limits
or sectarian dogmas to recognize the
universal brotherhood of man, ard to teach
the common Fatherhood OF US all.
Gentle, it goes to all aiik g, and appeals with
the same earnestness TO The reason, the soul,
aud the heart OF each.
1t has its mission on sea and land, and on
sunny plains and frozen peaks 1t performs
Its light girdles the earth, and its benign
influence extends to every part.
1t teaches to all classes and conditions OF
men those great truths which contribute 10
mans moral and spiritual welfare, and does
more TO disseminate the principles As taught
In the Bible than all the other agencies corr
bined.
1t creates within man thirst for learning
and developes in him those latent forces
which elevate him In ail the walks OF lite
and 1T him for final resting place with
God himself
The press is the friend of political freedom
Oratory is a lost art, the work OF the teach
er sinks out OF sight, the light OF the pulpit
pales lts Intellectual fires In the presence OF the
press, which, like the sun, continues TO rise as
IL Increases in light and warmth and life-giV
ing power.
THE AMENITIES AND MISTAKES OF JOUR
NALIsM.
-, Feeling then the importance OF our own
profession, you will allow ME TO speak o.
:'the Amenities and the Mistakes OF Journal
ism"
I do this in no fault.dndIng or carp
ing spirit but with the earnest desire thai
may say something which may suggeS,
thoughts in your own minds. that may help
us all on TO perfection.
Except in our own, nearly all the profes
Sions have codes OF ethics by which they are
governed. The doctors, the lawyers. the
teachers. all have either written or uE written
rules for their guidance
II the lawyer and the doctor are consider
ate Of their brethren. why should editors for
get the ordinery amenities Of life?
Competing merchants live In peace and
harmony, and often In the heartiest friend
ship, then why should The newspapers set uT
standard which is lower than theirs?
AS matter of fact one paper should not
presume to exercise a censorship over the
conduct OF neighborlng editor, nor should
ne make effnrt to irJure his business or tt
hiring him into public disiaVor. The con
duet OF his own paper will give Iu,l scope fol
all the ability Of the average editor.
While 1t Is perfectly legitimate In some In.
stances TO take Issue with particular state
ment or to combat principles =" hich have beer
enunciated, yet there never * IA time whe
the editor Is Justified In as>aliing the charac
Ter or motives Of any one. AMI he who does
30. or allows the use OF his columns for other'
10 do SO, in my opinion, IallS short OF main
tatnlng the highest Stu nunrdS.
Kindly relations Srn more pleasant Il
all, and VIII surely be more profitable thar
any policy Of aggression against the interest
and the good name OF the competitor. An!
effort to hold anybody up to public ridicul
u not only offensive to good manners. bu
1t ia Injurious to him who resorts " such
course.
am more or less familiar with the his,or
of Ihe newspapers IN South Carolina for th
last thirty years, and nm Mt this momen
unable to recall single instance where an
newspaper has ever gained anything by an.
effort to bring It's contemporary into publ
by any effort to ipjure the business of anoth
er, and have yet 10 learn Of any instanc
where the assaiIed paper has been hurt b
such course.
The great public heart will generally d
the right. Even II swayed temporarily fror
JuRtice, reason will finally resume her swa
and those who may have been unjustl
placed under the ban will be the gamer /
the end.
WHEN NEWSPAPER is INVINCIBLE.
The unprejudiced public stand TO the
newspapers with fidelity which Is unknow
TO other professions or to other lines OF trad!
The moment paper is attacked, publ
sympathy Is excited for 1t, and the papt
which has public sym pathy Is invinclble. :.
If the assailed newspaper maj intains IT
seif-respect and increases its efforts 10 SerV
the public faithfully and honestly can col
ceive OF no power, or combinatioE OF power
that can Kill IT,.
A paper may die of inactivity and lack
hut no paper can be killed, or even lpjure
by editorial assaults from It's competitor.
Violent opposition and determined effo
to destroy newspaper. coming from whateV'
source, must, from the very nature OF thing
fail OF It's pupose and IL ii were right al
proper for me to do SO, could give the resu
ar some personal experience In bell
assailed myself Within the history,
my own career, 1t was resolved th
the newspaper which l print should di
But it still lives, and now has more goo
subscribers. a better advertising patronag
and larger amount of job work, than at an
other period in It's history.
No matter what ability a man may hav
and no matter how great his personal ma
netisn, IT is beyond his power to inausn
any considerable portion ofthe public again
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