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


tenpornres there should exist the most col
dial relations, and If such condition exist
they will, instead OF injurlng each other, b
mutually beneficial in thousand ways.
any country editor, 1t should be of tn
newspapers which are made up iron
the distant offices Of the daily newspapers
and which are sent out at q nominal cost, ant
which must poorly satisfy the public deman'
for local newspaper. 49,
The country paper cannot compete VIII
such papers in the amount OF reading matter
but 1t should seek TO publish the valuable
local news which can be had nowhere else.
There is In every county demand for loca
news, and that demand, II answered, Will b
sufficient TO pay the man who prints the pa
per, at least some compensation for his Ia
Dor and capital.
NO MONOPOLY OF VIRTUES.
I think 1t would be we'll for every editor tt
set II down as fact that each and every ont
as worthy motives as he is himself. II h'
cannot bring himself to this way OF think
Ing then he may rest assured that a diStnter
ested public Will disagree with him;
If the editor is not stone blind, he vii
find BY experience that the exercise OF an en-
larged sel6shness will bring much better re
sulis than that narrow selfshness which en-
cuorages hatred, malice, and disposition tc
press a competitor To the wall.
From the beginning OF the world down tc
the present time men have differed on politi
cal, moral and religious questions, and, al
far as have been able TO learn, the men o.
no one form OF belief have ever been
able to successfully claim monopoly OF all the
virtues.
The virtues and excellencies are indeed
much more equally divided than political
extremists and religious Zealots Will admit,
The extremist on one side is never entirely
right. nor is the extremist on the other side
totally wrong.
Truth, justice, and right are always to be
fou2d In modaratlOn-at the halfway station
between the extremes.
From this fact we may learn, not only Ia
question ourselves, but 10 oe Tolerant VILE
those who may differ from US In opinion.
The best man should always seek 10 be
more polite than the man whose claims to
equality he may be unwilling to admit.
And In cases Of estrangement 1t Is always
in order for the man who has more sense, and
a better heart, to make the first step looking
toward better relations.
PERSONAL, IRRELEVANT MATTER AND ILL
TEMPER.
A common and almost universal fault to be
found In editorial controversies is the lug
ging in OF irrelevant matter, and In using
personalities, instead OF applying ourselves
strictly TO the merits Of the question at issue
We have in this Association many men o1
education, ability, and long experience, but
l think there are instances In which the
teachings OF education, and the lessons OF g
long experience are laid aside for the use o
epitheis and unjust insinuations.
Ill-temper seems ever ready, and some
times ill.manners may be called upon to take
the place of work where just appreciation
of the situation would demand the exercise o
our best efforts.
Suppose, for instance. a great news
paper should choose TO say anything In refer.
ence to any member of the country press.
Is there any good reason why the great
editor should presume to ridicule ane
attempt to place the little editor IN DO
Even II the great editor should regart
The little editor rs entirely lacking ir
the greatness which he himself assumes
would 1t not be just rs well to treat bis less pre-
tentious brother with al least the respect tina
he would give to the city drayman?
Why should any editor treat any othel
editor with q consideration which is less re
spectful than he would give TO the town con
stable?
Why should any brother editor be deferred
from attending the profitable and delightful
meetings Of this Association because OF an,
bitterness which may have been unnecessa
questions. and into which personalities may
have been unwisely and unnecessarily in
jectedf
EDITORIAL MISTAKES.
In the editorial conduct we would cite tn
following mistak es, in recapitulation:
/. It Is a mistake to suppose that the exhi
bition OF Ill nature is proper at any time.
2. II is unjust to make charges or insinua
tions against the character OF any one, bu
more especially against that OF brother edi
tor and 1t Is equally pernlcious to speak o
him in any way with the evident desire OF
actual purpose OF lowering him In the public
esteem.
8. 1t is mistake to make war on a loca
contemporary. Such q course will fail OF 1t
purpose, and will iniure the editor who re
sorts to such methods, without injuring tn
maligned paper.
4. It is a mistake to undertake to correct
a local contemporaries religious or polltica
utterances.
5. It Is a mistake TO regard local com pet
success. II we are frank and kindly In ou
Intercourse with each other, the local con
tern poraries will aid and sustain each other
both In business and In public estimation. .
q. II Is q mistake to parade our busines
matters before the public whose Interests ar
always adverse TO ours.
I. 1t is wrong TO quarrel about the publ
| by law, and no one has legal right to retail
or keep back any portion OF 1t. In so far a
the printer works for the Court or Its officers
he Is entitled TO the fees, as much rs the Clerk
| the sheriff, the Master, or other servants u
| the public. In cases where the officers ar
disposed to act Improperly, 1t is we'll To defea
| them at the next election. Any officer wh
| la indscreet enough to attempt such q shor
can be successfully assailed. II the paper
stand together their reelection can be defea
ed every time. Their reelection being NOR
important to them than the cheating OF tn
printer, 1t is foolish for the offer to create al
| tagonismS, and II Is a mistake for primers
quarrel about their fees.
s. II is a mistake to create antagonism
from any source. If any citizen assalls Us /
any paper, IT is better not to answer at al
but If we reply we should do so In respectfr
manner, never deviating from the questio
at issue. AS a matter of fact others are q
much entitled to their own opinion
AS we are TO ours, and as further and indi
putable fact we are certainly not called upo
TO assnil character or TO malign mt
tiVes, which the public will think are as goo
and as patriotic ~ our own.
g. 1t is mistake 10 allow any man to US
our columns either for the exhibition
temper or for the publication OF insultin
language; II Is legitimate TO combat errors In
respectful manner, yet character should h
held sacred, and no editor should allow h
paper to be used to besnirch the good nam
OF any one.
time 10 national issues, and II Is equally e
! roneous to undertake TO direct the politics
the State. Let others do these things, Will
, we attend 10 the county news and give mo-
time 10 our own business.
/ IL. In campaign years II Is q greet mistat
to champion the cause OF any county cand
f date. II two citizens are running for tt
Senate, let them fight 1t out between then
serves. We can vote as we choose, but IL Is
degradation of journalism for a newspaper
:, dwarf itself into an "organ." for the purpo
! Of espousing the cause OF any man. The a
vocacy ofa principle Is quite different hin
b. An editor, for instance. may advocate pr
: hihition. IT any candidate gets on our plan
3 and he chooses TO take advantage OF our /
/ tluence 10 that way, that Is all right, b
no editor should repudiate his own primo
: pies TO adopt any other mans platform. l.
e no editor forget that the candidate again