Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-05-12

proud, and use every available means
for a still higher achievement. Let
our legislative and congressional halls
thoroughly understand thai life there
is daty; that the press cannot. aad
will not be muzzled; that the people
shall be heard. and their rights as
American citizens protected. Oar laws
are liberal, indeed, toward the press
IN the power Of speech. And right it
should be! With a je~opardized press
the nation had better pull down the
star-spangled banner and take to hid
ing. This grand and glorious old
Union would, in a short while, be
turned into such a state of affairs as to
cause the old liberty bell ring up and
awaken the dead of rs, who. by blood.
Shed and human sacrifice secured our
freedom. What do you think they
would say9
1t is not my intention to advocate
the theory that the press can do as it
pleases, for this is impossible A man
without judgment, aud cowardly in
his duty, had better steer clear Of
newspaper work. He is dangerous.
both to the citizens and community.
But, the theory | mean to advance, is
that the law is liberal toward the press
in doing its Gafp. To do this suc-
cessfully one must exercise Judgment;
cast aside prejudice and malice; and
firmly and fearless chew to the line. -
When this is done properly YOU mus.
expect to artagonize someone-iucur
malice, contempt, and ridicule-aud
perhaps be prosecuted. But in tbs
end you'll be the victor. My exper-
fence has taught me, that to do my
duty toward my God and fellow-man,
this is a sure result. | claim it the
duty of every paper to assist the OPP
pressed-help onward the friendless-
lift up the Observation-Disclosures with a
clear conscience fight fearlessly for
justice-no matter who becomes woven
into the net. In doing this you may
perhaps meet with reverse; but, you
had better a hundred times suffer the
torments of your criminal enemies
and be able TO meet your God with a
clear conscience, and a satisfaction
that you have done your part. And
with all your reverses, prosecutions,
and troubles, you will always find the
better class of people endorsing you
and respecting your course. To run a
newspaper properly and suit everyone
is an utter impossibility. A success.
ful paper will always be found to have
plenty OF enemies. And why is this
| answer, simply because good and
intelligent people do not endorse vice,
and demand that it be exposed The
low or criminal class will not be ex-
posed without revenge. This means
that a paper must be for and against
one or the other. A criminals re-
venge can last but a short while, as
his life is such that in the end he will
suffer the penalty. But the antagon-
ism Of the better element proves in
jufious, as their lives are living OBJ
s~tacles Of impediment. As an illus.
~tration of this | will state that | know
of II person who is especially con
sidered a practical and theoretical
newspaper man, and | attribute his
success entirely to the course he has
pursued, and which is in accord with
my theory. Some years ago he waged
war against a clique OF political and
financial sharks, whose very conduct
and records were such as caused
them to be spurned. After many Sc
we're battles the paper came ont the
victor, as the clique were forced to
leave the community one by one, until
now only one Of them remains to re-
cord the struggle. The paper had a
hard fight, but its success was assured
Since that time it has grown and be-
come the best and most influential
paper in the town. People, who in the
beginning, withdrew their support,
afterward redoubied it, for the reason
alone that they believed it right. This
identical paper, under his manage
ment, has for at least fifteen years to
my knowledge, pursued such a course,
and virtually made its owner one OF
the successful and prominent men Of
our State to-day. No man ever enjoy
ed the confidence Of the people to a
larger degree than does he; and ] am
satisfied it is due principally to his
newspaper work. a say the same
of my newspaper friends in the city OF
Wheeling. and elsewhere. But, no
doubt, You know more Of their horors
and h~ard-earned laurels than ! do.
l am satisfied that the life Of a sue
~cessful newspaper man is more labor
Gus and troublesome than that OF any
other business. He hourly lives in
expectation Of being kicked down a
flight Of stairs, confronted with a re-
v%olver, a~rraigned in court, "cussed"
and ''cowhided, or waylaid in the
dark. This is doubtless ore Of the es-
sential requisites attendant upon sue
cess. The term duty conveys a wide
meaning, and with many papers is
conspicuous by it absence. So many
men think success dependent upon
popularity with all classes, and at
tempt such a curse by deception
but in the end they lose the respect Of
all. even the lowest element. Right
does not meet with approval Of every
body, and consequently the wrong
must be all the greater with a decep-
tive newspaper man. The press, like
politicians, is merely a public servant,
ami is expected to take are of the in
ferocfc 1f Ito o1rcftt.arfe r. IL