The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-10
Wednesday, April 10, 1885.
Pleasant Mention.

Pleasant Mention.
our respected nelghbor the McCormick
News makes pleasant reference TO the iact
of the celebration of the Seth anniversary Oh
the present editors connection with the l'ress
and Banner.
Not expecting any notice from anybody,
and not looking for it in any newspaper, we
accidently found it. For these reasons IL is
the more highly appreciated; but it does not
make us lose our head. We know that an
army OF well-meaning brethren stand ready
TO take the selfconceit out OF us.
We did not expect any notice OF our ami
versary for more reasons than one. The fact
is. il is of no special interest to anybody, and
for this reason, If for no other, we never
thought of any brother making mention Of
the fact
Our brothers action in making kindly no
tice is so at variance with the usual custom o.
detraction, that we are inclined to talk llt
tie.
We have sometimes thought that eallors
were not as considerate OF their brethren a.
are the member of the other professions. ana
this editor may be as derelict in this respec'
as anybody else.
Generally, lawyers, doctors, preachers, rail-
readers, and other men engaged in the same
line Of business, are more courteous 10 each
other than TO anybody else. and treat them
with more consideration, but as rule, II
looks to this editor as though many editors
entertain ill-will. malice or jealousy Of those
whose opinions or utterances or actions they
would notice.
hot aai no
versy with any other editor without imput
ing bad motives or without unnecessarily
bringing in disagreeable expressions In ref
erence to the brother editor, when u
the same discussion should have occurred be.
tween one editor and citizen of his own
county, everything might have been perfect
ly pleasant and altogether lovely.
The spirit of detraction seems to be abroad
in the land. Emulating the example of tie
the press which seldom sees anything good
except in "me and my wife, and my son Johr
and his wife," and following too nearly the
methods OF the police gazettes or those scaV
engers who look for and see nothing but filth
the writer's for the press to-day too often
seem anxious to "woop somebody.
We take for granted that every man finds il
very hard 10 be as perfect as his critics would
demand, and that each struggling brother
needs the friendly touch of the elbow.
1t would seem more creditable If we helped
each other along, rather than sought to throw
obstacles in the way.
1t is a mean disposition that would promp,
any writer to assail the character OF anyone.
While 1t is perfectly right and proper to COM
bat particular principles, yet 1T Is beneath the
dignity Of true journalism to seek to destroy
the character of anyone. and it Is no less Of
fensive to decency and common justice 10 al
low others the use OF the columns OF a news
paper for indiscriminate and vicious attacks
upon the character Of any one. Tine fact that
q man is attacked by viciously disposed per.
son is evidence that the assaiied person Is
somebody, whose character, whose actions OF
whose opinions have weight or are worth
something, while the presumption is against
the assailant who would not have been heard
of except for his attack on gentlemen.
While others may do as they please, and
while we have no advice to give anybody, yet
this newspaper will not assail character, nor
will this editor allow anything, from any
body, to appear in these columns which may
be vicious or wanton attack on anybody
To publish insulting words in newspaper
which the writer would not say to the face OF
the assailed, is as cowardly as it would be II
he pasted the same on post and then ran of
before his mallgned neighbor came along.
This newspaper believes that such communi
cations which should be excluded, from the
more respectable newspapers. The methods
of the bully and detractOr must sooner or
later give place to the more decent journal
ism, and the time is coming when Selfre
Specting editors will cease to be. SO 10 speak
slop bowls for the reception anybody's filth.
AS notable exception to the carping, fault
finding newspaper editors we would mention
our good friend Editor James II. Bacon. He
has as strong convictions as any body, and he
sometimes rasps the politicians most severe
ly, but when he speaks Of brother editor he
never forgets the courtesy which is due from
one gentleman to another. In long career
we do not remember that he ever sought 10
injure any brother in good name or estate.
In like manner we would note the consist.
ent, dignified and courteous character OF the
Yorkvile Enquirer. If that paper has ever
tried TO deprive any man OF his good name
we have not noticed the effort. The owners
OF that papers devote all their energies TO the
making Of an excellent paper, and no man in
South Carolina has ever made a greater sue
cess.