The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-05-21
THE NEWSPAPER.
A 1irror of the Community in Which
1t CircuIates.
IBy Owen Scott.

ne Newspaper IS the choicest fruit
of our civilization and at the same
time the essential force in its evolution.
1t stimulates individual achievement
and propagates more perfect govern
ment among men. 1t vitality touches
society to its ultimate fiber. Every
straturasfinds its journalistic exponent.
If not omniscient it is we'll nigh omni-
present and omnipotent.
10 this body OF representatives of
the press, it may not be amiss to dis
cuss some Of the functions of a news
paper. The name is significant of its
missions. 1t gathers its material from
the four corners of the earth; the north,
east, west and south; and christens
them news. The initials of the points
of the compass may or may not have
given rise to the name.
One thing is sure, that that which
is new is the essential of success. With
out the fresh, the novel, the paper is
stale and Improbable to the reader.
The subscription list will dwindle SO
that shrewd advertisers will not care
to invest in its columns.
The publication which in its line
gives the most news, will be the most
marked success. Other considerations
are secondary.
The ideal newspaper can not be the
personal organ of its editor or publish
er. TO make it thus robs it of its le-
gilimate influence and degrades it to
the mere personal vanities, egotism,
prejudices, aims, and objects of a single
individual.
| A newspaper is not public charity.
Times have changed in this respect
Once the editor was a deadhead in
every enterprise, even including his
own, if a newspaper then might have
been called an enterprise. This view
was especially applicable to the country
press.
A newspaper is the mirror of the
community in which it circulates. The
people OF a town or city may look their
papers in the face and see themselves
as they are.
A newspaper can't run long in a
town and be in advance of it. The
paper will either bring the town along
with it or the publisher will move out
and let drone put the people to sleep
again.
The largest paper is not always the
best one, neither is it the most profit
able to the publisher. The metropoli-
tan daily with its circulation by tens
of thousands, has its place nc more Sc
curely than has the village sheet with
its few thousands or even hundreds.
Each fills it place and cultivates its
field.
To be truly useful to the community
large or small, the paper must be it:
faithful exponent. Because paper is
to publish news, it does not follow
that it should merely devote its columns
to all that is evil, scandalous and sen
sational. The wisdom Of the editor is
here in play. He should cut down
and Gull out, add to and strengthen
as occasion, good sense al d good taste
require.
Many of the best things OF paper
are those that are not in it. A wise
editor knows this, and avoids difficul
ties by judicious pruning and culllng
Much of the best of the editors work
never gets into type; some OF his worst
does.
1t is the greatest educational force
in society. 1t epitomizes and ampli
hes the pulpit, the rostrum, the stage
the stump and the school. The preache
addresses his hundreds, and WELD
within his circle great influence. The
press takes his words and preache
them to thousands of readers, many o
whom seldom enter within the souno
of the voice of the teacher Of divine
truths.
1t will thus be seen that wha!eve
the press receives from society by way
of patronage and support, it returns ;
thousand fold on the investment. The
press is private enterprise with public
functions.
The newspaper is not like the com
mon carrier, subject to legislative con
cessions from the State, but derives it
Just powers from the consent of tn
governor.