Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-11-20
IssAcHAR IN JOURNALISM.
Here Il True Picture Of the Press by
SNrlaa Editor.

Here Il True Picture Of the Press by q
Swiss Editor.
Issachar, the Scriptures tell us (never
mind about the particulars Of the de-
scription), "stoopeth between two bur
dens." Mr.. Larned, in his general sur
vey of the mission OF books and Of news
papers, is disposed TO lay upon our jour
nalistio Issachar a burden grievous to
be borne. Others have another back
load ready for his patient dorsalities.
A few remarks Of a different tenor may
therefore be in order at this stage Of the
march Of civilization, in which upon
any theory Issachar has vested inter
est.
At the Swiss national exposition Of
this year the newspapers of that small
republic made a display of their forces,
mastering in unexpected numbers. A
volume of more than 500 pages, contain
ing catalogue of zoos journals of all
forms and every kind published in the
cantons, was brought out, and in it were
relating to the origin and development
Of Swiss journalism, which appears to
be the growth Of just one century. The
oldest of the Swiss papers hardly dates
before 1895, and there are but half a
dozen which are 100 years old. A few
others are more than 80 years, but most
of the thousand are of the second half
of the century. The Swiss of the eight
zenith century and we'll into the nine
teenth lived without newspapers, as
they did without doctors and dentists,
says this volume, and got along we'll
without them. But now every one reads
and scolds as he reads. The editor of
this book recalcitrates little at this.
He says:
Would that the government whose
faults we cover up, the politicians whose
speeches We correct, the parties whose
platforms we publish, the election COM
mittees whom we lead TO victory or
whose defeat we disguise, the incapable
candidate whom we hold up as a great
man, the manufacturer whose advertise
ment gets slipped in, the trader who
Graves our kindness, the fnancier who
begs our services, the hotel keeper who
brings us bills of fare from which others
have eaten, the artist who EFFORTS big
adjectives for very little painting, the
author who bOres us with his dull vol
umes, the public which assails us with
reclamations-in short, the whole world
of unreasonable grumblers--could thank
us for our inexhaustible and childish
good nature and compensate US by graf
itude and respect for the endless bother
they haye given us. But, no! The jour
nalist IN Switzerland is tak ken for
kind Of drudge, Of whom anything can
be exacted, who owes something to
everybody and to whom nobody ever
thinks Of paying anything whatsoever.
In this childlike ingratitude Of the pub
lie we find a lofty satisfaction, unattain-
able by common men-the consoling
knowledge that we are better than our
reputation, that we are creditors OF
many rich folks without ever raising a
finger 10 collect the debt. All. the draft
they set to our lips is wholesome-and
exquisitely bitter. For the man con.
scious Of strength disdain ia divine
dose.
With some exaggerations this is a pic.
ture Of the press everywhere. But there
are compensations, and there is perhaps
"a good time coming " as the song says.
The same lively writer goes on TO say,
"The part that journalism plays in our
public and social life broadens from
year to year and will ever increase.
This is true Of America no less than Of
Switzerland, and the exhortation which
follows there is equally in place here;
"That journalism should always be
beneficial depends on ourselves, on the
estimation, more or less high, in which
we hold our noble profession, on our
self respect, on our freedom Of speech
and our courage in presence Of power.
Let US avoid toadies and fiatterers, ao-
cept presents from no one, remember
that wealth is often dishonor and power
ty no crime. Let us seek no other re-
ward than the witness Of a good con-
science. II we are truthful and sincere,
we shall be listened to and respected "
Poor Issachar must drop his ears, take
up his load and jog Oh with this encour-
agement.