The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-10

gariless of the success or defeat Of men
Of political organizations.
TIE seek promotion in civil trust from
the editorial chair of an influential news
tunity and responsibility for the unsatis-
flying fame Of official distinction. 1t Is the
mission of the newspaper to create presi-
dents and others rulers; to judge them
they have been faithful and efficient in the
discharge of public duties, and to defeat
them when they are forgetful of the pub
lie welfare. In the discharge of these I'M
portant duties the newspaper must. above
all. be free from the suspicion of seeking
individual advantage, and 1t can be SO
only by accepting its trust as highest OF
all and more enduring than all Great
editors have been presumably honored by
comforting upon them high official posi-
tions in recognition of party services, bu:
no editor in the entire history OF American
journalism who has made his newspaper
secondary to political ambition, has writ
ten any other record than failure as both
editor and statesman.
DUTIES OF AN EDITOR.
My brethren of the press need not he
reminded of the often painful duties which
ever remember that faithful are the
wounds of a friend" and no class of teach
ers so well know that
Forgiveness to the injured does belong
But they ne'er pardon who have done
the wrong.
Few, very few. indeed. outside of the edi-
torial sanctum ever learn how the surgos
of ambition in all its varied and fantastic
phases from the noblest TO the meanest,
assail and often veX journalistic duties.
The public know not of the many gift"n
men who must thus at times be saved from
themselves. and an editorial retrospect of
half century presents sad record of
the newspaper work of making bricks
without straw. Justly excepting the COM
paratively few public men who tower over
mediocrity in public place, journalism.
gives the position and fashions the fame
of most of them. 1t is not done arbitrarily
nor from choice. as public and political ne
ceSsities are often paramount with jour-
naliSts, as with others, In awarding pub
lie honors: but with all its eXactions and
responsibilities. which are ever magniled
by the greater opportunities for useful
ness, there Is no calling that brings rich
er compensation for fidelity to duty. The
consciousness that each day the editor
whose readers are numbered by hundreds
of thousands, may greatly aid in making
the world better than ii was i'm the passing
yesterday, is Il constant inspiration to
the best efforts. and ii is especially graft
Tying that even in the many and at times
impassioned conflicts of journalistic dis
pute, the rugged and sharp-anglcd walls
which divide us are ever so beautiful and
fragrant with the flowers of good fellow.
ship, as Is imprcssirely taught by this
Thus charged with the highest Of civil
trusts in the most enlightened government
of the earth, the editor must be honored or
dishonored here by the measure of his
fdlity to his exceptional duties, and must
be so judged In the hereafter. when the
narrow pathway of life that divides past
and future eternities has been traversed
We come when hidden, We know not
whence: We go when hidden. we know
not whittier. but each and all have duties
to themselves, to their homes. to their
country and to the common brotherhood
of man, which. when performed with the
faithfulness that human inhrmities will
permit, must greatly brighten the brief
and often fretful journey from the cradle
TO the grave. Friends. in this evening twi-
light of my journalistic work. so sweetly
mellowed by the smiling faces, young and
old, about me, ! answer your generous
greeting with the gratitude that can per-
ish only when the gathering shadows shall
have settled into the night thar comes to
purple the better morn.