The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-19
The Country Editor"

The city editor reads the quips and.
brethren who edit country papers, and
marvels at the feeling expressed, the
motive inspiring it. He is unconscious
of having given offense; he has as
sumed no airs of superiority; he has
expressed lis opinions in no more eX
cathedra manner than does each one
of his fellow craftsmen in the country
town or village; merely giving to them
the positiveness of whatever of earnest
ness of conviction of their truth he en-
tertains And yet his country brother
thinks him dogmatic, supercilious, city
proud, and retorts with sneers. Some
thing of this is the product Of an envy
that grows from ignorance Of actual
conditions; from that false glamor hid
ing them that makes city life so allur-
ing to the suburbanite until, moth like,
he is drawn by it and gains wisdom
by experience. The city editor real is
as differently circumstanced from the
city editor ideal as the urbanite is
from the ideal of him and his life form
ed by the suburbanite. If the country
envied him his lot; how the latter cher
ished his pet ambition to some day be
able to get out of the daily and nightly
grind and become the untrammeled
owner and editor of a weekly paper in
some country town. it might soften
his acerbity and, perhaps, make him
more contented with his own happy lot
The Moorhead News presents the
habituaI attitude of the country editor,
but more philosophically than he usu-
ally does, in the preface extenuating
It's audacity in criticising the national
administration Editors of the back
woods and border prairies," 1t says,
ARE not popularity supposed to know
much about craftsmanship" It is
enough if they know little about civil
government, the cruder elements of ag-
riculture and have business acumen
enough to avoid payment of a cash
admission to the local show given by
The troupes of transformers that oc-
casionally break the dull monotony Of
their town. to qualify them for local
editorship. But eff they should have
The audacity and presumption to dis
russ national politics or criticise ad-
ministration policies, their effusions are
regarded by the organs of the admin
lStration and the metropolitan dailies.
as beneath notice for their errors and
lmbeciiity." 1t is this, it admits that has
restrained the News from expressing
its views upon such questions More
courteousIy expressed, there lies back
of these words the same thought that
finds cruder and coarser expression in
other papers.
Is there not a misrepresentation shown
here of the true objective of every edi-
tor whether in country or city? Does
the country editor address his argu-
ments to the metropolitan press, or the
city editor his to the country press !?
er? Why, except in the combat Of ar
gument. should either care whether
the other makes note of opinions de-
livered? Rightly viewed, every editor
owes fealty only to his immediate con-
stituency, and he owes to that the duty
OF striving to get knowledge on
which to form correct Judgment. and
from which to draw vindication for the
faith in him. If he does this, if he is
honest and sincere, it matters little to
him if another like engaged needs not
what he says; for to him he owes moth
ing, except, possibly, courtesy. If he
does not do it, he will very likely find
himself without influence or respect in