Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-09-01
3 EIGHT L. 2 AGES
& FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER /. 1899.
SSATHE GREAT BULwARKS OF
LIBERTY"

u Srhere Is no r..c.e honorable. useful
and Important position among the
\ people than that held by the intelli-
& gent and enterprlsing weekly news
u paper or q county. If 1t does its duty,
s fescounty-folks learn to regard 1t as
e their guide, philosopher and friend, and
Il y consecrates itself to them in an espe-
NJ clals sense as their spokesman and adj
sx6cate, With intimate mutual feelings
" and Relations Of confidence that bind
r hem strongly together in sympathy, If
3 .ssSno always in conviction.
To inform, to warn. to advise, to
Sc guide, defend and champion the county
s and people and their interests are
S3emong a few Of its most ordinary and
d customary functions. and its editor is
sIstudious and Jealous how he and his
ssjournal may best subserve his con-
s5Gstltuency, especially in their public af-
fairs. The influence and power OF the
weekly paper, il 1t be otherwise equal
gSto the situation, arise from Its close
i. contact with It's readers, and the lat
Ster are impressed In the degree that the
81 editor's daily walk, talk and converso-
sttion, as well as his weekly articles, give
~ assurance of his personal Integrity,
n courage, capacity and public spirit. 1t
Il is at such time as this, when all men
Il are more or less studying the Issues be-
3 fore them and making up their minds
y as to how their influence and ballots
/ shall be cast next year, that the week
Ixy1 y,t,, t1n1 ~,
word In season. that will enlighten and
N convincs Its readers; and II 1t be derc-
Il littj indifferent, careless and negligent
rs great harm may ensue to the country
1.-The State and the community.
IN politics. particularly, the people
take their cue from their papers They
3think. feel, talk and finally act. not
ss always as their favoritc journal may
fSurge, for different minds intelligent and
n Independent, are differently affected by
what they read yet all are. in some
tt9S measure aroused to this or that con.
q federation. at least suggcstivcly, by
every we'll put argument, sentiment
ct atement that they read in q
35,kjournal that commands their attention
land. respect; and it thus becomes I'M
4 narrative on all our weekly newspapers
move bove all other times, to be vigil
liant and dligcnt for right and truth
as they believe them; for this is the
&; period when the public mind is apt to
e adopt conviction. or be touched to a
}asentiment, that may innamc enlhu-
Z ssiasm and sweep the country.
And a few plain words may convey
fl the spark. Tho modest editor in HE;
v obscure village, Undertaking himself
ssSand his paper, may by magnetic word
Il reach the sensitive nerve that the
n great daIlies and famous editors, have
ga He'd to flnd, the light kndlcd, and the
81 country saved! 1t is still more than n
gsssiyearf before the Presidential election
s&a ND the selection Of new Congress Will
occur: but these are often practically
Msdeclded long before the ballots are cast
4 ito corfirfn foregone conclusions. Thc
present has already inaugurated the
Ssealnpaign Sof 1900, and multitude of
81 $nd gu rtes are pressing for popular de-
termir atlon. Rarely. If ever, have we
~ many Issues, 80 important, so
sairgent. and the newspaper or person
;;ssylio lite Tor national conventions
forms ard nominees is apt to be
teft hi HI ore snenses than one.
beg our con temp oraries who have
ss,sesa saitlns and are 9 till waiting, for
sssfs to am III; or an event to take
before nv put themselves on
/ dSf ensl aggressive The 81 en-.
'SexHE IA the fislt, ant
EsAIssSpasts i to 3aassmair