News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1899-07-12
A GOVERNOR ON EDITORS.
| Governor Shaw of Iowa, Addresses the
Corn Belt Editorial Association.
| From the Iowa State Register

FROM the Iowa state Register.
Ny experience has taught me that
editors are quite as brave in the de-
Tense of the helpless and the Cypress
ed as the average man. Few people
without material reward or thanks
will 90 farther in the defense of inno-
cence than editors. do not know
what per cent of the editors of secu-
lar papers are members of churches,
but | am gratitied to note that when
a Nsw York preacher recently found
it convenient to attack the inspira-
ton of the scriptures, the press as
sumed the defense and drove the her
etc thPOlogian vanquished from the
field. No more sturdy or effective
blows were struck in behalf of this
great cause than by men of your pro-
fessiOn.
Again, when another minister made
an assault upon the Sunday school
as an institution, and demanded its
adjustment, the secular press, val
iantly and almost Unaided, defended
this, the great high school of our ma
ton. l do not believe, gentlemen,
that you are as bad as you paint
each other. It now be permitted to
give some advice, let it be received in
tie same kindly spirit in which it is
rendered. As regards your profess
sion, am a layman, and, if as lay
man | point out few weaknesses,
console yourselves with thought that
you can find quite as many defects
in the profession to which | belong,
to say nothing of my present role Of
politician. | do not believe that
people generally enjoy newspaper
controversies or that they are bene-
flied or edited thereby. These local
fusiIades are about as interesting to
the average man as the sparrings
and chickering's Of ill-brpd lawyers in
the courtroom, or as Theological dis
cussiOns among ministers. While
the combatauts may each think he
is getting the better of his adver-
sary, the suffering public takes little
or no interest therein. II | be per-
mitted to tender advice, let me say,
avoid personalities, abuse of your
competitor and all vindictive cpl
thets.
Personally believe there is no so
sure road to success in newspaper
work as honesty and absolute fair
ness; that there is no asset so valu-
able to the newspaper, as a Teputa-
ton for fairness. Fairness implies
| hnnnStu 10 or Il
Some men are grossly unfair who
cannot be called grossly dishonest.
| congratulate your profession that
so many of you possess this asset.
1t is not necessary to misrepresent
an adversary in order to deal an eff
fective blow. Any man, either in
public life or in the discharge Cf pri-
vate duty, will have quite enough
actual Weaknesses and will present
sufficient vulnerable points without
misrPpresenting his motives or his
conduct. Twenty years observation
in the courtroom has taught me that
only those lawyers are to be feared
who treat the opposing cOunsn'-
case, bis client, aud his evidence will
at least apparent fairness. Many a
verdict has been lost by reason of &
blow below the belt. Whenever
lawyer undertakes to punish Il wit
ness or q litigant or an opposing
counsel, the jury is very apt TO re-
taliate. If, on the contrary, the law.
yer can fairly present bis adversary
as deserving a blow and can then re-
strain himself, the jury will be al
most sure to administer the punish
mpnt.
The verdict of a Jury is but the ex.
preston of opinion by twelve men,
while public sentiment is the opinion
OF many men. The same general
principles underlie the trial of privata
issues and private men before u
court and jury as are applicable to
trials of public measures and public
men at the bar of public opinion.
Who has not seen political speaker
lose votes for the same cause which
be advocates by epTesenting the
position Of the opposing party :?
Who has not noticed occasionally
the same tendency toward msreprt-
sentatiOn by the press, aud with the
same results? If then, be permitted
to give advice on this subject, it
would be, never misrppresent an adj
versary; never claim for your party
more than you can substantial, !;
never charge the opposite party with
more of harm than the facts will jns-
tify. The time is come in our civil,
zation when public Intelligence will
discern every Unfair advantage tax
en- and the greater jury will go out OF
its way to redress attempted injuries
Robbed the Grave.
, A startling incident. of which Mr.