Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-06-22

AhNsN'ASi$ III pASoSlOu. L nc COuUIfy
newspaper man edits the paper from
the standpoint of his own home and
fireside, and consequently edits it
honestly in accordance with con-
science and judgement. Too many
metropolitan papers are edited by the
business manager; the fact is, too
many editorial writers for metropoli-
tau papers are merely clerks detailed
from the counting-room, and know
ledge of this fact discounts in ad-
vance the editorial expression of the
city press. The country editor lives
in an environment where there is little
temptation to make merchandise of
his editorial opinion, aud where, if
his reputation for integrity were
successfully assailed, he would be
compelled to dispose of his paper.
The country newspaper man, en-
tering, as he does, each week, through
the medium of his paper, from one
to two thousand homes, is easily the
most influential man in the county.
If he is level-headed and honest, his
power for good is beyond estimate; if
If he is INSCRIPTIONS, he can do in
calculable injury, because the readers
OF his paper are slow to attribute
questionable motives to their home
editor, and besides, political discip-
line is so perfect in the country that
whatever the party organ of the
county says is generally considered
law and gospel.
Country editors are born, or made
only by the machinery of experience.
One cannot be made in day. Money
can make a metropolitan newspaper
man in an hour. Give country ed
itor money and he will make a met
ropolitan newspaper successful.
while not one metropolitan newspaper
man in thousand could make coun-
try newspaper succeed. Why? Be-
cause the metropolitan newspaper
man is not adaptable to circum-
stances.
1t would not surprise a country
newspaper man were he in a single
day to be called on to suggest two
or three subjects for high school
commencement essays, asked to write
an obituary for leading citizen, re-
quested to advise farmer on the
matter of a lawsuit, implored to
tender his good offices in settling a
dispute among friends, entreated to
quiet domestic discord in neigh
boris family that threatened to ripen
into divorce, or waited on by the
daughter of farmer subscriber who
is about to marry against her fathers
will and desires the wrath of the
parent stayed. A medley like this
would drive the editor in large city
crazy.
To answer all of these demands
calls for not only ability, but also
judgement, discretion, tact, common
sense, and sympathy. 1t requires
more genuine genius to be success
full country editor than it does to cap
italize and successfully organize a |
trust.
The country newspaper man fash
ions the politics of this nation. Upon
him Lincoln leaned. Oliver p. Nor
ton, Indiana's great war Governor,
said score of times that he could
not have saved Indiana to the Union
without the assistance of the country
editors. They were always brave and
fearless. One might be assaulted and
his plant destroyed, but ne had his
wounds bandaged, put in a new outfit,
and fought on for Lincoln and the
Union and the freedom of the slave.
The country editor nominated
Cleveland in 1892, and will nomi-
nate Bryan in. 1900, and all the met
ropolitan newspapers in the country
cannot prevent, it. 1t was through
country editors that Mr.. Hanna
worked, prior to the st. Louis con.
vention, that nominated William Nc
Kinley; and when the Republican
members of Congress to-day show an
inclination to antagonize their Chief
Executive. it is the country editor
who wires: "Stand by the Presidents"
and, with the representative who has
enough sense to obey the will of the
people, that telegram is law, for the
representative recognizes in the ex-
preston of the country editor the
voice of the community in the midst
of which he lives. The country ed
ltor's influence on county politics is
paramount. He is delegate to