The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-20
THE. EDIToR-oUT OF POLITICS
BY Sam Langum, Preston Times.

= Z 3 Il
Is it possible? Is it desirable? Yes and
no. It is possible to stay out of politics,
but in the sense of taking no interest in
political affairs whatever, 1t Is not desir-
able--I am now referring to the average
country editor. 1t Is possible to remain
entirely Indifferent as to the political
| questions that agitate the country from
time to time, but such an editor has mis-
taken his calling-'tv ould Fave been bet
ter had he never been born, editorially
speaking. But it is the other editor
whom I would discuss. the editor who
breaks into politics on his own account,
or in other words, accepts an office at the
hands of any person or party. In the
first place the truly independent, con-
scientious editor is very rarely permitted
to trespass on the sacred precincts Of the
Office holding fraternity, and If by chance
he does. he must Internationally surren-
der his independence or enter upon an
immediate struggle for his political exist
ence. Few have the courage to choose the
latter course, and the erstwhile defender
of popular rights is suddenly transformed
into the fawning hynocrite, the silent
nonenity, or the moral coward who must
weigh each word and every sentence, not
by the standard of his convictions of
right and wrong, but by it's possible effect
on his own political future. He must
neither criticize his party nor those tenn
porarily placed in the char ge and direc-
ton Of its affairs and policy. His man
hood may rebel, his &C nscence smite him,
but he breads the vengeance of those in
power and either remains silent, or utters
words of approval which could never be
wrung from his lips or pen under other
conditions.
This, in short. is the editor in politics
on stipend Of so much per nth or
year; now for the ideal editor-the editor
out Of politics. Idesire to emphasize the
fact that do NOT refer to the editors de-
void of political opinion or without party
affiliation These are rare and when
found are prone to be Of the purchasable
kind. I would have an editor, out of
politics. yet thoro, ghly alive to the po-
litical questions of the day. The editor
without fear and without hope so far as
his own political future is concerned; the
editor, strongly partizan, yet fair to the
opposition; the editor. as quick to re-
buke the weaknesses of the men of his own
party as he would those of other parties,
as free to EXPOSE and condemn wrong as
to commend the right, no matter where
found. I would not have the pettifogger
who for conside1 alton tries to make
| wrong right. or right wrong, but the
sturdy sentinel who would guard the peo-
pies interests and warn them Of ap-
preaching danger, whether from within or
,, without.
realize that this sort of editor has no
easy task before him His party fealty
| will be questioned by the politician as
| we'll az by the bltndly partizan who be-
| lieve that the king can do no wrong, but
| it will win in the end. Then give us the
| editor-out OF politics-the editor with
| the courage Of his convictions, the editor
who dares hew to the line, no matter
where the chips may fall. the editor. if
you please, who would strike an enemy as
cheerfully and quickly as he would help
friend: the courageous, sturdy editor,
| loyal partizan, but above all, the true
! American, who can neither be coerced by
threats OF political annihilation, nor
bought with promises of political prefer
ment-the editor who has never known
political hopes and fears or has left them
both behind him.