Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-20


by the New York Press club in 1881,
Gen. U. S. Grant evidently has this
class of editors in mind when he said,
jestingly, / never knew the mayor of
city, or even councilman in any
city, any public officer, any govern
ment official never knew member
of congress, a senator of President
of the United States, who could not
be enlightened in his duties by the
youngest member of the newspaper
profession. l never knew a general of
the army to command a brigade, di-
vision, corps of the army who could
begin to do it as well as men far away
in their sanctums.'
Realization of the truth has finally
penetrated the sanctum that no edi-
tor knows it ALI and that the public
has mighty. little use for the editor
who thinks he does. The editor of the
future, as well as the wise editor of
today will know what the people
think, he will know what they feel,
and he will speak their ideas or his
whole work will be in vain.
81 believe that the distinctively vel
low journal has passed its zenith and
will henceforth steadily decline and
disappear from off the face of the
earth, as it should. The great news
paper of the future will, however, re-
tain the virtues of the yellow journal,
while avoiding its vices as it would a
pestilence. These virtues are ire
mendous energy, unfaltering enter
prise and lavish expenditure in secur-
ing the news and intelligent comment
on the affairs of life written by people
distinguished for their ability and
learning. The vices of the yellow
journal are untruthfulness, unrelia-
bility, pandering to the vicious and
immoral, blackmailing methods, and
brutal disregard for the privacy of
the home. The editor of the future
will believe in the sentiment so splen.
didly expressed by Hon. Alexander
Mcclure in a retrospect covering fifty
years of active editorial work. Mr.
Mcclure said American journalism
is not only the great educator of the
people, but it is the faithful handmade
of law and order and of public and
private morals. Like all great call
ings, from which even the sacredness
of the pulpit is not exempt, there are
those who bring persistent dishonol
on journalism and pervert its powers
to ambition and greed but discounted
by all it's imperfections, it is today
the greatest of our great factors in
maintaining the best attributes of oul
civilization and preserving social or
der and the majesty of the law
"The great newspaper of the future
will follow the injunction of one Of
the ablest editors this country has
produced, the late Charles A. Dana
who held as cardinal principle thai
the press of the United States Should
stand by the stars and stripes; above
all, should stand for liberty whatever
happens
"Another distinguished American
editor has truly said:
The press stands for light moi
darkness. 1t is the greatest power il
our modern civilization. Thieves an(
rascals of high and low degree hate
and malign it, but no honest man ha:
reasonable cause to fear the abuse o
its power 1t is beacon and not !;
false light 1t casts its blessed beams
into dark places, and while it bring
nrountless crimes to light, it also re
veals to the beneficence of the worlC
the wrongs and needs of the necessi
tous 1t is the embodiment of energ,
in the pursuit of news, for its name Il
Light, and its aim is knowledge Ig
norance and crime flee from before j
like mist before the God of light. |
stands today and will stand in TIN
future
For the truth that lacks assistance,
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the future in the distance,
And the good that it can do
ut has no license to do wrong;
has boundless liberty and opportunit
to do good"
Or. A. o. Williams.
DR.. 40. Williams in "Shall We TAX
Pills. and "Who Shall Decide Whe
Doctors Disagree" was compelled t
handle two subjects, but he performe
the feat in an entertaining manner
He spoke in part as follows:
"Mr. POSTMASTER, feel very thanh
full for the toasts you have assigne
me for of all subjects, this is the on
am most deeply interested in an
most conversant with. 1t has been tn
one and only source of my revenue
1t has been my consolation, my solact
and my pride. However, all ideas a
a rule associated with the pill, ar
ideas of disgust, and you ask me to tie
you when it is to be taken. To thi
there is but one answer-take it whe
you must and without any wry face
and without telling anyone of you
SORROWS, your aches and pains. TAX
it quietly and then go quietly and s.
down.
"This is no new commodity, it's us
Is contemporary with the beginnings {
history Itself, subject, however, to col
slant alterations to suit the tastes an
wishes and caprices and even SOM
times the necessities of man.
you also add that when doctor
disagree who shall decide. The Law
yers have laid it to the door of the do
tor that there is a great and gener;
disagreement in the profession. TIL
however, only occurs at the bar whe
confronted by the lawyer who ask
confused and complex questions. NJ
for the purpose Of arriving at the trut
but rather for the purpose of concea
ing the truth and making a loopho
for writ Of error, and new trial.
is even whispered that lawyers som
times disagree, not only In matters
ODiniOn but in matters of fact On