The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-06-30
Eek, N. c., THURSDAY, JUNE 80, 1904

A GOOD EDUCATOR.
It's Editor Bears Great Responsibility
Wilmington Messehgef.s
We have had occasion several times
of late to refer to the increase in the
number of new country newspapers and
the improvements on the ones already
established. 1t always gives us pleasure
to note this progress. It is an evidence
of the advancement OF education in the
rural districts and a greater demand
among the country people Tor touch
with the outside world. The advance
along this line continues, we are glad
to note. New weekly papers are con-
stantly springing up, and many that
heretofore were published only once
week now see their way to giving their
subscribers two issues a week. This is
encouraging and source of gratifica-
ton to those who are interested in the
all-round education of the people o!
rural districts and dissemination of gen
eral knowledge among them.
There Is no better educator of this
sturdy class of our population than
clean, we'll edited country papers.
Wherever you see such papers max
ing success you can set 1t down as a
self-evident proposition that there ls
an Improvement in both the worldly
goods and in the matter of education in
the people within the territory of the
circulation of that paper. No man in
North Carolina is able to publish a
newspaper, whether daily or weekly,
"for the fun OF It," In order to keep
his paper afloat he must have the f.
nancial as we'll as the moral support of
the territory in which his paper circu-
)ates or should circulate. And when
you see an editor widening out In his
business, either in increase of the COL
unns OF reading matter or in the num-
Der Of isstes per week you may set 1t
down as fact that his work is meet
Ing with the appreciation of his people
and that he is receiving their substan-
tial support.
The country paper should 60 into
every home in the sphere of influence
of that paper. There is no better edu-
Gator In the laad. It ie as guud as the
common school or the country acade-
my. Many a man has made his mark
In North Carolina who learned to read
by dlligent study of his county news
paper. It has been said that the school,
master is power in the land. The
editor Of clean, up-to-date country
newspaper can WELD more Influence
and do more for the education of the
country people than can the rural COM
mon school teacher. Such an editor
instructs the old as we'll as the young.
He gives information and instruction
to the heads of the family on the farm
and inspires them with q desire Tor
greater information and wider instruct
ion as we'll as to the children, while
the school teacher can hope to reach
only the young and the unemployed
on the farm.
A great responsibility rests with the
editor OF the county newspaper. He Is
more than a purveyor of the local gos-
sip. He Is, or should be, an educator
of the old as we'll as of the young,
leader OF thought and a moulder of
public opinion among the sovereigns
of tho land. He can do his State great
good or work immense evil, as he Is in
clined. But to the honor OF the coun-
ty newspapers Of our State, be it said,
he is universally interested in the
cause of the former. The daily papers
ot the big cities have no such influ-
ence as do the county papers.
The editors OF the latter should re-
cognize their responsibility to the peo-
pie and should act up to it. We are
glad to record the fact that most of
those whose papers come to this Office
recognize the responsibility and do
their duty to their subscribers and
their communities. The county news
paper In North Carolina is doing a
great work and we honor and respect
the men who shape their course and
govern their policy.
A Long Liyed Pike.