The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-30
A Nswspaper's Influence.

The Jacksonville Floridian thinks that
the newspapers are losing their influ-
ence with the people. Not all of them,
but only those whose violence of ex-
preston, personal hostility and extreme
ness in opposition to men or measures,
lay them open to suspicion Of improper
motives Take the Live Oak Democrat
for instance: temperate, calm, dispas-
sionate--a paper whose integrity and
honesty of purpose is patent to all read.
ers and which, for this reason, is per-
haps the most widely quoted paper in
Florida-it cannot be possible that such
a paper as the Democrat Is, wields no
influence with the people; and its infu-
ence is not restricted to the county in
which it is published, but reaches to all
parts of the State. -Punta GOrda Her
aid.
Such high praise for the Democrat
from one of the strong papers of the
State whose assured position gives spec
ial value to its words is 80 gratifying
that If we should give such expression
to our appreciation as we are tempted
the charge of extravaganza might be
made against US. 1t is a rare compli-
ment which the Herald has bestowed
upon the Democrat and we feel It much
more deeply than the usual kindly and
encouraging words between newspapers
on cordial terms with each other.
Whether the praise of our esteemed
contemporary ID deserved or not we
leave to others, but we can say with en-
tire sincerity that, beginning with its
first issue, the fixed purpose Of the
Daily Democrat has been-not merely
70 be q purveyOr Of news-but to be q
force for good in every home into which
1t entered and helpful in some way or
other and in some little degree at least
TO every man and woman who reads its
pages. There is no presumption in this
view Of the case, for that Is the normal
attitude of the public journal toward
the people within the range of its circu-
lation, and when it fails in that relation
it has fallen short of duty. 1t is very
serious responsibility TO do the work OF
"MT. Editor" for no matter how limit
ed the measure of that gentleman's
ability, no matter how scant his moral
worth or real value as q man, 1t IL a
fact that cold type lend TO his views, q
force they would not otherwise possess
and give him q certain oracular dignity
which invests him, whether he will or
no, or whether he be qualified or not,
with the function Of teacher, counselor
and guide. He cannot escape the bur-
den II he would while he does the work
of an editor, and he who discharges
this duty in an unworthy spirit, seeking
TO crafty selfish personal ends at the
sacrifice Of nobler motives, and makes
his columns but the vent for his own
malevolence, his spites, his jealousies
and resentments, will inevitably be
found out by his public and rated at his
true value.
For no man writes so plainly between
the lines as the editor of a newspaper,
and try as he may to conceal his real
motives by cheap ,plotitudes about the
''dear people" and his unselfish devo-
ton to their interests, if malice and
envy and selfishness are behind his pen
and inspire\his words he will betray
himself as surely as the ostrich who
thinks to hide himself when only his
head is buried in the sand
And Il Is equally true that the editor
who sets himself TO his task with q just
sense of its responsible character, and
seeks the guidance OF his conscience
and his heart no less than Of his mind
when he is writing the words that will
60 out TO the public as honest and un-
bought expression Of the press, with
no poison Of malace or faint of un-
worthy purpose on them-he, too, will
be found out" by the public with that
unerring instinct which Il has for detect
ing the true ring Of the coin, and his
influence will be large and increasing
for good wherever bis paper finds q
reader. The best Of what he says may
20 unread by most Of his subscribers,
but no newspaper Of character can fall
20 have a clientele that does read with