The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-06-01

and what you are, or, to be more ac-
curate, what are you doing for the bet
terment of your fellow man, especially
for the readers of your papers? The
publisher usually conducts his paper
for the money that he hopes to acquire
will not spend any time on him, al
though his is an honorable vocation,
and he, in this part of the country
generally earns all that he makes. But
earning money is so far below the aspi-
rations of the true editor that / must
speak Of him, rather than, as is Oft
times the case. of his master. The
counting room frequently, too fire.
quently, drives the pen; and when
publisher and editor are combined in
one person, necessity often holds the
quill that would otherwise speak a
different language.
The editorial calling or profession
is an exceedingly high one. 1t ranks
with the ministry, and is a part of
that other great calling-that of the
school teacher. The editor is a teach.
er whose school room is not the walls
Of one building, but the homes and
workshops, hotels, libraries, railroad
trains, and indeed. wherever his paper
| is read. Occupying such a relation to
his fellows makes him an important
citizen, one who may be very useful
or very harmful. The influence of the
press 1 do not think is as small as
some contend that it has become in
this day. 1t is true that no one of
our large dailies may De felt 70 the
extent that was the case before the
civil war, when such papers as the
National Intelligencer, New York
Tribune an6 Louisville Journal, and a
few others led the people, because now
we have More papers, though none
better. if as we'll edited.
No one can calculate he influence
that the great number of papers that
are today being read by the laboring
classes has in directing their thoughts
along the lines that seem TO be now
filling their. minds, and in fixing their
purposes and acts in their contest
with capital. The doctrines and teach
ings Of some papers in matters of gov
eminent, religion, social and economic
questions, find ready acceptation in
nearly every home in this great coun-
try of ours. Were it practicable would
place, as means of education, at
public expense, newspaper in every
home in the state. Therefore, as
mighty force in educating the people !
you are greeted in our midst.
The editor performs another impor-
tant function to the people he serves,
that is, giving publicity to the wrongs
that are daily occurring in our public
as well as in important business af-
fairs. In this he is somewhat a guar
dian of the peoples interests. He ex-
poses, thereby giving opportunity to
correct and serving to deter others
from going astray.
The editor who, through favor, or
reward, or the hope thereof, fails to
bring to light rascality in places of
official trust, be those guilty the Off |
Gals Of some large trust or merely a |
board of county commissioners, is |
faithless to his duty. 1 do not mean |
90 endorse a journalism that is ready |
to besmirch character simply to make |
a sensation, or create ready sale Of the |
paper, but do insist that when pecu-
lation or extravaganza exists in public |
office, be it in Tallahassee, OcaIa, New /
York or Washington city, the news
papers must not keep it hid. If the
Waterman on the tower withholds the
trumpet's blast. how are we to know
what is going on?
The editor of Florida exerts an in
fiuence over one class of individuals
that is remarkable; 1 refer to the
Florida legislator. When. he reaches
the capitol he thinks things look so
delightful that he Immediately wishes
to take a step higher and come back
again, usually as a state official. OF
course he breads the press and is
ready TO accommodate it. 1t is soon
apparent to him that everything done
in official or legal life should be pub
hshed in the county paper. To illus
trate: he is SO afraid that the candi-
dates for office will forget to inform
the pEOplO OI Tie IlIflS OF the |
and that they will be ignorant of it
that he has a law on the statute book
requiring the secretary of state and
sheriff TO publish notice of the time,
etc. once week for sixty days. 1
might refer to other matters showing
your influence over our statesmen.
Now, welding such influence over so
important a body of men, you are i'm
portant factors in politics.
The editor should be a leader of
thought. He, if true 10 his calling,
will never wait 10 be led. Courage
should enter very largely into his
makeup. OF course, as has been aptly
said by Doctor Edward Everett Hale.
'She who leads must lift
/ might go on to the end Of the
evening speaking, of the high place
that the editorial profession occupies
in this world of ours, and deservedly
so-but as you no doubt agree with