The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-09-11
Yorkville Enquirer.

Because of the recent suspension of
the New Era, various contemporaries
have seer proper 10 comment on the
newspaper situation 'in Yorkville," {"
as they see 10. and although all of
these comments have been noted with
more or less interest. we do not see
proper To analyze any OF them, ex-
cept In a general way. because to do
so would only be to invite proftless
controversy.
AS is pretty we'll understood, the
Enquirer Is not much given to contro-
vcrsy. especially as TO matters which
might seem to concern its particular
private interests. There are people
who have wondered from time to time
how We have been willing to let cer-
tain obviously untrue statements go
unchallenged. and how We could con-
tinue' to pursue the even tenor of our
way i'm the face of manifest attempts
at injustice.
To try to claim that our silence
with reference to the situation refer
red to is to be construed as evidence
Of indifference. would be taken as q
confession of an utter lack OF human
instincts. and the makers of The En-
quirer would not like to be considered
as having made such a confession. be-
cause that. would put them in a very
false position.
The late L. NJ. Grist, who presided
for so long over the destinies Of The
Enquirer i'm times Of storm and peace
and throughout good report and evil
report. used to teach those who were
To come after him. that their sole
duty was to the public. "You are" he
said individuals in the service of the
public. AS individuals the public cares
no more about you than 1t does about
any other individuals. 1t has no con-
Germ with your private grievances. II
you have any. and II does not care to
bother with them. All II asks Of you
Is honest. faithful, intelligent service.
ana so long as you give IT this kind of
service IL will support you. If indi-'
viduals or other newspapers say un-
true things OF you. the public will be-
lieve these things only in so far as
they may be borne out by your con-
duct, andt Is about all you can ex-
pect."
Along the same line this unusually
level headed old gentleman also used
TO say: /
"The secret of the successful pub
lication OF a county newspaper in
wolves the same principles that COM
pei permanent success in any other
vocation. You cannot rely upon per-
sonal friendship or personal admira-
ton, and much less upon the favor Of
politicians. There Is such a thing as
friendship; but very few men ever have
any considerable number of real
friends-friends who will continue
constant through adversely as we'll as
prosperity and the politician needs
you only so long as you are able and
willing to serve his varying interests.
Therefore your one reliance Is on the
whole people. There are all kinds OF
people. OF course. and their senti-
ments and allegiances are constantly
changing. rising and falling like the
waves OF the sea; but in this country
the majority is constantly striving to-
ward that which is highest and best.
and so long as you stand for that
which Is fair. just and upright. you
will find yourself surrounded by in
vincible support"
As to why the different newspaper
ventures that have been attempted in
Yorkville have failed. we do not care
to discuss further than to say that
they were unable to secure the sup
port of sufficient number Of the
right kind OF people. All OF them
could have been kept going had those
who believed I'm their necessity been
willing to furnish the absolutely es-
sential financial assistance; but no
one OF them could have ever realized
the expectations OF their sponsors un.
I'll they reached a position where they
could honestly claim that their living
was coming from In front rather
than from behind-that Is until the,
were able to exist In comfort on their
legitimate earnings. And this will be
true OF all similar efforts here and
else where.
As to whether there is room in
Yorkville" for two such papers as the
Enquirer IL a matter Of very little con-
Germ to the publishers Of this paper
or To- those who are satisfied with II.