Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-06-10

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Forbearanes is one Of the virtues
onr enemies do not possess.
Most liquor would improve with
aga IL men would let it.
What the peaceful man asks as his
might.
Don't be afraid to change man 3
opinion. but be careful how you do it.
Thought without action is an evil,
and no is action without thought.
Ms. Bonaparte's Views Upon News
s. papers.
Attorney General Bonaparte made
an edmirable address before the Po-
iitisal Economy Club recently
on ~ Government by Public 0pin-
ion,n in the course of which he dis
cussed the functions and influence
ofinewspapers, and laid down what he
regards, and what all intelligent per
sons must regard, US the fundamen-
tai and sound principles of honest
and successful journalism, The right
of petition is q constitutional right
Of the psopie of the United States,
and this right, Mfr: Bornaparte de-
elarsd, is always an object for attack
and repression by unpopular govern
ments. A free press, however, he
continued: is q perpetual petition,
always; telling the Government what
the people wish and hope for and
think right, and no government in
any ,coan.ry, out Of sympathy with
The people it ruled, has ever per-
Eaanently tolerated "a free press. !"
We may add that it is fortunate
circumstance for popular liberty and
good government that a newspaper
nsyer can exert any powerful infu-
: snee for any length of time unless it
islssworthy, unless it speakes the truth
j and Is honest and patriotic.
The newspaper is like the watch
man: upon. the wall Of his country who
ceases not, day or night, warning peo-
plegof present or approaching danger.
J, AS. long as men have confidence in
the honesty and patriotism of the
newspaper, as long as it voices or ex-
presses the just aspirations of the
people, just so long will the people
). trust sit and follow it and be guided
aby its disinterested advice. But, as
Mr.. Bornaparte truly says, Gas soon
al q paper is recognized as some
body's organ as expressing the
views and wishes and opinions of any
particular nan or set Of men, its
haalthful influence as a newspaper is
!. gone; it may, indeed, have another
kind Of influence, FOR those who con-
tpl or conduct it may be. powerful
men, but its editorial utterances are
thsir ,topen letters +"
And it is just as fatal to the stand
ing and influence Of newspaper for
1t to become the organ of. or to be
owend or controlled, as Mr.. Bona
parte expresses it, by "well known
interests s"-in other words, "by
wealthy, men in far-reaching enter
prisesi." The editor must be a poll
tieian in the best and highest sense
OF that fward. He must have an un-
derstanding Of spoliticai affairs and
feel llp interest IN them. Otherwise
he Is out Of place I'm the EDITORS
chair BE should have definite
opinions upon public and political
aubjeets,. and should express those
opinions honestly when occasion Of
tae public welfare demands it. He
! ynsy, as Mr.. ,Bonaparte says, in effect
express his opinion by keeping silent.
That il, in, effect, action, just as it is
an act Of court to dismiss suit
I because the court is too indolent to
try it. Perhaps Mr.. Bonaparte goes
TOO far when he says that news
peper's "faifure to act is usually
very disereditable action; to fail the
friends Of good government is to
serve its enemies" There is o time
: for every purpose under heaven; a
time to keep silence time to speak
time to act and time to refrain
from action; time, for instance, to
enforce thceommodities clause Of the
Rate law and time to refrain from
enforcing it. There may be time
when q newspaper can afford the
friends .of good government better
aid BY silence than by denunciation
or discussion.
Upon, the whole, Mr.. Bonaparte' IS
views on this great subject are "n,in-
emily correct. The influence of an
honest newspaper may be strong and
wide, but that influence can only be
maintained by a policy Of patriot
ism, sincerity aud honesty. And such
policy can not be maintained unless
it is absolutely Independent of per-
sonal interests whether such interest
be Of political or business character.
The importance Of such newspapers
cannot be exaggerated. Without them
popular government is next to i'm
possible. Evils that were once, before
4 The days of the liberty Of the press,
pressing and real dangers can now be
disrega rded. The evils which flourish
in theatar chamber and in secret
places, shriyel and die under the blaz-
ing light of publicity. People are de-
mandilg publicity because it is the
greatest sof ali guarantees of liberty
and of honest government.
There is no nobler or more useful
mission than that of the Independent
newspaper, which honestly and con-
seientiously seeks to promote the pub
lie welfare, and which knows no mas
ter or controlling influence but on the
other hand, there is no agency which
is more dangerous and more justly
the object of public scorn than the