Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-12

at the imaginary power and prestige
of his position, there is one who fails
to realize the tremendous responsibility
he carries. and who is in no sense the
object of the envious admiration of the
open mouthed thoughtless.
The statement will sound more or
less absurd To most inexperienced peO-
ple: but we do not think we eXaggerate
"a great deal when we say that the
difficulties and responsibilities OF the
newspaper editor-we have in mlnd
the country editor Only-are greater
than those which surround any other
individual. Let him be as modest and
retiring as he may, let him keep MS
personality in the background, as he
should, as much as he can, and no 9TH
or man, not even the minister of the
gospel is so constantly in the public
lime light He may have his privacy to
a certain extent, it is true. But every
view that he expresses in his paper,
every news paragraph that he prints
every clipping that he makes, every
duty that he neglects, is spread before
all kinds of people. to undergo both
friendly and hostile criticism, and his
life before the public more than that
of any other man, is an open record
not for only few days, few weeks
or a few years; but for I'LL time.
Those editorials that win the ap-
proval and applause of some, invite
the condemnation of others. That is
not a general theory; but an establish
ed fact And still more than this.
Those who agree with an editorial and
approve it, are satisfied to let the sit
uation rest at that. Those who disap-
prove. however. feel that their future
salvation depends upon retaliation, and
the greater the injustice Of their dis
approval, the more bitter and persist
ent their opposition.
A common idea with the initiated Is
that all the editor has to do Is to
write the truth. and he is safe from
annoyance. But in this the common
idea errs. 1t is the very opposite from
the facts. 1t is a rare thing that an
editor is ever called to answer for an
incorrect statement. Whether the
same be made accidently or deliberate
ly, the worst that can befall him is to
print an apology or correction. If the
statement be made through inadvert-
ence or accident, this is no hardship,
and involves no humiliation, it is only
what he should do. But if the re-
flecting statement is true, it hurts
worse than columns Of lies could hurt
and it may not be corrected except at
great humiliation. AS a result, the
editor must stand for whatever may
come.
Again, the first care Of the editor
the country editor, is his responsibility
to his readers. Unless he would court
disaster, he must be absolutely sin
cere with them. He must not Wilfully
deceive them as to men or things. rs
tablishment of the truth Of every
statement can at most be only mat
ter Of time, and the ultimate exposure
of insincerity or dishonesty is certain
If the man who essays to edit country
paper. therefore, is not possessed OF
innate honesty, or is without sense
enough to practice honesty at all times,
whether from conscientious scruples
or common policy, he is sure to come
to grief sooner or later.
Then the editor, the country editor
if his reputation and influence amounts
to anything, is constantly importuned
to boost this individual and that indi-
vidual, this policy or that policy. In
capable officials love to be referred to
as able and efficient whether they are
able and efficient or not. Men who
have made miserable failures through
lack of capacity or honesty, or for
other reasons inherent in themselves
want the editor to smooth it all over
and when he declines, whether through
honesty or cOwardice-cOwardice in
the realization that the public will
sooner or later find Out-he incurs Ill
will OF course, the editor can do all
these nice things that everybody eX-
poets of him if he wants to-for lit
tie while. But every editor who is
worthy of the name-every one who
has proved his claim to reasonable
capacity, knows that he can help a
friend by betraying the public only
through the ruin of his own future.
And while it is probable that there are
those who would ruin themselves ir-
retrievably for the temporary comfort
Of a friend, who is going to make such
a sacrifice to crafty the whims OF
Tom, Dick or Harry?
But in this discussion, we would not
like to give the impression that the
work of the editor is without its COM
pensatiOnS. Notwithstanding the un-
pleasant responsibilities that come to
the individual through consistent 10y
atty and truth; Notwithstanding that
the fact that every published truth
worth the publishing incurs for the
editor the i'll will of some individual,
still the public at large appreciates suCii
service. The editor who may have la
bored for years uphOlding the truth
secures from the public he serves an
abiding confidence and esteem that can
be impaired by no one but himself
Others who may have been Willingly
or unwittingly wounded by the truths
that may have been published may
traduce to their hearts content; but
they can accomplish little. Given the
benefit of the long run. the editor VIII
never be hurt in reputation more than
he deserves.
With it all, however, the calling OF
the country newspaper maker is
high one. There is much good to be
done through it. The man of high as
piratiOns who seeks TO benefit his fell
lowman rather than himself will find
here a most effective instrument. AND
the man who enters the field seeking
to benefit only himself through telling
people what to do and how to do It.
boosting his friends and squelching his
enemies. is not likely to do much per-
manent harm
- Columbia special of June to
Charlotte Observer: The board OF
trustees of the university of South
Carolina after practically an all-day
session. this afternoon, elected DR.: