The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-16
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1908.
Personal Journalism.

Without rejecting upon anybody, ana
without assuming to know more than otners,
we think some OF our esteemed brethren OF
the press slde-stepped during the recent cam
paign.
In states where there are two political par
ties. It may be right for a newspaper to seek
tn elect or TO defeat 6 candidate. but we are
quite sure that a newspaper fails In the prop
er exercise OF its duties as publisher when 1t
Incomes the organ of anybody, and 1t seems
10 Us that the editor who assails CHARACTER
makes q mistake which Is apparent anu
which the best element OF the county Will
not approve. A newspaper, like any otner
good Citizen, should build up rather IMAM
tear down.. Character Is too sacred 10 De
ruthlessly assailed. 1t is better to build up
or 10 raise the better man still higher than to
ruin the reputation Of a struggling brother
merely because he is ambitious to hold once.
The highest and the best sentiment OF the
people cannot long approve OF q system Oh
character assassination. Better build up or
show The better merits Of the other man.
II Ia q mistake for any newspaper TO e.
pouse the cause Of one candidate to the Injury
Of another.
1t is legitimate and right 10 advocate or 10
defend a principle, but In making the elec-
ton of any one q personal matter, the news
paper is obliged to lose in influence ano
rieud,. While specific acts of any man may
be a proper subject of discussion, yet 1t Is not
journalism TO assume the role OF character
assassin.
Another matter. The newspaper hat pro-
poses 10 indulge in personalities lowers his
paper In the public esteem, and thereby In
lures its usefulness. Unnecessarily informed
ding in the race for office creates enmities
that may last for a life time. and which In
t~ermeddling Is gratuitous.
liza county newspaper every two years ADDS
new names to its list Of enemies. its business
and It's standing In the community is deserV-
eddy Injured. The editor OF a newspaper, nc
more Than any other citizen, has no right 10
intermeddle TO the extent Of personalities. A
bully may do these things, but who respects
bully? A bully may be dreaded but b
bully has as much respect from the people 81
has q good citizen?
Many brethren o. the press have fippantly
assailed character, and some have excused
their act because they were prompted by
conscientious motives. AS a matter Of fact.
the CONSCIENTIOUS man may % WrOuB, duo b
misdirected conscience may prompt him to
do wrong. The conscientious man, when he
is wrong, may do much wrong. II is all right
to be conscientious and 10 be governed by
conscience, but the conscience should be
trained in the right direction. The judgment,
too, should be from an intelligent stand
point.
It is not the best conscience or the highest
judgment that prompts the thrusting Of q
newspapers influence against any candidate.
It Is right and honorable In any man to seek
public Office. And the editor, like any other
citizen, has the right to vote as he pleases,
but 1t Is DO more creditable to a newspaper
than 1t would be to q gentleman to 80 far
forget himself as to become q ward heeler.
The editor OF the Press and Banner gives
each and every newspaper credit for honesty
Of conduct in the recent campaign, but we
think quite q number OF the brethren came
down from their high estate, when they con-
sented TO make fippant charges against
character, and they also made a mistake In
becoming anybody's partizan. AS a rule.
gentlemen do not become offensive parti-
Fans; and no newspaper should become the
organ OF anybody.