The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-10-22
nnlnrlNn THE NEWs.

aaitor,aI columns should contain fair
and inst comment upon the news, up
on publIc questions, in short as near
as POSSIBLE upon all matters affecting
t,be welfare and interests OF It's con-
stituency. II should never be moved
in the publication OF news or In It's
editorial columns by sinister motives
nv nersonal animosities or by the per
sonal interests of its editor or pro
prietor. A newspaper is a public IN
stitution. 1t has a mission TO fulfill;
duty to perform.
Judge Of the United States mas
correctly said that it is the duty OF
the press to light the pathway OF I'D
erty. II cannot do this if it is too
malignant TO tell the truth or too cow
ardly TO comment upon the news. The
editor who fears to follow where duty
leads should retire to other and less
tempestuous fields and leave to brav-
er and more valiant souls the per
Torrance of the obligations which he
has proven unworthy to assume.
1t is altogether probable that The
Herald fails to measure up to the high
standard above described. If it does
II is because those who publish it have
MANY of the infirmities to which all
human flesh is heir. They doubtless
make errors but they are errors of the
head and not of the heart, for they
are conscientiously striving with an
eve single to the public good, to pub
lish a newspaper that will commend
itself to the best thought and the best
sentiment of the people who sustain
and support it. It's publishers are
moved by no selfish interest; they are
not prompted by personal or political
ambition, they are absolutely free and
untrammelled to follow the path mark
ed out above.
This journal is dedicated to the
cause of good government. No mat
ter how dark the political skies or
how uninviting the prospect it pur-
poses to do all within its power to
further that cause. It's path Is plain,
! it is straight and narrow. From That
path it will not deviate as much as
hairs breadth and the powers OF hell
cannot prevail against it. This paper
does not seek controversy, either per-
sonal or political. 1t has no rr1enos
to reward and no enemies to punish
But it will comment upon public mat
ters whenever in the judgment OF It's
editor the public interests demand II.
r. will print all the news that is mt
to print and it will be the sole and the
exclusive Judge of what it shall and
what it shall not print. 1t cannot be
bribed by visions of prosperity in the
counting room, nor deferred by threats
of personal violence, no matter now
terrible the author of the threats may
appear.
No editor can maintain his self re-
spect and no newspaper can have any
influence II politicians, or ward bosses
or selfish interests are allowed to col
or or suppress its news or determine
its editorial policies. Such a news
paper would be undeserving the sup
mort of any community, certainly OF
the people of Columbia and Maury
county.
We repeat, The Herald is not look
ing for trouble; those who edit and
who publish it are men Of peace. They
would not knowingly injure any living
human being; they would not unfair
ly or unjustly criticise any public SER
want no matter what his politics may
be. they would not for the world pub
fish any news item that would unfair
ly or unjustly reflect upon any citizen,
rich or poor, white or black. II they
make an error either in the news or
editorial columns they will be only
too glad to correct it and to make the
amende honorable. But The Herald
is not going to be deferred by threats
awed by influence or bribed by gain.
II will be true to itself; true to its
cause and true to its people, come
what may.