Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-01

through the shadows there beams still
the same belief in the loftiness of his
profession.
The country printing office Is pro-
life of ludicrous situations, and many
a laugh has been provoked at the ex-
pense of the editor or reporter uncer-
tain Of his facts. Some fifteen years
ago a newcomer from Iowa started a
Democratic paper in a little town In
southern Minnesota. A campaign was
in progress, and a one-legged man.
nabitually attired in a blue suit, was
the candidate for register of deeds. 1t
was easy to think of him as a veteran
of the civil war, and the local paper
of which l speak published a vigorous
eulogy of the old soldier, urging the
election O: 1.-The deserving veteran who
left a limb on a southern battlefield
The chagrin of the editor may be
IMAGINED when his Republican con-
temporary came out the next week
with the information that the candi-
date had never been a soldier, and
that his leg was taken off by a cider
press in Pennsylvania ten years after
the war had closed.
The story Is told that soon after
Chief Justice Chase assumed the gu
bernatorial chair in Ohio, he issued
his proclamation appointing Thanks
giving day. To make sure OF being
orthodox the governor composed his
proclamation almost entirely OF pas
sages from the Bible, which he did
not designate as quotations, assum-
ing that every one would recognize
them and admire the fitness Of the
words, as we'll as his taste In select
ton.
The proclamation meeting the eye
of a Democratic editor, he pounced
upon it at once and declared that he
had read 1t before. He could not say
exactly where. but he would take his
oath that it was downright plagia-
rism from beginning to end. That
would have been a pretty fair joke,
but the next day a Republican editor
came out valiantly in defense Of the
governor pronounced the charge libel
GUS and challenged any man living to
produce one single line Of the proc
lamation that had appeared in print
before.
That venality exists in the news
paper profession 1t would be Idle to
deny. Unfortunately, men have gain
ed admission to the privileges Of the
profession who are utterly incapable
of understanding it's duties OF assum-
ing its responsibilities, and such men
will probably continue in the work, for
no rigid standard Of moral qualification
can be applied.
The Intimate Country Newspaper.
But these are the excrescences that
afflict all the higher callinss and they
are not so numerous as to affect ma
terially the high standard which the
newspaper profession as whole
maintains by the devotion to duty and
high ideals of the great body Of its
members.
The greatest service the newspaper
performs is the championship OF
measures that concern the masses Of
the people. Every good cause instinc-
lively seeks its aid with absolute con-
fidence.
The rural press, because Of its more
10 70 "a
and because 1t is less likely to be in
fluenced by mercenary or sordid con-
siderations, exercises relatively deep
er influence than it's more pretentious
urban contemporary. The editor has
opportunity to study at closer range
the men whose fame he fashions and
is more independent and impartial in
the discussion Of public questions.
Like the other public agencies
which enter so largely into the every
day life of the country town, the news
paper is reaching for and attaining a
higher position. There is less of
party rancor and personal abuse.
Where once the editor regarded his
rival as an avowed enemy, deserving
only Of contumely and hatred, there
are now almost invariably personal
friendship and a desire to work in har-
mony for the common good.
Has His FoibIes and FaiIings.
The country editor has his foibles
and failings, along with the rest of
mankind. He is human and Is likely
to be a little kind to the virtues and
blind to the faults Of his political and
personal friends. 1t is difficult for
him, as it is for other mortals, to
make general application Of rules Of
conduct, for often he Is confronted by
local conditions and party necessities
which dictate a different course from
that which his judgment tells him
ought to be pursued. There is for
bearance for these lapses. even though
they are indefensible.
AS the ethics of the press reach a
higher standard the public apprecia-
tion Of its services becomes enlarged,
and on the part Of both editor and
public is coming about better under
standing of the responsibilities, limi-
tations and rights Of the newspaper.
No longer has it brief to slander and
vilify, but it has the right to criticise
people and policies when the public
good warrants. AS a general rule, the
editor holds his enthusiasm in decent
restraint and by fair and manly re-
buke gives the cause he champions
greater impetus than could possibly
be had by the old methods Of vituper-
alton.
The independence Of the editor has
been a potent agency in political and
government reforms during the past
decade. He no longer follows his
party, right or wrong. The fear Of
party ostracism does not make afraid.
The courageous editor has taught
general recognition of the doctrine
that political parties can no longer
thrust upon a decent constituency a
disreputablc candidate or a dishonest
public measure.
To last lOng-With liberty and