Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-09

ing. It cannot govern anybody or any
thing. 1t can only disseminate infor-
nation and intelligence by which peo-
pie are able to govern themselves,
whereas without the dissemination Of
such intelligence and information gov
ernment by the people would be i'm
possible.
What Senator Tillman says about
the pernicious influence Of some Of the
metropolitan newspapers is true; but
we do not see that this affects the prin-
ciple under consideration. There are
good newspapers and bad newspapers.
1t is fact that many Of the metropol-
itan papers are almost soulless; that
the management Is willing to do any
thing to carry a point; but that does
not cover the principle. There Is no
doubt Of the fact that competition and
opposition are absolutely essential to
the very existence of all newspapers.
Except for the eternal war between
good and bad, between justice and in
Justice, this would not be world of
strife. The fact that this is a world
of strife makes for opposing newspa-
pers. It has been the history Of all
time that right and justice have been
making a slowly but steadily winning
fight for supremacy, and it is. fact
that this fight will continue to the end.
No matter, therefore, how bad may be
metropolitan newspapers referred to,
they are always fighting each other
along the lines Of certain essential
principles, and though first one and
then the other may be on top, the prin-
ciples of right must win in the end.
Consider the newspapers OF South
Carolina for instance. AS whole they
will compare favorably in honesty and
integrity and ability with the newspa-
pers Of any state in the Union. We
would not undertake to say that we
know Of single newspaper editor In
the state who Is not working for that
which he honestly and conscientiously
believes to be right. We know OF plen-
ty of editors who are working at cross
purposes with other editors. We know
of none with whom We are unable to
honestly and conscientiously agree In
some things, and we know OF none
with whom we are not forced to dis
agree at times 1t all involves ques-
tions of judgment, viewpoint and
sometimes interest. We will go further
and say that we have known OF cases
where editors took positions, or advo-
Gated propositions for pay-accepted
bribes. But with it all, the general
progress seems to be in the direction
of right. Directly or indirectly these
papers have been the means Of dissem-
mating the information and intelli-
gence that has enabled the truth to
come out.
When We say we believe in govern
ment by newspaper, or that the news
paper is absolutely essential to good
government, we do not want to be
understood and suggesting that we be-
lieve in government by the newspaper
editor. Nor do we believe that
government by newspaper" means
government by newspaper editors any
more than we believe that government
by law means government by lawyers.
It may be a fact, of course, that the
editor himself sometimes usurps the
power of his newspaper just as the
lawyer sometimes usurps and misrep-
'resents the power and authority Of the
law, thereby securing temporary DOM
ination under false pretenses. But this
Is neither to be commended or defend
ed in either case.
The fact that there are individuals
and organizations who fear the pub
licity of the press, more than they do
the penalties Of the laws, has been
demonstrated in so many hundreds and
thousands of cases that 1t needs no
further proof. No man fears public
lty when he Is right. On the contrary
when he is right, he courts publicity.
1t is very rarely the case that an in
telligent, honest man is seriously an
noyed by being misrepresented or put
in a false position by the press. He
too we'll understands how easy 1t Is to
correct that Misrepresentation or false
position, through the very same me-
dunn that brought it about. AS rule
it is only when men are wrong that
they stand in fear Of publicity, and
are most resentful toward the news
paper
1t is our recollection that few years
ago, about three years, Senator Till
man was complaining almost bitterly
against what he called government
by newspapers" If so, it was merely
a striking back at some Of the news
papers that were then opposing him.
But if we are correct in our recollec-
tion Of the matter, it occurs to us that
the complaint was more in the nature
of political shrewdness than Of real
grievance, for the senator was GER
tainly smart enough to know that the
very papers that were fighting him
would be bound to print what he said
in reply, and that his reply through the
newspaper would bring about the very
thing he was after, government by
newspaper" to his own advantage.