Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-22

ONE Of our exchanges complains OF
the difficulty of editing a newspaper
to please individuals, and although we
can very we'll appreciate that there is
not an experienced newspaper editor In
the land, who cannot sympathize with
this complaint, we desire to say, with
out reflection on the editor Of the ex-
change referred to, that no editor
should try to please individuals. Just
so surely as he attempts such a thing,
he will fail. The reason is plain. Sue
cess in publishing a newspaper lies
along much broader lines, and the edi-
tor must look upon all the situations
that confront him from broader stand
point. Individuals as a rule, are dis
posed to look up things principally as
they affect their own interests or desires.
The newspaper editor is not without
selfish interests and desires; but he
can very readily see that it is a very
poor business to try to promote those
interests and desires through his own
newspaper And If he cannot promote
his own interests and desires through
his own newspaper, how much more
foolish is it for him to try to so pro-
mote the individual interests and de-
sires of others? There never was an
editor, it Is our belief, from the presid-
ing genius Of the great metropolitan
daily down to the scissors artist Of the
most obscure country weekly, who has
not realized the necessity Of being on
the constant lookout for people, who
sought to use him in the boosting OF
individual schemes. Some are friends
and some are enemies; but the object
Of most Of them Willingly or unwilling
ly is to make a catspaw Of the edi-
tor. No worker in another public or
semi public capacity, Is subject to such
pressure, and in no other calling have
so many good men had their careers
blasted by this very consideration. OF
course, the editor cannot be all-wise
and omnipotent in this or any other
matter; but it Is necessary that he
should be eternally on his guard, else
he Is lost, The thing therefore, Is not
to try to please individuals, nor to
please himself; but to stick as closely
as possible to fundamental principles
of right and truth, and leave readers
free to praise or condemn as they may
be disposed, and when the editor is sure
that he Is right, he should be as indif-
ferent to praise as to condemnation.
We would not have any editor to think
that the fact that he is right on given
proposition Is any guarantee against
annoyance or criticism 1t has always
been true and probably always will be
true, that the man who fights for truth
and right incurs more opposition than
the man who is Indifferent, or who
stands for fragrant wrong. But never
theless, the editor who stands for the
right may always depend on COM
manding the confidence and respect of
his enemies as well as his friends, and
morally, materially and otherwise that
is worth more than empty pats on the
back signifying today's pleasure Of indi-
viduals, who are just as apt as not to
be kicking and abusing about some
thing that does not strike them right
tomorrow. No considerable part Of the
public wants newspaper that Is edited
to please individuals. Nearly the
whole public wants a paper that Is edi-
ted, regardless of individual pleasure.