American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-11-26

against the sermons, since he knew
exactly what was going to be said !;
but when he got up to preach not
even the devil, himself, knew what
he was going to say.
This story calls to my mind the
one the cOlored preacher, who took
for his text, The Devil Goeth About
Like Roaring Lion, Seeking Whom
he May Devour' He said, Breth-
ern, we shall divide our discourse
into three parts: first, Who the
devil, he is; second, What the devil,
he is after; third, What the devil,
he is roaring about anyhow
"Since there is supposed to be
close relationship between the
editor and a-pot the-devil, | beg
the homiletic liberty of modifying
this outline and using thus-Who
the editor, ne is; What the editor,
he is after; and What the editor,
he is roaring about anyhow
An analysis of the word edit,
suggests that it means to give out.
An editor is man who gives out
to the public the news which en-
lightens the people and the moral
convictions which aid in molding
public sentiment.
People have a desire for infor-
nation and the columns of the news
paper and, many times, even the
head lines go long way toward
satisfying that desire. 1t was said
of the people of Athens at a GER
tain time that many of them were
IN 10
for the sole purpose of hearing some
new thing. The desire of the peo-
pie to have the news is still strong
and the editor has the honor of
giving out information to the peo-
pie
But the editor is man of
equipment, reflection and judgment
Such men have convictions and
these convictions, given to the peo-
pie, have large place in the mold
ing of public sentiment. Instance
the influence of Lovejoy. He had
convictions concerning slavery 1t
was through the columns of his
paper that he gave these convictions
to the public. Those convictions
made him warm friends and bitter
enemies. He was murdered in the
act of defending the press, rather
the liberty of the press. But the
wave OF public sentiment had started
in every direction In Boston a
great crowd had assembled in Fan
euel Hall. The states attorney of
Massachusetts, made an eloquent
speech in which he defended the
murderer of Lovejoy and likened |
him to Otis, Hancock, Quincy and /
Adams. But in that crowd was Wen
dell Phillips. He was but a youth, |
26 years of age. He rose to defend |
Lovejoy. Pointing to the pictures
of those illustrious men. he said:
When l heard the former speaker
llken the murderers of Lovejoy to
these men. l thought those pictured
lips would break forth into voice
and condemn the recreant American,
The slanderer of the dead
Soon there came kissing and an
lproar. sufficient for a time to stop
he speaker. Some cried, Make
lim take back the word re
But the sturdy youth
lad nothing to take back. He con-
'luded his speech and won the SYM
'athies of the people.
Soon came William Lloyd Gar
'ison. His life may be sumed up
n quation from his own words.
am in earnest, | will not retract
single inch, and l will be heard
These men and many others
vent on molding public sentiment
n favor of liberty. But, amid all ;
he forces for thus molding public
eminent, the press had a unique !,
nd very large place.
What the editor, he is after?
he editor is after the truth. He ;
arries note book in which to jot ,,
own accurate descriptions of things !
nd happenings He is but little con- ;;
erned with suppositions or thor ,
ss. He wants the truth. and it is ,
he truth for which he is eternally :
eeking
Il was told this was to be a re- 7
gious address and would like right
ere to insert text, 'Ye shall know I
he truth and the truth shall make i
ou free 1t is onlv when we know y
he truth that we are able to act I
18th perfect freedom. The voter is !
ampered unless he knows the true I
olitical situation and the character
the different candidates; and in
o case can there be perfect free
ON of right action without true
nowledge of the entire situation.
i've us the truth. We need it. /.
But the facts should be given =
18th sincerity and in their due pro- I.
Drtions, distorted fact is not q
le proper kind to give to the pub
c. To present half truth may be I,
uch worse than an entire silence. !.
once read of an editor who had al q
larrel with the banker of his town. i"
happened that the bank was so II
tuated that unusual demands woul o
, serious. although the bank was 9
4 good financial situation for d
business purposes. The
litor learned that for few weeks L
lie financial situation was precar-
us and published that fact. with
hers that might be mentioned,
5ainst the bank and said nothing
lOJf the ttinoc in founr <Ln