The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-26

Iney went ana tOiu me sexton ana
the sexton tolled the bell"--the knell
of the too reckless editor.
But even IL ii is too expensive to
tell the whole truth, would 1t be
risking too much to tell only the
truth so far as one goes?
Advertising is the support of jour
nalism. The power that can infiu-
ence a majority of advertisers for or
against a journal, has that journal
practically hypnotized, whatever it
claims for itself in the way OF indie
pendence. independence means the
ability to do what, under all the cir
eumstances, you prefer to do. Well,
il you prefer to do what the adver-
Using control says you must do. you
still have your Independence, but 1t
is, perhaps a brand of Independence
that you would be willing to exchange
at some loss-not too much loss.
SO long as you have a couple OF
newspapers in the morning and
couple more in the evening, or even
one a day or one week, you can
scarcely realize what 1t is TO he ice
bound near the Arctic regions, and
have no news from the outside world
at all.
During that memorable. lurid win
ter at Nome Alaska, such isolation
from the outside world was more
keenly felt than the weather. No
newspaper for weary months Eng
lishmen and Americans We're still
laying wagers on the result OF the
yacht race which was just starting
when the Last ship had left Victoria
for &ome--the October before. The
English always backed Sir Thomas
Liptons boat.
The Brass Button" as we called
one OF the best fellows IN town,
heard of Victoria newspaper on the
way to Nome that had been brought
over the Yukon ice by 3 man on a
bicycle with wheels wrapped with
gunny sacks. Twenty miles down
the coast at Port Safety he had
stopped TO recuperate after his TWEEN
ty-fiVe hundred miles ride. an almost
incredible feat OF daring and endur-
anee In midwinter.
AS soon as Button heard Of that
lone newspaper, he started out with
his dog sled and within two hours
had reached Port Safety, found the
man and purchased the newspaper
for ST.
AS soon as possible he was back
at Nome, and had notices posted all
over town telling OF the precious find
and stating that he had hired the
auditorium, where that evening all
who would contribute a dollar in dust
coin or paper, might hear him read
the latest news tonly about -four
months old from the earth. with
appropriate comments by himself.
Needless to say, the auditorium was
crowded, and glorious time was en-
Joyed Among other moeted questions,
the yacht race vas decided. ard II
bets promptly paid h the English
ment,
81 the great power Of the press there
is no question. Carlyle said OF the
power of news papers They preach 10
the people. daily weekly. admonishing
kings themselves. advising peace or
war with an authority which only the
first reformers. and a long past class
Of potentates were possessed of in
fiiGting moral cnnsare. inpartlng NOR
al encouragement, consolation, eGifica-
ton
This power misused has sometimes
the effect of striking q mosquito on
the head OF o baby with a poker. on,
yes. you kill the n0sQuito-f you hit
him-Dut there Is no doubt about the
81 her Result. Furthermore. If You con-
iinuously use cannon 10 drive back
few pichets, you may he short Of am
munition when You meet The enemy in
force.
Some editors appear TO think that
/ they are all right as long as they fol-
low thelr instinct In selecting news,
accepting manuscript or choosing their
line of editorial battle. But instincts
! also are capable Of education and mis-
education. and the instinct Of an edi-
/ tor may be greatly out Of harmony
With his environments
Martyrdon Is absolS ed from foolish
/ ness only BY The facts. The land Is
| fully OF editors who, toe, eagerly seek
near martrrdom for the sake Of a cause
or party "PernieIous Activity" is a
frequent hlunder which calls forth the
cry OF the xicfin--''Good Lord de-
liver US from our friends. Oar enc
I mics We can conquer"
he Great Teacher said, blessed are
We When men reTile you, and prosecute
YOU, and say all manner Of evil things
against you. falsely for my sake"
Many who would be political martyrs
seeking editorial nartyrdom for
rex enge only. appear TO think that the
/ falsely should be omitted.
The relentless power of the natural
Law OF truth IN the editorial world Is
/ the same as elsewh here. Why not rely
on it more Truthfulnnes being
condition Of mind. aud truth blindness
! being fully rs prevalent as color blind
ness. and possibly somehow related TO
that conEenlsl efficiency. II is not OK
peeted that many editors could toll
nothing but the truth al the time
Bat no one VIII deny that there is
room for some Improvement. The
confidence Of the people in the press
has been so shaken that many read
editorials, when al all, more for cen-
frmation than for Instruction, aud
doubt at any deviation from their own