The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-08-03

There never was more harm
lful fallacy than the favorite cry
of the time servingg demagogue:
"The voice Of the people is the
voice of God" It all depends upon
whether a false prophet, teaching
evil, or a prophet of God, teach
! ing truth, a seer Of wisdom or a
prince of fools, has been whisper
/ ing in the ears Of the people. The
press that accepts and acts upon
the theory that the strident voice
| of the public is really and actual
Ily the voice Of God made audible,
and, therefore, to be obeyed with
out question or Investigation, is
perpetually led astray by more
noisy clamor that has in It moth
ing of divine wisdom and but rare
| ly a seasoning Of common sense.
The press that is satisfied to be
the waatfer-co Of the commun-
ity MAKES no contribution itself to-
ward the uplift' of the public and
:, @;x-6,,oDf;oJ .forna
for positive good. Nevertheless,
the reflector school Of journal.
ism sometimes contributes q great
deal to the idle amusement of the
public and it also helps in fixing
a feeling Of comp1acency and salts
faction with things IS they are.
Satisfaction breeds contentment
and wherever contentment prevails
there is little progress-if not ac-
tual retrogression.
Thus the conclusion is inevitable
that it is not the duty of the press
to reflect public sentiment, al
though this policy may be easier
s'facilis descensus Averno''-
there being fewer obstacles en-
scountered while following the path
of least resistance, and greater ma
teria} rewards are garnercd from
catering to the follies and foibles
of folks than from trying to teach
them to think clearly and live
wisely
The press with conscience and
q more or less exact realization Of
its prime duty to the public. and
that is also possessed of an earn
est desire to improve its oppor-,
tunity and to discharge the re-
sponsibility that rests upon it,
cannot fail to WELD an influence
for good and to render real service.
1t either itself takes the leader
ship in swift and vigorous crusades
for right and justice. when wrong
is paramount and the people op-
pressed, or in the slower. more
thorough and more resultful revo-
buttons that have been brought
about without strife by patiently
and assiduously educating public
opinion along new lines until old
convictions and bnliefs are dis
placed and new ideas are firmly
implanted. ir. the peoples minds. 50
that the desired reforms in laws or
customs are accomplished as if a
part Of the natural sequence Of
events: The press that has service
as its motto does not arrogate TO
itself the possession Of all wisdom
nor claim preternatural foresight;
1t is not jealous and intolerant of
the opinions Of others, but seeks
to discover and to make more SER
viceable. by disseminating as wide
ly as possible, the useful and fruit
fuI ideas of the wisest and sanest
minds Of the time. The press be-
comes, as it We're, the exchange OF
IDEAS, where the thoughts of all
the Worthwhile thinkers are list
ed and displayed in order that all
who thirst for knowledge and seek
new ideas may attain this desire.
1t is a calling that demands broad
mindedness, tolerance, truly cath
oIc spirit, independence of
thought and keen. and unstinted
ympathy with and for humanity
in the mass. Unless it has these
attributes it cannot do its full duty
to the public 1t must be endow-
ed with and cultivate the insight
That detects and understands the
inehoate ideals and aspirations ns
the great majority. whose untrain-
ed minds cannot formulate their
thoughts for clear and forcible ex-
preston. In this way the press
con hnnon,a ut loa 81 tho ran1lt h