Step-by-step explanation:
To publish it" is an infinitive phrase that functions as the direct object of the verb "wanted" in the sentence "The editor of the newspaper wanted to publish it." The infinitive "to publish" is the base form of the verb and "it" is the object of the infinitive.
The infinitive phrase "to publish it" indicates the editor's intention or purpose - that is, the action the editor wanted to perform on "it," which refers to a piece of writing or information that the editor was considering for publication in the newspaper.