The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-11-14
DUTY OF a JOURNALIST.

universal satisfaction, is one Of the isspos-
sibilities which it is not possible for man
to perform. Whatever may be the object
Of the proprietor in publishing his paper.
the welfare and enlightenment Of his sub.
scribers will be the means by which he
expects to attain that object. Newspa-
pers, then, are published to give infor-
nation offacts-of the sayings and doings
Of the busy world, and whenever these
sayings and doings become inimical to
the principles which he lays down for his
rule of faith, then does it become the du-
ty Of the journalist TO oppose and condemn
them. ,.s se1zra:. @a.
Most, if not all, newspapers, are pub
hshed for the purpose of advocating some
favorise opinion in religion, politics, mo.
rails, or science, and every fact which
they publish is made to have some bear.
ing upon their favorite doctrine. There
are others which, while they advocate
the doctrine Of a particular sect or party,
publish all such facts as may add to the
knowledge Of the reader. Such news
paper is ours. We profess 10 have faith
in, and to advocate doctrines Of, the De-
mocra,ic party. gWhateveris opposed to
the principles and doctrines Of that party,
we oppose. Upon all other subjects we
may be considered as passive, excep,
when special opinion may be given up
on special fact. To those who may
have strong, inveterate prejudices, our
facts may not, sometimes, be acceptable.
TO such persons, we will say, that it
would be criminal in US to conceal from
them the truth. Our profession is to seek
for truth-our duty, 10 publish it to the
world. Now, if, in giving publicity to
the truth, we expose the errors Of men or
of parties, we do public good. Thus,
if a man steals horse; by giving notice
of that fact, with description o'the thief
and Of the property stolen, we may be in
strumental in having the thief apprehen-
ded and brought to justice. In this case,
though we are sure to have the curses Of
the thief, We doubt not but that we shall
have the blessing of the public, because
we have done public good.
Again, if an ambitious man, or ty-
rant, should use his power station, or in
fiuence, to trample upon the rights Of
man, we warn the public to beware, by
giving them the fact-the action or the
deed-by which..we judge the man. We do
not, nor we should not, confne our view
of the world 10 the little locality which
we inhabit. Man has RICH, wherever he
may dwell; and though the hand Of pow
er may surround him witt, shackles, and
bigotry may fet;er him with prejudices,
our duty to him is the same-we shall
proclaim and advocate his righ,s-we
shall denouncc his oppressors.
We have been induced to make these
remarks, by some criticisms which we
have heard, upon an article in last weeks
paper, entitled "Agrarlaujsm in Ireland"
We did not suppose that there was one
intelligent man among our readers, who
doubted the propositions which are affirm
ed in that article, much less did we sup
pose that any man would desire to con-
ceal from himself or from the public, the
evils which tester the body polite Of mil
lions Of our fellow-beings.
Whatever we said in that article, apart
from the subject at issue, was said more
in sorrow :han in anger; more in lameta-
ton over the circumstances that made
the people agrarians, than indignation at
the fact Of their being so. We asserted
in substance, that the people of Ireland
we're entitled to a better food than the
rotten potato; and that whoever prevent
ed them from acquiring and possessing,
and eating better, were traitors to huma-
ILLUSTRATORS 10 the laws Of nature and
Of God. We say SO still--and we pity
the man who is SO surrounded by higol-
az ~ prejudice, that he cannot perceive
md secognize this holy doctrine -"Self-
Iprese alton iss the first law Of Nature,'''
and Il tie poor people Of Ireland, or Of
arly other country should be compelled
by q contrary law, 70 combine together
for the preservation Of their lives, they
act but il accordance with the paramount
lawsof their nature. lit be right for the
people TO combine together for the pre-
servation Of their live, is il not sprong to
preyenka his sombinat ions We hold that
Il iss Lave expr essed our opinion
accofdl Noshiag remain, thsn,
but ~ prove, thas DIV IN rsons named n|
our article " ~ ssl bave endeayored