Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-05
independence anl Neutrality.

1t is great fault with the newspaper
press of the United States, that it is gene
rally either partizan, or neutral; the first
having an opinion on one side Of public
affairs only, the second having no opinion
at all. We Americans have plenty of
Wing newspapers, and plenty also of Dem
ocratic ones We have also neutral papers,
wishy-washy affairs, without the courage
or knowledge to speak the truth: but what
We want, is independent journals, which
speak fearlessly and frankly their consci-
entious sentiments.
A newspaper of such character, indeed,
is worth more to an impartial man than a
dozen which are political or even neutral.
The editors, of course, must be men of in
telligence, and free from unworthy preju-
dices, sincere lovers of the truth, above all
mercenary temptations. An Ignorant ed
itor may get along very well in partizan
journal, for but little knowledge is required
to abuse political opponents but an ig-
norant editor, in an independent newspa-
per, soon botrays himself, being unable to
interest his readers by sufficient variety
Of topics. Nor does it require much knowl-
edge or ability to be neutral editor
for, provided he never ventures an opinion,
all goes well. The advice which the fine
lady gave to the footman she married, will
apply to him he has but to hold his
tongue, and look grave, and people will
take him for a wiseacre.
But the free and liberal minds of the
country require something more than par
tizan and neutral Journals. They want
newspapers in which honest opinions are
uttered, and in which error or crime, whcr-
ever found, are fearlessly denounced. Such
Journals afford constant food to the mind,
and, even if occasionally wrong, aid the
cause of truth on the whole, by their frank
discussions For, as human reason is not
infallible, not even the sincerest and most
intelligent editor can always be right !;
though he i. apt to be more SO than his
readers, in exact proportion to his greater
knowledge and his wider sphere of obser-
vation; and hence sensible, not to say
charitably- minded subscribers, are cautious
in condemning him. 1t is i very common
practice for men, when they see something
they do not like in their newspaper, to or
der it stopped. They approve, perhaps, of
its sentiments in ninety-nine respects, bu.
disapproving in the hundredth, cease their
support. What is this but prescription ?
If an absolute monarch finds a journal in
his dominions, expressing opinions he does
hot like, he stops its publication, and this
is called assailing the freedom Of the press;
but how does that act differ from this of
the subscribers, except in degree? Both
seek to force the editor to conceal his opin-
ion; both wish to stop free discussion
only, in the one case, whips, fettcrs, and
dungeons are called in, while m the other
it is the pocket that is attacked.
OF late years, Independent newspapers
are becoming more common in this coun-
try. We are glad to see this. In private
life, all sensible persons like best the men
of liberal, Independent minds and jour-
mails, with similar characteristics, are des-
tined also to become most popular. No
one, who is not a dupe or Ounce, cares to
converse with an individual, who has no
opinion Of his own, but merely echoes the
ipse DIRT Of others and ro really liberal
mind, in search of knowledge, but will
prefer an Independent journal to parti-
zan, or even . neutral one
We have endeavored, for instance, to
make this paper an Independent one. We
aa'e, at all times, freely spoken cur opin.