Washington sentinel., 1853-10-16
THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE PRESS.

cert ana cooperation no great END could DE ae-
complished. But nature evidently designed that
men should, TO some extent, be independent
They cannot be amalgamated without losing
their indentity and individuality. A man may
neglect all the good gifts O. nature and pros
titute hlmselG his intellect, and his heart. I'm
PEELED by cowardly fears, by sordid hopes of
gain, or by ambitious aspirations, he may sell
himself soul and body, to some other man or
to some combination of men. He may basey
put himself under bonds and obligations to
follow his rulers as the boat follows the vessel
as the dog follows its master. He may de
grade himself into stipendiary, to swear to
all that is said, to uphold all that is done. But
sucha man incurs the contempt of both goodand
bad men. Such man was that judicial saw
age, Jeflries, the bloodhound Of his royal
master. Such man, in an humber and blood
less sphere, was Boswell, alike the slave and the
biographer of his master.
But if seryility is despicable in man, how
much more despicable is it in press. The
press should be the mirror of truth. 1t should
be rnstained and unclouded. Its mission is
high and holy. 1t should shed a light by which
both virtue and vice may be detected. When
it fails to do this, it fails of its high destiny.
The independence of the press How full
of meaning the word 1t means that it should
be without fear and without favor. 1t should
state everything fairly, it should deal honestly
with every man. In discussing principle Of
government, or measure OF public policy, its
object should be to develope the truth and
to treat Of men, generally an unpleasant Office,
it should be manly, dignifed, and Just. 1T
should nothing extenuate, nor set down aught
in malice 1t should blame where censure is
merited it should praise where commendation
is proper To praise or to censure altogether,
and without discrimination, is alike unwise.
The press is the chief source from which the
masses derive information and in a govern
ment of the people, like ours, it is all important
that it should be truthful, honest, and indepen-
dent. When we speak of the independence of
the press, we do not mean a press without poll
tics, and without party connections. That is
the neutral press. But we mean the great po-
litical press. However strong its political con-
victions, however warm its political feelings,
however fervid its attachments, or bitter its pre-
JUDGES and animosities, it should yet exhibit
frank, manly, and digni6ed spirit With what
ever party it may connect itself, it may, at the
same time, preserve its party fidelity, and its
proper independence The principles of every
political party are well defined and
understood. The independence of journal is
manifested in an undertaking adherence to those
principles, and a manly resistance to any en-
croachment on, or violation of them. Such re-
sistance may come from a professed friend or
an open foe; it may come from corrupt and am
bilious leaders, or from base and mercenary
demagogues. Come from whom it may, it
should be promptly rebuked. Again the intro
duction of any new and dangerous element of
faith, which is incompatible with the established
creed should be sternly and steadily resisted
No violation of the proper usages and dapproved
traditions of the party should be suffered to pass
unpunished.
The best and most patriotic organization
may be disfgured and disturbed by unprinci-
pied and designing members, who, under cover
of patriotism, but in reality to promote selfish
views, cunningly attempt to misapply the estab-
lished principles of their party, and thus change
ZEE ,lol. al IL Il
to be closely watched and fearlessly held up to
public reprobation. Such are those smooth
and smiling demagogues who, with ingenious
pretexts and plausible arguments, frequently
misead their trusting associates into errors
that prove troublesome, if not fatal great
writer and close observer Of men has said
that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoun-
drel." By this is meant that pretended and
noisy patriotism under which bad men cloak
their base designs.
II is the, high province Of the press to oppose
bad men and bad whether those
men and those measures be Of their own party
or not. The people want the truth. They ex-
poet to derive it from the press, and if the press
be corrupt, venal, and savish, it will fail Of its
high object.
In our prospectus we distinctly announced
our purposes. The first paper that we issued
and emphasized the declarations con-
tanned in that prospectus; and, in all that we
have since written. it has been our wish and OBJ
iect to adhere to the platform on which we
placed ourselves. We claim TO belong to the
true democratic party, and we desire TO be the
faithful exponent Of its doctrines. Attached
from conviction and from sympathy to those
doctrines, we shall maintain them with as much
frmness, ability, and independence, as we
can command. We shall be no mans slave
Ours shall be no osubsidised press. We will not
take pay by tile line for abuse or commenda-
ton Any man or any measure that calls for
attack shall not escape On the other hand,
those who merit praise shall receive ample Jus.
tice ut our hands We a 70 ,ot o,,d H., .,x. ...l.