The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-12
Che mesterlp Gfbo,
AND
Pawo atuck Advertiser.
Westerly, July IL, 1880.
SalutatOry.

Reader, we bow to thee not, please
understand, as token of servility, but
as an act of courtesy, due from free
man to his peers. In accordance with
common usage, on such occasions, We
say a few, and we intend it shall be but
a few, words by way of introduction
1t is not our intention to mark out very
specifically any definite track of pro-
ceedure. Circumstances, regulated by
principle, We intend shall be our guide
in the course which We shall pursue
during the time that We may be con.
nected with the Echo.
Having duly mounted, for the time
being, tho editorial tripod, we consider
ourself fully justified in the claim to tho
cabalistic we, in the few thoughts We
may from time to time throw off. We
shall endeavor, in whatever We may say,
to be Influenced by desire to interest
and instruct, according to our ability,
those who may honor US with their at
tention while, at the same time, we
shall feel eurself at liberty to express
our sentiments freely and fearlessly on
the various topics of the day, in can
did, courteous and independent man
ner ; always open to conviction from ar
guments of q similar character.
Party politics and sectarian religion
We shall cschew altogether. Do not in
this understand US to say that we pur-
pose to have nothing at oil to say on
tho subjects of religion and politics
these great and leading questions that
interest the world, and most especially
this country at this time. We shall,
doubtless, frequently find occasion to
say word on both these subjects, as
we'll as others and what We mean is,
we do not intend, in these columns, to
express whatever preferences we may
happen to entertain in regard to the diff
ferences of doctrinal points betweeH
Episcopalians, Cougregationalists, Bap.
fists, Methodists, or any other religious
denomination, as such or to discuss in
a party spirit the numerous nice dis,
tinctions-often without real difference
that may be strenuously advocated by
! the various sections of Wings, Demo
) Gratis, Free Sellers, Know Nothings, OF
Know Something's. Whenever we dc
find such occasion, we shall not only fee
| at liberty to give our views on the vari'
GUS points, but we shall feel it our duty
so long as We use pen at all to use il
in favor and for the advancement o
, what We deem to be truth and justice
In word, we intend to be independent
, and to allow others the same privilege
and we therefore have no doubt but th,
good sense and intelligence of our read
ers will show them the folly of taking
offence at whatever We may happen tc
, say that shall not, in all points, exactly
correspond with their view of the mattel
9 in hand, whatever it may chance to be
We apprehend there is a vast differ.
ence between independence and neutral.
ity. One is the noblest attribute of the
, human mind the other is-mothimg
We honor the honest, flee, independent
thinker and inquirer after truth, while
we look upon the thing that fears to in
vestigate any subject, but is content to
take some particular mans ipse dirt
as the most despicable Of all objects tha
have assumed the human form. The
independent inquirer is not afraid Of thu
light, he courts investigation-he admit
the fact that he is but human, and there
fore may be wrong, but if so desires t.
be set right. While the man who cal
hear nothing that contravens with hi
peculiar tenets without thrill Of horro
? and dread of heresy, is moro abjec
slave than he who tolls in Southern ric'
swamp or on the cotton field, because
the servitude Of the one is forced ant
physical while that of the other is men
tai and willing
Having perhaps sufficiently defined
our position in this respect-about tn,
only one which We just now feel need,
\ any particular de6nition-we will clos,
: BY saying that We have no pccuniary in
!, terest in the Echo, and we are only re.
e snonsible for ench art;.l.. q. - -