The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-14
The nloaa Of Volume xI.

The Gloss Of Volume XII.
On the first day OF March, 1914, the
FIRST number Of the Spirit Of Democracy"
vas issued. The present number closes
the eleventh Volume. In these eleven
years we have. therefore, only lost some
two or three weeks, which loss occurred
principally In the first year or two.
3 When we entered upon the publication
Of the Esprit" it was only with the inten
tion OF continuing in the business short
time, and after establishing the paper on
: good basis, to sell out TO some one who
wished 10 make the business the pursuit OF
his life. Circumstances, however. have
kept us in control Of the paper until the
I present; and we have now formed such
an attachment for the business and for
our friends and patrons, that ii seems
hard To- dissolve the connection. When
that connec.ion will be totally dissolved
We cannotsay
In looking back over the eleven, years
OF our editorial life, and the manner in
which we have conducted the paper. we
can call to mind but few things which we
have ca1ssgto regret but few changes
5 thai we. would desire to make = but, few.
records we would wish to blot out. True.
We can noaD see things that might as well
have been left ansaid; but at the time, not
being gifted with the power OF seeing into
the future, we acted from the best light We
had.
nThat We could not please all was 10 be
3 looked for. That we have pleased m a.
jority We humbly hope. That editor who
undertakes to please all his readers will
please neither them nor himself. The
very thing that one friend may wish him
10 do, Il done, might. perhaps. be the
cause Of his losing three or four good
Subscribers.
81 The editor who wills to please,
Must hnmbly crawl upon his knees,
And lick the hand that smites him.
The life Of political editor, should i
bs even in an Obscure country town, is by
no means pleasant one. He is expect
"a 10 defend his;par,y and party omina
tisns, whether right or wrong; and if he
has Independence enough to once in {
while .skick in the traces.'' he is pounoee
upen as if he were mere thing. to b'
knocked fsirom pest TO pillar" by ever.
man Who may consider himself aggrieyed
We feel thaakfnl that we can look bacl
through our files, and fud many instances
whers we had the independence 10 Pursu
the dictates of our own convictions Q
right, in opposition to party ties, and re
gardless alike Of the frowns or the favors Q
political enemies or political friends. AM
again We feel humiliated that more fre
sausni instances Of that Independence d
xlnot appear. We confess to passing mai
1ers silently by, which we should hav
Openly and boldly condemned. This ma
pcour again, but we would hope not.
Nhsl!' says one, lido you see error
il Democratic men and Democratic mea,
ures and still remain member of ihs
partyf Mostassuredly, good sir. Whs
: would you have us do? Join party j
whose measures we do not believe at al
Or Isolate oursslf, soethat we can be I
no service to any one1 Not SO. 1t
our du.y, our privilege, and our desire
remain en- humbe member of the Dsn'
cratic party so long as we believe Il
Rfeat leading measures Of that party a
right. And believing, as we honestly d
In. the soundness Of those measures,
ever expect 10 be found battling for ther
whsnevef and by whomsoever ettacke
Il within our limited sphere Of action.
- The same time il is equally our duty al
: ssinclina.iop to speak GU. whenever corru
stion shall raise its head in ourranks.
We have lost many subscribers durii
sar editorial career, because we saw pr
per to speak our mind freely on certa
matters. We expect this TO be the ca
90 long AZ We shall have anything to
with the paper. No man or set of nj
need expect to control our action by vii
dsaving their patronage. When u
! could be done, We would be unfit to occ
py our present position. And should I
tin5s ever arrive when the "Spiri. Of {
n,ocrecy, under the control Of its press
proprietor. should be discontinued on 9
count OF Withdrawals, because the edi,
dafsd spsak his sentiments, we will s