Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-01-04
EXPLANATORY.

The purchase of the materials and good
will Of the American was fair and honor
able business transaction, Of which no one
Mas any right to boast, and no one any rea-
son to complain. This is sll we need to
say upon tbs subject, since we are determ.
ined that these columns shall not be devoted
TO the utteranee Of private matters, to the
exclusion Of those Of public interest, nor Of
private gliefs which we may happen at any
time to feel under any circumstances.
A press in the present activities Of the
age and the world, has duties to discharge
of too transcending Importance, to stop by
the way and waste energies over merely pri.
vate affairs. Indeed the conductors of the
press, it seems to us, should in order to the
best discharge of their duties to the public,
keep themselves in such position, as not
to be liable TO feel that they have been
sighted and thereby their private griefs
have been increased. II is rarely that an
editor diligently applying himself to his
profession. and limiting his ambition to the
making of his columns interesting and USE
full finds any occasion to complain of i'll
treatment This at least is the appearance
to the general outside observer, and it will
probably prove so in practical life. We
shall so expect to find it and must act ac-
eording to our own convictions. Our work
is mostly and mainly to furnish to the read
ers Of the American an interesting and
valuable Family paper, containing in neat
and compact form, the leading news of the
day, as it comes thronging through the
mails, or is flashed over the wires To- fur
nish agreeable reading which shall be food
for the mind; to take part in the discus
sion of all questions of social, moral and
political reforms, as they rise; and to en-
dcavor by all the ability We can command
to aid those measures which shall promote
the progress, happiness and we'll being of
society, and to beat back all the evils which
would retard this progress, or prevent the
wcll-doing and well-being of mankind.
We shall not be so exclusive or imprac.
ticable as to insist upon every one acting
in just the way which We may happen to
think is the best way We know that in
order for human society to work out its
progress to a higher state of politics and
better and higher social condition, it is ne.
eessary for all to come to an agreement as
to tray instead of doggedly insisting up
on the way. Any man where he finds a
'eay to do good, in the name OF humanity
let him walk or run in that way, instead Of
every one being paralyzcd in seeking for
the way. There is probably no The way,
that is, an exclusive way by which alone
good can be reached.
In political matters it is very apparent
that in order to efficiency in results, land
without results there is nothing practical
in political actionl the American party
must put forth such platform as shall
commend itself to the common sense and
nationality of the people. To DO otherwise
is to allow the present corrupt administra-
ton and its slave holding directors and its
papal pries . even with all their denuncia-
tions of the american party and its princi-
pie, to secure all the victories in politics
and to have and to hold the active control
of the country. Pierce democracy, slav-
cry and popery make trinity in influence
and in infamy which no true American
can approve or cherish in his heart. Let
us have care, then, that our political ac-
ton shall be such as to prevent the triumph
Of such trinity in the country