Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-06-17
From the Chicago Ledger.
Independent Papers.

The Allegan Journal, speaking of the
Grand River Times, paper published at
Eastmanville, on Grand river, says;
"There is something to admire in really
independent paper (no matter in which way
its political or religious sentiments are biased },
such as the Boston Liberator, Chicago Led
oer, Milwaukee Free Democrat, Albany
Journal st. Louis Democrat, New Orleans
Delta, and other papers which we might emu
merate, whose editors have minds of their
own, and have the boldness to speak out with
out fear or favor on such questions as present
themselves, and that too without mincing
matters. We have seen quite number OF
so-called independent papers established and
with rare exceptions they have soon relapsed
into the bitterest kind of loco-foco organs.-
We trust this will not be the case with the
Eastmanville Times, and that it will prove
to be an independent paper in the true &C
ceptation of the term"
The Journal, referring more particularly to
our humble efforts in the cause of indepen-
dent journalism, is pleased to remark:
"The Chicago Daily Ledger one of our
best exchanges has recently been greatly en-
larged and improved, and now ranks among
the first class dailies of the union, both III its
typographical and editorial departments
SETH PAINE, the senior editor of the Ledger
is an eccentric genius and a great favorite with
the old settlers of Chicago. MYRoN S.
BARNES who presides over the news depart
ment of the Ledger, we take to be former
attache of New York paper, as the name
seems to be familiar to us. He is spicy
paragraphist and has the faculty of boiling
down an item of news into an exceeding
short space. All our business men ought to
take the Ledger if they want to know what
is going on throughout the world, more es-
pecially the news of Chicago and the great
northwest"
The Journal falls thoughtlessly into the
too common error Of supposing that other
men than those who preside over the writing
department of a paper are not equally enti-
tied to credit.
We have not person in the office, though
he may be a roller boy, but what is just as
important spoke in the wheel, as we our
selves, who may devote our time to another
branch of the business. We war with that
public sentiment which makes distinctions
among men from some Fictitious cause
We believe in human equality, and try to
live out that principle in all the relations of
life.
Mr. STEWART who has charge of our me-
chanical department, aud who is equally a
partner with Mr. PAINE or Mr.. BARNES, is
not mentioned by the Journal, though his
name appears at the head of our paper. Of
course the Journal thought of no wrong, yet,
such is our education, we invariably act as
though positions made men, instead of men
making positions.
What would our thoughts be worth but
for the compositor, or the pressman? Be-
sides, Mr.. STEWART has both the mind and
education of writer; qualities just as COM
mon and useful in other situations, as in the
editorial chair. Such men are, like the priest
after the order of Melchisedec, always ready
for any position, and this constitutes the chief
characteristic of the universal yankee nation,
who have heads to think, as well as hands to
execute. Other men and women too, beside
ourselves, toll on faithfully from morning till
night, without whose valuable aid, our
thoughts could not breathe" nor our words
"burn," though they were live coal from
off our souls highest altar
The Journal also errs with regard to Mr..
BARNES, both as to his former and present
positions. He was not the attache," but
editor and proprietor of a daily paper in the
state of New York.