The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-22
For the Grand Hnren NsMs.

tAAhNp DANN9s--A haNS just iSafHcN
that YOU have made all necessary arrange
ments, and you now are engaged in set
ting the type for a paper in our village
l am heartily glad to hear it. Having
been a subscriber and reader Of your for
mer paper, / can well judge of the char
acter Of the matter forming the pages
of the new sheet, hereafter 10 be issued
under your supervision.
Although could consciontiously quar-
rel with your political creed, yet the
F" Times was ever welcome to my fire
side. 1t always contained articles, both
editorial and selected, of healthy tone,
calculated to improve the mind, and ee-
ment, rather than sever, tho social feel
iugs of our little community.
1t is an easy matter for village paper
to do great injustice, within its scope,
to individuals, as well as community,
both by intention and misstatement of
facts, brought about, often times, by neg
lecting to examine sufficiently into the
truth of ramaors, those underlined objects
of criticism and attack.
DO not wish to be understood that
wrongs, disturbance, nwlessness, or i'm
moralities should be winked at or smcth-
cred; but l do believe in having the lash
Of publicity felt where justice and truth
demand, even if it should be upon the
shoulders of the selfconceited journalist.
| fully believe it the duty of a public
Journal to chronicle, in suitable manner,
that which is detriment TO the prosper
ity of community, or to call upon the
public, if need be, to correct every spo-
cies of evil, whenever and whereye-
er it may show its front.
But l DO not believe in a public Jour
-s,-....l--- ll-.----.i-.--.-----
tistical garment, in the closet Of his
own sanctum, dcnouncing the public for
non-interference in matters that need the
hand of justice, when he, perhaps, is Che
only one who has knowledge of the infrac-
ton Of Il rules of order or decorum.-
Let him take the weapons that must be
used by other citizens, and by little Ia
Dor and expense prove preaching by prac-
tice. The public journalist is not en-
throned above other citizens in demo-
cratic community TO "say to this man go,
and he goeth; and to another come, and
he cometh." Let example be recorded,
put in motion by the impulse Of the mind
distressed for the welfare of a community,
and if it be anything beyond the narrow
compass of biased mind, or misinform-
ed judgment, the public will sustain the
medium of action from @lumny or out
rage. If, perchance, the journalist, in
pursuit of " items" is q witness TO scenes
of immortality or obsccnity, he can not be
justified in making public such discoveries,
as chargeable to community, without
first ascertaininc how far the knowledge
Of such facts extend.
If he exposes wrong, let him, without
a charge of neglect of duty, on the part
of others, prosecute the perpetrators of
such deeds which carry to his nostrils
such sickening odor. 1t does not
appear just, nor is it right for him, with
the power of the press, if in his daily
walks, yisitations on business, by accident,
or otherWise, discovers dens of immorali-
ty and infamy, TO charge upon commu-
nifty, who are lovers OF morality, as well
as himself, the sin of their existence
among them, when they are innocent,
and that, too, by profound ignorance of
such places Of resort. 1t is not right TO
charge upon those who have grown gray
in their labors for a welI regulated com
munity, to be accused Of winking at the
wickodness, brought in perhaps with the
demands of progression in improvements,
which cause alone, perhaps, induced the
journalist shimsolf to raise his standard.
1t should be remembered that as man