The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-07-23


reckless ambition and selfish venalitv.
who obtain power through the cant Of
demagogues and the INSCRIPTIONS abuse
of personal rivals and political opponents.
1t has at last become dangerous for
man OF note TO utter word of objection
to the concerted measures of his party. or
admit that any Of its leading opponents
possess single good trait of character.
And SO, too, even in private and social
life, one is liable TO be insulted and
abused for the uiterance of an honest ex
preston Of opinion in regard TO some Of
The popular hobbies Of the day. Individ
ualify is utterly lost, and man who does
not feel ike suffering himself to be car
ried along in the great. careless and NOV.
ing mass of the community, must be
"crushed ont" unless indeed he joins
some Macedonian phalanx of adiudged
outlaws, who have banded together as a
iorlorn hope on the outskirts Of society.
1t is in the power of journalists TO re
form this unfortunate state of things, and
they SHOULD no longer lend to it their
support. The evil will ultimately reach
50 aggravated an extent that the commu
nifty will demand its reform, because it Is
fast driving into private life the best men
in the community, and putting into the
high places of power, those who care
nothing for the public good save as it
ministers to their own ambition and emol-
ument.
A higher tone in the journalism Of the
country is now the one thing most need.
ed, as pioneer work in all other re-
forms. 1t would be well if our journals,
generally, would ALLURE the narrow ibflu,
ence BY which organized power seeks to
control them, and ascend from the low
level Of er pavte and unfairrepresentations
to the heights where clear and unob-
structed vision of ever living truth may
always be discerned. What is wanted is
the broad and full discussion OF every
great principle from all points of view,
and the calculation of truth, the whole
truth aud nothing but the truth. We hold
in but little esteem those IN private life
who will never tell but part of the
truth, Withholding or cpncealiug all which
does not make for their own advantage !;
and why should not this exact justice be
carried into public life ?
What the age of the world and the
state of the times imperiously demand
"f journalism are, more sound philosophy
and less partisan scribb ing; more thor
oush research, and careful, unprejudiced
investigation, instead Of crude and super
fetal speculations and bold and ear
nest, but candid and truthful examina-
ton Of all the political, religious and So
cial preteusions of the day.
1t is not to be expected, nor is it need
ful, that all journals should be kept up to
this high standard. The strong interests
and the master passions which exist in
the community will of course always be
able IN command their retained advocates
TO battle each other rs well as to- defeat
the aims of justice. Let us, however, at
least have portion of the press, wise in
its discrimination and unfiBching in its
integrity, TO stand forth as arbirers in the
conflicts of opinion and the collisions Of
interests, AMI to lay before the great jury
of public opinion the rights and duties OF
both sides, disentangling all matters from
the web of sophistry and the confusion oil
ideas in which interested parties seek to
involve great questions Of individual vel
fare, social existence aud public policy.
1t is matter Of regret that many jour
nalisis are deferred from manifestiDg an
honorable. high-minded and maguani-
nous line Of conduct towards their oppo-
nents, because too often admissions OF
this character are in various ways sought
to be perverted to their own disadvantage;
and the same short sighted policy and
unenlightened sell-interest also induces
many of them to treat one another dis
courteously.
Surely it is great mistake to suppose
that any of these reforms are inconsistent
with self-protection and with success il
our cause. With any moderate degree Of
intellectual power, those who pass through
life, in all its relations, uniting the mos
caudor, magnanimity and generous for
bearance, meet with infinitely the great
est success.-Boston TrdUeler.