The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-04-05
sALUTATOnY.

are more true, that all power is danger.
Gus in, the hands Of bad men. So the
press, though among the worlds great
est Blessings. may yet DO so perverted,
as to become a Witherinng curse: and
when welded by uuscrupulous men, WHO
use il for selfish and msi csnary purposes.
Il may become great scoutge. But an
enlightentd. pure and unit ameled press
is. tho legitimate channel for the ditIu.
D sion OF thought: aad civilization, and ma.
tionaI greatness, have advanced hand in
hand with a free press. Previous TO the
iutri lucion Of the art Of printing. letters
were confnse to the few learned men tho
world could boast VI, and were conducted
bv The slow process Of ofprnmsnship. upon
scrolls OF parchment and bark. and most.
ly too, in The dead languages.
A fee press has ever been terror to
kings and tyranis; yOt it has steadily Gle.
vated itself, and become it's own victor
and liberator. The English press, lhcugl
for full a century and ba,f reprossed
BY The vigilent eye Of tie 'amous star
chAmber. did, finally, rise above the au-
thority Of tho restrictive laws and ordi.
nances, enacted through fear and jeal
ousy, to keep it under: and England has
w,dened and rose into greatness. as hei
press widened and extended into great,
ness. The same can bs said of all civil
iEel nations. But we cannot here follow
tho pres. through iLs conflicts and victo.
ries. Suffice il, that we say. that she ut
tyrants triumph over the freedom Of the
press, the world will rstrograde Into tn,
dark age. Put ont This light, and OWL
iEa'ion, christianity, tho ats and sciences
al advanc, ment, are eclipsed.
ln times OF high political excitement
the press sometimes. uuworthily, dc
scend into tie lowest arena Of falsehood
Misrepresentation and unfairness; suc
loosing sight Of all principles. res,r,I
only 10 ezpedieuls, with victory and no
iruoh. nailed upon the banner head; al
Of which. renders any such journal a,
unworthy the confidence and patronage o.
the people. as it's editor is unworthy an
honorable name. or position IN society.
We are not insentible of tie oneroul
responribilities dsvolving upon an editor
and more especially at the present time
when approaching an imp rtsnl politica
campaign. no less, than jhe Ch Of Magis
trais OF too United States, and in view o
the discordant elements Of which ou
elective body consists. In taking oharg
ola public Journal, it is expected. that al
editor will indicate the course he intend
to take, upon the leading questions be
fore the country. 1t is not only his dut,
to define his position. but it is due t.
those who are 10 cooperate with him
that an intelligent understanding shoul,
hs established. It is also due TO tn
body polite, that every issue before III
country should be fully, fairly aud trun,
fullyp'escnIed, which wo pledge ourselve
faithfully to do; aud We lako this occr
sion. 10 express our utmost confidence !
the Intelligence anu homes y OF intentio
ol our re"derA, knowing that they hav
no ends to serve but tbs best good Of III
country; and that they will thus act, i,
respective Of parry prejudice or dictO
ton.
We remember TO have hoard q worth
citizen Of ours. once, when addressing hi
audience, make The following rather per
tinent remark. Said he. "thsre has ol
ioays L'sn fWc part in this coVntry; tier
1m Democratic party. Gai The PARTY op
posing As DsmOyotie parry" Custor
cOmpells us, to use terms as they arc un
dersiool at present, aud no! at all as the
wern originally understood, or with an
special reference to their peculiar fines
to partics II ~ our glory, therefore
that VIZ are OF the party opposing III
Democratic party: 50 that we shall al
ways b. understood. when we use IL,
urm Democratic, To mean the pally uo,
in power, and when W. use tho lel ms Re-
publican party wa shall be understood I
mean the opposition.
The question Of slavery, in ,he abstract
iS not now before the country. in any r,
spoot; and We ignore is discussion upo
i's merits. There are issues, howeve,
OF vital importance, growing out Of thi
question. which ARE now beful tho Amo,
loan people, aud to which it becomes q
10 alluds. African slavery having bee
recognized aud lcgalzed in the suuhe,
States, a. the formation of The eonCeder,
oy, became uoir peculiar iusituro
whether Tor good or Tor evil, time will =
veal Il would be breach Of the 70
eral compact, and ioSler the seeds Of di
solution, for free States to press the su
jsOt Of the unconditional obolilion
slavery, or in any way 10 interfere wi,
the rights of The Eouth. In ieOard IN A,