Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-03-26
THE COURSE OF THE STAR.

Our friends of the Lea Ter. an afternoon paper
started here a few weeks ago, (the existence
OF which. however, Is hardly known 10 one
twente n of the pop latIon Of the District of Co.
lumbis and the surrounding region,) Is ex-
ceedingIy exercised with reference to the
STAR's former POSITIONS on public affairs. We
propose 10 enlighten il. The STAR sustained
the cause of the Union aud Government
throughout the war with ability and fidelity
which Justly won il the confidence and praise
of all loyal people throughout the land
The STAR at the conclusion of the war
was fer having the Government deal as
leniently with the rebels as possible, in the
belief thai they cosld be trusted to return into
full communion in the Union without stern
e1actcns from them. 1t therefore IA vorea the
views and policy of President johnson until
the development of the fact that if that policy
prevailed, the war for the Union would have
been, possibly, au almost entire sacrifice of all
the Government sought to preserve in taking
up arms. When that fact became evident to
the STAR, II did its duty as manfully and es-c.
lively In favor OF the alternative poiicy-that
OF Congress-as any other journal in the coun-
Try, and rejoiees TO know that no other any,
where, has had more influence in the work of
bringing the people of this District and the
whole South up to the hopeful condition of the
popular mind, here and in that section, the ex.
STAR has progressed cheerfuIly and effective.
ly with the progress of ideas, and has had the
honor Of bringing thousands and tens of thou
sands TO progress with It. until its views On
public affairs have been adopted by a consid-
cradle majority OF the people of the Federal
Metropolis; 4 matter OF great i'm portanee
indeed In the wsrk OF the reconstruction
OF Southern public opinion ON the basis
Oh the Ideas In politics, in business and the
necessities of the future of the conn.
try, that exist at this moment in the LOYAL
States. Other journals may have progressed
iaster than the STAR: though il is question
aoie "netner any other has succeeded in so
bringing up to healthy condition so large a
ooay OF leaders with aRtecedents entirely op-
posed to such progress in the right direction
The STAR promptly admits for the benefit OF
the Leaders, present modest and unselfi sh ends
AND aims, tina. before the war it sided with thu
DemocratIc party, even TO the extent of sup
porting breckenridge, and that since the
war II supported President Johnson's policy
until satisfied by manifestations of South
ern opinion, that Its success might involves
sacrifice of all the national benefits that sbsuId
properly result from the victory of the IovaI
cause. Since then, il has Iabored as manfuIlv
and successfully in support of the views OF
congress as 1t was possible for a journal 10
n
ence In the right direction such as the Ls0Jsr
could not hope to achieve, judging from the
meagTe amount of brains, tact and force man.
ifested In Its columns, if living to a thousand
years hence. II these admissions will helm the
Leaders cause against the STAR, il is hearuIv
welcome to them. We overlook its trick oY
garbling the STARS articles Of the past. IN
view OF its own desperate CONDITION. Its
animus Is neither more mol less than to induce
Congress TO transfer the Government ad YER.
tisements from the STAR. with its largest daily
circulation Of any paper published in the
Federal Metropolis, TO itself - the Leader
which is as wholly without circulation "A
without any element OF character or capacitv
likely ever TO secure it a We readers where ths
STAR has q hundred.
The Republican. in an article upon the Gov
eminent advertising, greatly exaggerates the
amount paid for advertising the proposals for
carrying the mails, when last published in a
Washington paper The amount paid wa, not
more than one-tenth the amount stated bv the
RepEblicdn.