Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-03-27
STRICTLY A political PAPER

next ran.
STRICTLY A POLITICAL PAPER.
This heading could have been placed at
the head of tho Bedford Gazette at the ac-
eession of the present editor of that Journal
to the tripod, ten or a dozen years ago, and
its readers would not have had occasion
to complain Of any Infringement upon its
standing motto above a score Of times in all
that period. This Is almost marvellous, and
yet we doubt whether it could be successful
" eontradictcd OF course, We have no
reference to selected natter now and
then, an article has found its way to the out
side, or may be the inside, when POLITICAL
matter was not to be had, that was not
strictly political, but it was only on such
occasions. We allude particularly to the
editorial matter which has appeared in its
columns. There has been an abundance Of
this class Of matter, very well written, too,
but never thought, from the first day Of
January to The last day Of December, that
did not express a denunciation Of Republi-
cans or laudation of the Democrats, or an
allusion to one or the other.
Are country newspapers intended for no
other purpose than to cry up one party and
cry down another? Are they intended for
no other purpose than to advocate the
filling Of thankless little offices with its par
tizans? Are they mere party machines, sup
ported for party purposes, without any re-
gard for the ten thousand other interests of
the community in which they are published?
The Gazette, judging from its course, would
answer the first two questions negatively,
aud the third .-as.r...eis isOiy, and ~ "o0rdi
no doubt, add further, if it we're disposed
to be honest, That the chiefend Of Dem
ocratic leader should be, and really is, to
get into Office, and that it is the duty Of
those who cannot get in to support those
who can!' The Gazette is published for no
other object Judging from its editorials.
And, now, we desire to ask the Democrat
ic taxpayers what advantage this course Of
conduct, OF the part of a journal which
should be the exponent Of all the varied in
terests Of the county, has been to them?
The generality of men, we are willing to ad-
NIT, act from selfish motives What ad
vantage have you derived from the course
ofyour county paper? From the thousands
of political articles which have appeared in
its columns for ten years, what advantage
have you experienced Answer the ques-
ton honestly. How marg Of you, to take
the best possible view of it, have been elect
ed to Offices worth your taxes? Can you
point to a score Of your number who have?
No, Messrs. Democratic taxpayers, you
cannot. The truth of it is that good Offices
seldom come your way; if there is a fellow in
the county who is too lazy TO work, and has
shrewdness enough to be a politician he
must be supported by the party, and your
editor calls out Justify, week after week, foT
you to do so, and charges you with being
renegade if you do not, and you are whipt
in and must waste your time and money to
elect him. Amt this true? And after he
is elected what good does he do you? If
you want him to do you the least favor i'm
aginable, he viii ask pay, and if you offer
him thanks merely, he viii tell you quite
bluntly that be cannot live on thanks2 Ain t
this a fact? We do not complain that it is
so; we believe that all men should be paid
for their labor, and well paid, but we would
like to know who pays you for your efforts
to secure the triumph of the Democratic
ticket Are you paid by promises Of future
reward? IF you are, be once and forever
undeceiyed Don't you know that the po-
sitions which are not taken up by the crafty
leaders arc given to the weakened Repub-
hcans to buy them up? You may have
served the party fer fifty years faithfully,
but leave one Of this peculiar gentry turn up,
and he must be cared for; they know your
vote to be safe, and by fattering the weak
kneed gentleman they make sure Of his vote
and that, perhaps, Of some of his friends,
and mark it. there is always one Of this
class to be bought up The Republicans
have done the same thing before now, but
We despise the policy. Firstly, because it Is
injustice to those who have kept up the or
ganization for years, and secondly, because
men bought up in this way are mere wealth
eT-cocks.
If these views are correct, and We are led
to believe thai they are in ninety mine cases
out Of every hundred, then the course of
the Gazette has been absolutely ofno adyan-
tage to you, but on the other hand, down
right loss. Let us suppose that it had, dur
ing all this time, consistently advocated an
improved system Of Agriculture in addition
to its politics, would it moi have had very
beneficial effect upon the industrial prosper
ity of the county? Suppose it had advoea-
ted the location Of iron manufactures in the
county as earnestly as it has advocated poll
ties, does any enc doubt that We would have