The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-04-22
An independent Press.
. "a JqNesrlle lIII.l Gasttte.

From he JdHeFriNe OVID Gl:t'tt.
There llas been considerable criticism
passed upon the Chicago Tribune recently
because It llas Ind the Independence to
point out and comment upon the errors
ilathavc been committed blythe ReIMbll!
Gun party Some few newspapers have
sought to streDgthenthGir own standing in
a partisan sense by questioning the 1Ii.
bWMeS political soun1nCss and consistency;
but in the Judgment Of the observing, their
structures only indicate subScrvicncy 10
to blind party drill that Is unbecOming in
those who make any prCtCnsiOns to indie
pendent Journalism. Is the Republican
party and its managers immaculate that
they can do 10 wrong? Is thCadministrI-
ton Of General Grant divine institution
and therefore above the criticism OF the
common people who lifted It into power ?
Are the Chief men in the ltepulli-
can synagogue 80 pure and incompatible
tllAt they are, like CEsNrs wife, above sus-
plcion and rCprOaChy These are questions
which every honest man will answer cor
rcctly for himself, and while wc0rC prompt
to claim that the administrations Of Abra-
ham Lincoln and General Grant were
great improvements upon their prGdeCcs-
sOrs in serving the cause Of Justice and lIu'
manity, yet We are free 10 admit that there
arc raScnls who need watching, measures
that ought TO be rcpudintcd, and barnaClcs
adIlcring to the ships bottom TINT ought to
be scrapcd of. Any candid man will Od-
init that the first cast Of Grants Cabinet
was blunder, and TO deny that Our party
has not been guilty Of other grave mis-.
takes and fOlllcs, would be to deny fhcts
that are MS patent US the universal tCsti-
mOny Of the public Gun make them. We
need not go into details TO illustrate this
subject, rs the general statement will be
accepted as true by every man who has
the average knowledge Of public affairs,
Now what is tho duty OF every news
paper tint has lRborCd In the Republican
cause, advocated its measures, helped IA
make its public men, md nre in love with
It's principles! Is It their duty to excuse
and palliate every error that the party
makes, and screen every scOundrcl from
the Just Indignation Of the people, simply
because he wears our badge and follows
our camp? God forbid that the press Of
tho Republican party shall ever become
so subservient To partisan drill and dictN.
ton that II swaps the claims Of truth and
Justice for party success and individual
benefit. Rather let it denOunce the
wrongs and misdGeLs Of its own party
with Us much freedom us 1t would those
committed by the opposition, for in no
other way will its errors be corrected anil
the party keep its hold upon the contl-
dCncc of honest and sincere men, There
never was IL party in this country so tempt
cd to usurp authority and commit 1cts
not warranted by the organic law, rs the
Republican party, and with the great trust
Of power rCpOsGd in it by the people, and
the terrible crisis through which 1t was
called to carry the nation, demanding the
exercise Of the wiscst craftsmanship as
well Us tho expenditure Of Unboundcd ma
tcrial resources, It Is great credit 10 1t
that it has kept rs close rs it has to the
strict line Of public veal md patriotism.
In the earlier days Of tho republic, par
ties were 30 ncArly equal tint tho one out
of n0wCr was n constant check upon the
one TINT wns administering the govern
mcnt's affairs, but the Republican party
Of to-day knows no such restraint, and
unless men inside Of its own ranks raise
their voices in rehuke and warning on
proper occasions, It's purity and useful
ness will soon end.
We say, then, thatit is tho best evidence
Of public journals fidelity 10 principle
and Of its sincere love for the cause II nd
vOcl,cS, when it hNs the courage TO say to
wrOng-docrs rs Nathan said TO David,
"ThoH art the man." and rcbukc the sins
and errors Of its own party friends.