, 1872-07-11
Independent journalism.


"Even his earnest attempts to make the
DISPATCH An Independent sheet is to-
tai failure, and it is just as thoroughly
ene-sided on all the great questions Of
the day. as if he had never professed
amy change of convictions whatever"
The whole difficulty with the organ,
rs we'll as nj! other mere organs of party
and rings, in this matter is, in their to-
tai misapprehension of what constitutes
independent journalism. Judging by
themselves, they regard all editors as
the mere instruments OF organs for the
public expression and dissemination of
ether men 5 thoughts and interests; that
in ceasing to serve one party or combi-
nation Of interests, they necessarily take
service. in like capacity. under rival
party, faction or cabal; that the only
change possible is change of masters.
err to absolute neutrality in all conflicts
between political parties.
We do not SO understand the duties
aad Obligations of the vocation of pub
lie journalist. For more than thirty-fve
years We served. with the Democratic
party, giving to it the full tribute ofour
toll, our mind and our means, under the
conviction that we were thereby serving
the best interests of our common coun-
try and of our race, and to these objects
we unreservedly devoted all that we had
or hoped for in this world of merely
personal considerations. With the de-
Iaoralization of the Democratic party
when we could no longer regard it as
any thing more than an organization
controlled by unscrupulous demagogues
for selfish purposes, we simply ceased
TO serve; ; declined to be used as newer
Of wood and drawer of water for any
ring of public spoils-gatherers, whether
operating under the time-honored nam,
OF Democracy, or the popular name of
Republican.
In declaring our independence of par
ty dictation or control, we neither Pro-
posed change of masters. a surrender
of our right to take ''one-side on all the
great questions of the day" and "never
professed any change of convictions
whatever" other than the conviction
previously entertained that onr rrinci-
pies could best be promoted by the sue
cess of the De -ocratic party as at pres
ant managed aud controlled.
Our protest is not against principles
heretofore professed, but against party
abuses and corruptions which have been
fostered by party management under
the guise of principle. This change of
base is no failure, as We have abundant
proof in the panic which it caused
among the rings Of spoils- -eatherers and
pap-suchers OF both political parties;
the subsidized organs of the Democratic
imitators of Tweed's Tammany ring, :"
in California and Oregon, assail US as
traitor to the party, while the hired de-
tenders of the more corrupt ring of Fed
cral officials in Washington Territory,
howl at us as partisan Democrat fight
ing under false pretenses we have at
the same time the warmest commenda-
tion and support from disinterested cit
Izens of the best class, including many
with whom we were in the sharpest an
tagonism as party editor, but who now
fully agree with US that the only remedy
for the manifest wrongs and corruptions
under which the country is suffering
from ring combinations maintained by
party discipline, is for all honest men
to cooperate, independent of party die
tation and regardless of former party af-
Hliations and antagonisms.
The Democratic rings of spectators
upon the peoples rights and resources,
in California and Oregon, as we'll as in
New York city, have been repudiated by
an outraged and indignant people, with
out our aid; We never entered upon a
party contest with better heart and more
determined purpose than to contribute
our full share in driving from their prey
the political cormorants who are now
gorging themselves upon the substance
Of the people of this Territory and
seek to corrupt them by the money
drawn from their own pockets. The
crack of the party whip has lost its ter
rors; the jackal cry of treason and dis.
loyalty no longer protects the camp.
followers in their schemes of plunder.
The thousands of dollars drawn from
the public treasury and expended in
printing and circulating newspaper
devoted to the cause of public plundel
as party necessity, will not save them
Under the inspiration of an independent
press, free from party shackles and un
influenced by the hope of party patron
age. no cajolery, threats of Federal hos
tility or party power will swerve the in
dependent voters of this Territory from
the fixed purpose of rebuking, SO far a,
their votes will do it, the corrupt com
bination foisted upon them for supper
by corrupt Delegate, who was elected