Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-11-19
Party and e. independent" NeWspa.
pofA.

one Of the most sound and fair statements re-
cently-or indeed remotely -made, ~ to the char
acter and comparative value of party and 10
called independent +" newspapers, ia that pre-
scented by Hon. Joseph Medill last week, on re-
assuming control Of the Chicago Tribune. We
present the material portions
The Tribune hereafter viii be, ~ it formerly
was, when under my direction, an independent
Republican journal. 1t will be the organ Of no
man, however high no clique or ring, however
influential or faction, however fanatical or d.
monstratlve. While giving to the Republican
party hearty and generous support, it will
criticise the actions and records Of Republican
40 freely and fearlessly - in days Of yore. But
it has seemed to me unwise for . great reprssen-
tstiye journal, for the purpose Of correcting
some alleged abuses Of administration, to desert
Its party organization and turn its guns on its
old friends, or help into power and plAee the
leaders OF the organization whose political rec
ords and whose official conduct show that they
are insincere in their professions of desire for
administrative publication. As general rule, Q
man can exercise more influence for good
among his friends by remaining en- rapport with
than by assxiling and traducng them. The
same rule holds true in regard to newspapers,
The Government Of the Nation must be coEduc-
ted through the fundamentally Of par
ties l know Of no other agency
winch mas succeeded in free countries.
The party in the majority must assume the
responsibility Of governing. A party 10 simply
voluntary organization of citizens united to
carry into effect certain principles and purposes.
1t must employ and entrust individuals to collect
and disburse taxes, to perform executive and no
lice duties for protection and security Of person
and property; men must be engaged to construct
public works, carry the mails, administer ius.
tice, AID make and execute laws, and do thous-
and other things which the public wsl-bene re-
quires; and these individuals will often prove
careless, inefficient, corrupt. Blu 4 party
whose aims and purposes are good and patriotic
and whose record is grand and glorious should
not he condemned and thrown out Of power on
account OF the defective work or misconduct Of
s.few OF its employees, in order to make place
for an antagonist organization whose record can
not be defended, but Ii regarded with sorrow
aud shame BY it's best members, and whose con-
conduct while in power never fails to show that
It's reformatory profession when ont Of power
Such being the case in regard to the necessity
and machinery Of parties in free countries the
Press, to be useful. cannot avoid being partisan
in greater or less degree. II an editor UNDER
takes the role Of supporting both Sides his po-
siton is equivalent to = double Affirmative,
which amounts to = negative. II he habitually
censures and condemns both, he IL soon regard
cd ~ common scold and . nuisance. To be
entirely bipartisan leaves him in the condition
OF cipher and when . newspaper undertakes
to be wholly independent" Of its party and yet
discuss politics, it IL on the high road to the
camp Of its political opponents, whether it, con-
ductor 80 Intended at the outset or not-unless
indeed, he takes refuge in the towards harbor Of
neutrality and Abdicstes his duties altogether
which is amost contemplate and despicabfs posi-
tion But it ia not essential to the prosperity or
influence Of party paper that it should wifully
misrespresent its opponents and behold nothing
but evil and depravity in all their actions, dis
cover only reasonable designs In all they pro-
pose to do Candor and fairness in the treat
msnt Of political opponents will dstract nothing
from the influence Of paper, nor will 1t injurs
the prospects, Of it's own party.
such, in brief, IRE the views have long an
tertained Of parties, and the relations which the
Press should bear towards them. political
newspaper, to be Of service to the public, must
give one party or the other the preferences. And,
while the Democratic party embraces many ex-
cellent and worthy members, who would Be- an
honor 70 any organization, yet sincerely be-
lieve the Republican party comprises . much
larger proportion of the intelligent and educated
classes, Of the moral worth and business enter
prise, Is well - Of the patriotic elements Of
the MASON and therefore the Government of
the country and the civil rights of the poor and
weak can be more safely and prudsntly commit
ted to its keeping than to that Of its antagonist.
whose past history and antecedents furnish 30
much cause for misgivings and dread Of lts fu-
ture behavior.
Looking, then, at the individual compoSiton
Of the two great partes,-All other parties being
mere Fragments epnemeral in duration and M.
row in object and At their respective records
and underlying principles, l cannot hesitate 70
give the decided preference to the Republican
party. Hence, The Tribune will be condnrted
a. Republican journal.