Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-01-17
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JounNAirsrrc INDEPENDENCE.
President Grant, In his last annual
message. recognized the existence OF q
fact which has not yet been made APP
parent to some Of our Senators and
Representatives, as we'll a. q portion,
happily limited, Of the so-cslled Re-
publican press. In saying that parti.
sanshlp had almost ceased. the Presl.
dent not only gave evidence that he
appreciated existing political sentl.
ment. but thar he had sufficient moral
courage to avow, Instead Of trying to
cover up. the facts. There Is not a
word In his message which Is more
truthful than this candid recognition
Of present political feeling; neither Is
there any other statement which gives
to the American people greater reason
for sslf.grstulation. 1t Is a noticeable
fact that a large majority Of the lead
Ing Republican journals have for some
time past been moro outspoken than
ever before; have expressed their SEN
timents with . larger freedom from
partisan bias, and In q broader and
msnller way given voice to the con-
victions and true feelings Of tho read
Ing public. II we look back over the
past years record we shall lind that
slowly, It Is true. but surely-party
ties have become relaxed; that party
feslty has gradually been superseded
by independent judgment and expires.
slon Of convictions, and that whereas
. year ago It was not only deemed dis
graceful. but dlsloyal, to say a word In
criticism Of the evils which had grown
up las evils ever do) under the protect
ing shadow Of q powerful and domi-
nant party, It has now become so
prevalent that one can hardly flnd q
1 Journal Of decent circulation or stand.
Ing whose columns are closed to just
and reasonable criticism. This, o
than any other fact, substantiates the
correctness OF the Presidents asser-
ton.
It has now ceased to be the
fashion to cover up, apologize for
or eondone public wrongs because per-
petrated under the guiss Of party ben-
eft OF the protection OF party name
and organization. The province OF a
public Journal has come to DO some
thing broader In extent than that Of
nsws-gleaner and ~collator. 1t Is fast
becoming apparent that the best Inter-
ests Of the nation arc moot fully con
served BY q frank snd fairly stated crit
ieism Of public net aud measures ;
aud though doubtless 1t Is true that
papers do not form public opinion,
they aid to Interchange and classify Its
local feelings and Its widely varied
needs. Thus. Independence In jour
nsllsm isa growth which with deep
root aud 4 rich soil has come to be .
power for good throughout the nation.
II 10 noticeable that In Journals OF
both parties there 10 an absence OF that
blgoted mallgnancy which has for
years made partisanlsm dlsgracetul.
and placed feslty to q party caucus
above conscience, honor, justice and
the public good. There are, Indeed,
but lew journals OF influence now
published In this country, which
may be justly classed rs organs ola
particular political creed, or as In the
Interest Of any man or party as oppos-
ell to the public welfare. Republican
journals have In no less vigorou, Ian.
guage than that used By Democrats OF
Independents denounced official turpl.
tude on all sides. and there las been .
notable absence Of all attempts to hide
or justify official derelictlons whether
OF Republican or Democratic office
hol lers.
Tho political campaign last Fall In
Massachusetts, will be remembered
hereafter, not merely rs a victory OF
tho people ove q demagogue aud
scoundrel. but as making an era OF In
dependent thought and action. Many
Of the most prominent, influential and
widely circulated Republican journals
came out boldly and In strong Ian
guage denounced the scandalous Inter.
ference Of Federal Office holders Ia the
local elections Of that commonwealth,
declaring that they recognized no
fealty to any party which outweighed
their duty to the public, and their
right to think and speak and
act untrammeled by the insu-
bus Of psrtisan control. The
truth 10 that slowly, yet certainly.
the close communions created by n
consolidation Of those In favor Of the
war, aud a. matter OF course, lts OPP
ponents into two parties, with prlncl-
pies essentially a~ntagonlstic, are being
broken that In these times Of peace.
and in face Of present needL tho 4