Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-08-27
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM.

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM.
The Virginia Enterprise, OF the 22d,
in an article entitled :" The Force of In
dependent Journalism" takes occasion
to renew its attacks on the RECORD and
its editor. As regards the latter. the
subject will he dismissed at once by stat
ing that the RECORD is not responsible
for the opinions of its writers and en-
ployes of any character. For only that
which appears in its columns is the
RECORD responsible, and for that 1t is,
as it should be. legally and morally an
swerable at all times. With the personal
views or feelings of its staff, editorial or
mechanical, the RECORD has and should
not have anything to do with. Their
views are their own, and Of course are
entitled to aud received with respect, but
they are not allowed to influence the
course of the RECORD, nor does the
RECORD interfere with theirs. With
these few predatory and explanatory re-
marks, we now again assert the position
of the RECORD as being strictly indie
pendent as regards party afiiation. 1t
belongs to neither. 1t is free to an
nounce its opinion on any public matter or
on the course Of any public man without
the slightest reference to party ties, OBJ
legations or complications. This is true
independence, and is condition of free.
dom that no mere party hack can lay
claim to, much as they may sigh for
it. No matter how corrupt. how incapa-
BILE, how disgraceful the measures, the
leaders or candidates of party may be,
q party paper has to uphold and defend
them at all hazards. The Enterprise
may like that business, but the RECORD
does not, and that is the reason why it
has dissolved all relations with all par
ties, in order that it may support the
men and measures that it thinks most
conducive to the public interest, without
any hindrance from being connected with
this or that party. The Enterprise de-
claims against and speaks dsdainfully
of the independent press, but observe
the great papers of the country that really
WELD a powerful influence on public opin-
ion. Look at the New York Tribune,
mainly Republican in its views, but en-
tirely free to criticise all sides, all men
and all subjects. Then at the st. Louis
Republican, the Louisville Courier
Journal and the Cincinnati Commercial
all these are great newspapers exercis-
ing vast effect in moulding the the views
of the people. Some are Democratic in
their general views, others are Republi-
can, but all Of them spurn mere partizan-
ship or the binding obligation OF party
ties. They are free to do as they please; to
commend this or to complain Of that,
without any reference to whether the
man or thing under discussion is Re.
publican or Democrat. or originated
from one or the other. The question t.
be determined, is it right or wrong!
not whether is it Democratic or Repub'
lican. That is the standard by which il
should be judged, and as it is utterly
impossible for a mere party journal
to do so, that is the reason why
the RECORD refuses to incur the
obligations of a partizan. The
Enterprise says that "for months
the RECORD has bristled with abuse Of the
Republican Party" This is NO such
thing. We have not inveighed against
that party en- masse, because that in.
cludes the rank and file, and they, as in
all parties, are honest even when mis-
taken. What We have done. is to expose
and denounce the abuses caused by thu
leaders and controllers of any party
the Republican party as well as any
other. The Republican party has nov
been many years in power, with an al
most undisputed sway; and its represen
tatives and leaders in Congress, and out
are in most instances concerned in. anl
responsible for the gigantic abuses t.
which public attention has of late beer
turned. Is journal to be silent, ant
permit parcel of robbers to steal tn
peoples property and gag their mouths
because the criminals belong to this o
that party? We're Tweed's swindles an
less reprehensible because be traine
with the Democrats? Certainly no,
Why then are Shepherds stealings an.
the less criminal because lie is Repub
lican? The Enterprise defended the lat
ter 80 long as it dared, as it has ever
other offender, when they happened t
be Republican, and for no other reason
That is why it CLOSES over the stealings
the misdoings of members of the party
as we'll in the North as in the desolate
South. 1t is not because the men con
Quoting the Enterprise did not know an
better, or thought that these shamefr
doings were right, bnt it is party JONI
nal and must make the best of and ez
cuse everything in which the party ha
an interest. That is not the case witt
the RECORD. 1t is in a freer, more for
tunats position, and is able to and doe,
denounce misdoing because it is wrong
and not because the guilty parties ar
Republican or Democratic. As most o
the officials and legislatures throughou
the country have for years been Repub
lican, and as general official corruption
and legislative venality are what W
complain of, it naturally follows tina
most of these criminals should be Re
publicans; but we do not find fault Will
them because they belong to that party
but because they stole, betrayed thei
constituents and the trust reposed il
them, and legislated themselves rich. in
stead Of faithfully performing thei
dutieS For acts of this charactar Nh.