Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-03-14
INDEPENDENCE.

thing which he, in his fearless
integrity, finds does not tally with his
conceptions of what should, or should
not, be accepted as wise and right. In
all such instances, a very slight obser
Walton will suffice to show that, under
the shallow device, lies concealed
paltry scheme to win patronage and
character under false pretences. Such
journals usually erect their own preju-
dices and predictions as the standard
by which to measure principles as well
as men, snd the spirit of their boosted
independence manifests itself in no
worthier form than senseless agrees
ions upon the opinions and doctrines
of others-which aggressions are sig
nalized by unmanly imputations and
offensive personalities.
Those who love to exalt themselves
in their own estimation, by boasting of
their fearless independence, seem to
forget that, however rapid the strides
of Radiealism towards despotism, there
is, as yet, no positive enactment against
free thought and free speech-that
every individual is free to speak. or
write his thoughts, subject only to
those local enactments intended TO
preserve the dignity, peace and decency
of society. The journalists as amen
able to those laws as any other citizen,
and in his needless efforts to magnify
his superiority, ought sometimes, to
reflect that, however much he is de-
termined to be independent of social
justice and the rules of courtesy, the
test of honesty and virtue is absolute
dependence upon, and obedience to,
the promptings of an upright and en-
lightened conscience. The man who
is independent of this guide, is the
slave of passion, prejudice, or vice.
There is such a thing, however, as
journalistic independence; but it con-
sists not in indiscriminate assaults up
on the opinions and motives of others,
nor yet in the perversion Of facts and
arguments in order to place an oppo-
nent in a false position, or to cover up
conscious lapse from the truth. True
journalistic independence consists in
firm and persistent determination to
uphold no wrong, social or political;
to sell out to no party, ring, nor clique;
TO resist every temptation to become
notorious, rather than distinguished
to work for no personal or party
advantages, at the cost Of true man.
hood, conscience, or the common well
fare. If it be mark of independence
to discard such considerations, and
enact the part of the "bullin the china
shop'-smashing the useful and Orna-
mental in obedience to brute instinct.
we could point out several conspicuous
examples of this sort of independence,
but are pleased to know that they more
abound north, than south of the Ohio.
A resort to personal defamation is,
usually, a tacit admission by him, who
has recourse to it, that he either has
not the ability to argue the question, or
the facts upon which to base an argu-
ment. There can be no fair nor legiti-
mate controversy, with such a man,
because he is as inexhaustible of slang,
as deficient in mental resources, and
there is no end to a war of words.
The independent journalist resists the
temptations and prOvocations to such
a controversy because he feels his de-
pendence upon purer motives and
higher aims, and can therefore afford
to torego the worse than worthless dis
tinction of skillful singer of cpl
thets. The independent editor feels
his dependence upon truth and justice.
and his independence is manifest in
his resistance of every temptation to
forfeit his allegiance to those cardinal
virtues.