Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-07-10
/" DON'T CRINGE."

DUN H. GHlNdL.
There is so much of truth and good
sound practical sense in the follow
ing article, contributed by the Edi-
tor of the Milford Mass Journal to
| RowcU's Reporter, that we transfer
| it to our columns in full. The wri-
ter evidently fully understands and
appreciates the true dignity and POI
sition of journalism, and the sooner
the entirepress of the country comes
up to the standard marked out in
this article, the better will it be for
the people, and the country: :.
1--WE have long believed the besef-
ting sin of far too many country
Editors to be that of cringing, either
to clique of sharp, cheeky politi-
clans who assume to own the ballot
boxes and the consciences of the peo-
pie, or to one or more wealthy lndi-
yiduals who fiatter themselves that
the concentrated, double-distilled de-
stinies of an empire rest upon their
devoted shoulders, and that if those
martyrized shoulders should unfor-
tunately break down, the whole po-
litical end social system must newt
ably and Immediately go to everlast-
ing smash. This evil does not prevail
to the same disgusting extent as for
merly; but there is too much of it
still remaining, and it does more to
lower the press in.the appreciation
and estimation of the public than
can well be estimated. We speak OF
this cringing as sin, notwithstand-
ing some editors love to regard it ra-
ther as an art, which, as they fiatter
themselves, makes their business bet
ter, and keeps their circulation upto
the scratch. Viewed in its best es-
tate, such. reasoning is the shallowest
humbuggery. The newspaper editor
who cringes III unhallowed awe be-
fore dictatorial politicians, or the
golden calf of wealth and pompons-
ness, sins against the noblest of all
professions, against his known duty
to the community, against his man
hood. -
In these latter days, when the ''or-
gan" business is ON it's death-bed the
successful newspaper is the one
which, knowing it's own duty, does
it. Perhaps honest, cool-headed in
dependence, is the term which best
expresses our meaning-not foolish
carping; not slang, nor abuse; not an
Ishmaelitish disposition nor yet q
" Donnybrook Fair" mania for hit
ting a head every time you see it; but
a fair-minded, honorable independ-
ence of thought and action, having
for it's handspring of action the mot
to do right. There was time when
such newspapers lacked the degree of
pecuniary success which seemed to
nestle close to the ''organish, ""Miss
Nancy" stamp always on the look
out to shout good Lord, good devil, ;
as the yeering of, the wind might
seem to require. Then the news
paper press was second to the, pro-
fessional politician, and newspaper
organs were almost as plenty as
those of another species, and scarce
ly more commendable. But within
the past few years, there has been a
wondrous clearing of the atmos-
phere; and to-day we find the pro-
fessional politician in the rear, while
in front of him stands the fearless
newspaper preSS-a power which
henceforth is destined to be first, but
which none but the unfit and I'M
scrupulous need fear.
The country newspaper press is
coming to its true heritage at last.
Year by year it is becoming more
and more difficult for bad, designing
men to exercise a censorship over
it's columns. The ambition of every
editor should be to hold his columns
aloof from even the suspicion of out
side interlneddling. This is the kind
of a newspaper press the people have
long waited for; how that they are
to have it, their hopes and their trust
viii surround it like a wall of ada
mant. We have entered upon new
era. The professional politician has
g lost his hold" and never again Will
| he mount the throne to issue his
regal mandates to the newspaper
press of a free Republic. In fact
the mandates, when Necessity de-
mands, are more apt to come from
the other side. Newspaper editors
are taking their true position before
the nublic--a position they have too
long and too culpably allowed the
average politician to usurp and
abuse. That editor has our pity who
still persists inprostituting his paper
to the sphere of All "organ with
himself as the handle.
An Illinois grocer says he would