The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-08
THE PARTISAN PRESS.

The partisan press may be termed one
Of the greatest curses Of modern times
Its mission seems to be to amuse for the
masses, to distract popular attention, to
disquallfy the masses for independent
thought, to confuse the intellect, to villify
and abuse all whom it cannot control, to
despotically decide what political faith a
man shall receive and how he shall vote.
1t is the modern politica! church, and its
creeds must not be disputed on pain Of
political damnation. 1t embodies the
party inq1isltion. trying and furnishing
party heresles and heretIcs without lust
ice or mercy. Its metropolitan edicts are
echoed and re-echoed by every petty or
gan thsoughout the Union. The right Of
private judgment is repudiated and pro
hIblted- The party is its God, and every
platform is its decalogue for the time
being.
Separated into two divisions, in name
but not in object, each in turn palliates
and whitewashes the frauds and rascalities
perpetrated under its auspices. The e.
forts of each are directed to keep the PEG
pie in party vassalage, and restrain indie
pendent Thoughtful action. They are al
ways ready to fraternise when the object
is to crush down outsiders. With the in
stinct Of towards they are neutral IN all
conflicts for the discovery and establish
ment Of great tras. Their interest is
solely in the party and the penny. They
are the national political conscience keep
ers, and they 50 twist, befog and misrep-
resent the plainest truths, and so cunning
ly appeal to the prejudices they have them
selves created, that nineteen partisans out
Of twenty cannot tell what they believe
nor why they believe, nor give any reason
for the stereotyped impressions weekly
plastered upon them.
The national decline is due to the part
isan press. IL is the strait jacket of the
republic, binding it hand and loot 1t
paralyses the intellect and the action Of
every public man. 1t has morally de-
bauched the whole community, through
its distortions Of facts, its servility, its
contempt for principle when opposed to
policy, and its excuses and whitew ashing
of rich criminals and corrupt politicians
that ought to be toiling in prisons, instead
of being honored like gods. 1t would be
almost impossible for such men as Wash
lngton, Jefferson, and the other heroes Of
the Revolution to exist in those degenerate
days. There is no party demand" for
them, and no party conditions favorble to
their growth. The mental darkness and
political servilrty due in former ages to
ecclesiastical and monarchical despotism,
haxe come upon this free republic through
the despotism Of party press.
What is the remedy An independent
press, with broad and cosmopolitan ideas
such as will tend to disintegrate and break |
up existing political parties. Every man
who gives up mere political organ Hber. |
ates himself and weakens the common
enemy. The average mind is satisfied
with trivial politics because it has been
debauched. 1t needs to be cleansed from
the mire of craftsmanship, and led into
higher and holier aspirations for common
and unity. Parties are death
to all fraternity and social harmony.
Political salvation must come thronuh
an independent press and independent
thinkers. Every toiler must cut looss
from existing political parties. which con-
troll and misrepresent him, aud construct
smother that he himself can control. and
which represents industrial interests. We
surely have had enough of the decisions
md promises of hostile parties during the
past century. For the two great parties.
no matter. what their professions or plat
orms, have from the beginning been 10
,Orant Of the rights Of labor, and hostile
o its true interests. They have been