National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-02
THE DUTIES OF JOURNALISM.

y
who can edit or print paper that will suit
all tastes, interests and dispositions. That
end has not, we presume, been reached in
the perfection of journalism, and may not
be for ages to come. We have covenanted
with hepublic 10 publish respectable Re-
publican newspaper, and propose to make
that covenant good. In discharging this
duty we may occasionally rap our political
opponents over the knuckles in manner
to produce q sting; but that is an incident
of their unfortunate situation, which can
be averted by a change of political position
on their part. So longas men will be DEM
ocrats and act bad politically they cannot
expect to escape criticism and occasional
rebuke. Every sensible Democrat recog-
nzes this fact and accepts the situation
| with good grace, understanding that when
he resorts to THE REPUBLICAN, as he must,
to secure full measure of general and
local intelligence each morning, that he is
liable to encounter political opinions and
views not strictly in accord with his
own, but he passes them by as he
would distasteful dish at his break
fast, seeking for the news of the day,
which he invariably finds there in re-
liable form. Every Democrat needs The
REPUBLICAN, rs q morning newspaper, and
at the same time understands that he is not
compelled to read all it contains, or to assent
to the political sentiments which it bears,
if he shall read them. This is n matter of
choice and discretion, which every American
citizen is entitled to exercise freely, and
without interference or abridgement
1t matters not whether the head Of u
family be Democrat or Republican; he
desires that his newspaper, which brings
information TO the entire household who
have attained years of understanding, shall
not bear within that sacred circle any mat
ter which will taint the mind or offend the
most delicate tastes and sensibilities To
this end THE NATIONAL. REPUBLICAN
steadily aims. 1t is as difficult under all
circumstances to guard newspaper against
an occasional offending item as it is to pre-
serve the natural atmosphere in its pristine
purity when the world is full of offen-
sive matter; and yet its primary pur-
pose is to secure purity of senti-
ment thought and expression, as
the uniform makeup of its character We
regret it quite as much as any one else can
if we find THE REPUBLICAN marred by inn
propriety of sentiment or utterance, for it is
our aim to send within the family circle ol
each household n journal which can be
safely read at the tireside to the children
where they take their early impressions OIL
{ in the parlor to the ladies who grace the
higher walks of life, leaving no impure ol
improper impressions within the range o.
its influence. This is the chart laid down
for the conduct of TIE REPUBLICAN, ant
no consideration can divert us from that
line of conduct, unless it shall come bJ
accident that is unavoidable.
In pursuing this line of conduct, however
THE REPUBLICAN will continue the evel
tenor of its way as a Stalwart Republican
, journal. 1t will remit none of its zeal ant
effort in behalf of the political principle
and cause which ii has espOused. 1t regard
those principles and that cause as indispen
sable to the perpetuity Of Republican
form of government and hence it mus
labor for their supremacy with the bes
abilities and efforts at the command Of it
, conductors No good citizen who differ
with US politically will object to the dis
charge of this duty fearlessly and devotedy
= so long as it is not done Extensively.