The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-10
PARTISAN FOLLY.

capped as they are with the necessity o
striving Cor their particular parties, in season
and out of season; handicapped with the ne
cessity of CLOSING over the shortcomings o
their parties and m'gnifying that which il
good they are unreliable in the matter o
securing news of all sid g, The presidential
contest this year is great one; It may wei
be termed lfe-strugge between
the two great political parties
of the country. We say this because some
of the grand leaders of both parties have
said that whichever party went down in this
fight would have its columns and phalanIes
so shattered that dsintegration would follow,
and that new party would form upon its
ruins. This.may or may not be so, but it
certainly looks that way now. In every state
the fight goes bravely on. Money is being
spent where results are doubtful and speakers
are lsboring diligently for their respective
causes. The country is being flooded not only
with campaign documents, but TIE partisan
papers are also doing their utmost under
their banners. The people want enlighten-
msnt, they want information tina. is thor
ough, complete, correct; they want editorial
opinions based upon facts and that are re-
sponsblo and in accordance with common
sense. The partisan press does not meet
this want. They look through spectacles of
their own coloring, Now on Tuesday the
stRte election in Arkansas came off and on
Wednesday the state election took place in
Vermont. So far AS Arkansas was concerned,
no one had any doubts as to its going largely
Democratic and it attracted no especial at
teltion. In Vermont il was different. Yer
mont has been Republican by not less than
10000 majority for years past and the De-
mocracy did not expect to carry the state.
There was a reasonable hope, however, that
the Republican party could be reduced and
to this end the Democrats nominated their
best men for state offices and made mighty
struggle in behalf of their cause. The
campaign was mads q. hot one
The prestige of reduced
majority was desired for It's moral effect in
the state elections to follow, and in the
mighty struggle on the end Of November
The New York World in its issue of the 9th
say.: "As in 1876 both parties polled larger
votes than ever before in their history, the
vote of that year may be taken asa fair index
of the strength of both. For governor the
Republicans had q majority over the Demo,
Gratis of 23,735, to which nigh, be added tho
73 scattering votea, all for Republican can
ddate.; for President Hayes had 23,S3S.
The Gresnback vote of 1873 will not reap.
pear this year. Tae Republicans have con-
Quoted avery active canvass, Senator Ed
munds himself entering the lists, supported
by formidable array Of imported speakers.
Special efforts have also been made to secure
the votes of the lrish-American citizens, and
the manufacturing firms of Burlington, in q
circular already printed in the World, have
given their employees to understand that
their employment depends on their support
ing the Republican ticket. The Republi,
cans have been ciphering out a ma
jority OF from 10000 to $4,000 at the
least, and at the same time talking about
still larger one-ssy of $4,000. A we'll
informed correspondent in Vermont writes
to the World: In my judgment the
Republican majority cannot possibly be as
large as in 1875. l am confident tho
Republicans cannot increase their vote, and
know we shall increase ours. They hope
to get their majority of 1876, but do not ex-
pee, it, fancy 10000 will be pretty near
the figure, and think it will more likely be
under that than over it." Returns from Yer.
mont show that the Republicans have carried
the state by a larger majority than they ever
did before, instead of by n decreased MAORI
ty AS the World, Democratic organ would
have h. d its readers believe, And the Re-
publican organs have not been whit nearer
the truth than the World was, for they we're
seemingly Just as ssnguine that the msority
would be an increased one over what it
really is. The point we desire to make is
that the independent newspaper is always
the most reliable in thess things. 1t leans to
no side in the rendering Of news, but gives
exact facts as it gathers them from all sides
and sources and opinions wtlldigested, based
upon those facts. 1t does not in its zeal for
n cause, mislead. When the partisan paper
produces the impression upon its patrons
of its own political faith that an election is
going in a certain state by an enormous ma
jority, it aeceives them and lulls its party,
or at least the tendency is that way, into a
feeling of security that may prove fatal to
| 1t. Furthermore, when its assertions turn
out to be incorrect and unreliable, the people
lose confidence in it and whatever usefulness
it had is, to say the least, impaired. The
independent paper labors under no such dis
advantages. 1t gives no colorings to i,s
statements. 1t has no embellishments TO
make, but dealing in simple facts, the people