Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-07-31

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when he commenced his career as a
lawyer.
THE PRESS AND THE PEOPLE.
In despotic monarchies the sover-
eign is supposed to rely on his min
listers for his information with re-
gard to the actual condition of the
country. Of his own knowledge the
king is not supposed to know the
wants of the people. His minister
of finance is expected to furnish a
concise and reliable report of the
financial condition of the realm, and
relying upon this report, the king
bases his action in all matters relat-
ing to taxes. The minister of war
is supposed to keep the king well in
formed as tothe strength and eflicien-
cy of the army, so that the sover-
eign will know how to regulate
his policy toward foreign
powers. And so it is in every other
department of state. 1t will be per-
ceived at once that it is in the power
of the kings advisers to bring about
the downfall of the state by deceiv-
ing their master. History contains
numerous instances where vicious or
cowardly ministers have deceived
well-meaning sovereigns as to the
true condition of their subjects, and
brought ruin and bankruptcy upon
dynasties and subjects alike. Ma
poleon the third was the victim of "a
ring of false-hearted courtiers by
whom he was surrounded, and after
Sedan he frankly admitted that he
had been fatally deceived. When
marshal LeBGuf, the minister of
war, was asked by the French senate
if the country was in condition to
60 to war with the Germans, he re-
piled pompously that there was not
even a button lacking on the gaiter
of French soldier. The truth was
that an army ring had destroyed the
efficiency of the gallant French army.
Napoleon relied on LeBpuf, and de-
clared war. When the hostile forces
met, to use homely but apt express
sion, the Germans walked right over
the legions of France. In this coun-
try all sovereign power is in the peo-
pie, and the press takes the place of
ministers. We have our financial
secretary and various others officials
who report to congress, but it is up
on the press that the people rely for
information as to the actual condi-
ton of the country-not upon parti-
san organs either, hut upon the
independent journals of the coun-
try. The organ grinder for
a party or politician is not
at all likely to give the public all
the facts when the publication of
such facts would injure the hand
from which he is fed and from which
he expects cumulative favors. 1t
would be preposterous to expect as
much. 1t is this kind of journalism,
so-called, that is given to carping at
the INDEPENDENT for the fullness
and freedom of its publication of
facts, and its zeal and diligence in
exhibiting the realities of the situa-
tion to the gaze of the people. The
courtiers of place who hope to thrive
by throwing dust in the eyes of the
people-deceiving the sovereign
find a natural enemy in such a jour
nal as the INDEPENDENT. AS for
the INDEPENDENT, it feels honored
by their enmity, and will strive to
deserve it in the future, as it has in
: the past, by keeping the people ad.
; vised of the true condition of affairs
: and real needs of the country, sc
that they may be guarded against
: deception and delusion.
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