The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-03-29
The Independent Editor.

The Gardiner Home journal makes some
comments on our article ancnt The Indepen-
dent Editor, concluding as follows
Now, We believe if our good friend, the Bel
fast journal. should really and truly speak its
honest sentiments, regardless of party dictation.
when It's editor gets old and decrepid as we
are. he will feel that it is "better to be right
than be presidential the Pacific Bank.
TO this we reply that as reader of and writer
for its columns for a quarter of a century or
more. we have never known a time when ''par-
ty dictaton' had the slightest effect on the Re
publican journal. 1t spoke the honest opinions
Of its late editor and it speaks the honest opin-
ions Of its present editor. 1t does not depend
upon parry support and political patronage"
Its subscribers and advertisers include Republi-
cans, Democrats and Greenbackers. but politi-
caIly it supports the Republican party. and it
takes this stand from conviction and not from
motives of cXpediency or by reason of dictation
from any quarter. There must necessarily be
two great parties in this country, and all who
take an active interest i'll politics will naturally
side with one or the other. Neither party is or
can be perfect: that is not to be expected And
there are men in both parties not entitled to
confidence. We think the Republican party
comes nearer perfection than its opponents. W.
know that it has the courage of its convictions,
that it is true to ifs principles. and that il is al
ways ready to respond to intelligent public SEN
timent This can hardly be said with truth of
the Democracy.
1t requires a great amount of egotism for a
man to run little party Of his own, indcpen-
dent of the two great parties. 1t may crafty
him, but 50 far as public affairs are concerned
he is of 10 more account than the fly upon the
coach wheel. If he has had personal disagree
mcnt with this leader or that, It is hardly a sat
i>iartorv reason for his abandoning party
whose principles he believes i'll !: and unless be
is Il political infidrl he must believe, TO a certain
extent at least, in one party of the other. And
il certainly is not practical method of bring
in9 about reforms in the party of his belief to
give aid and encouragement to its opponents.
But that represents one type of the independent
editor. There are others whose independence
suggests to the impartial observer the unedifv-
ing spectacle of . q hog on ice Others again
occupy the political fence more or less ungrace-
iuiy, while ready to drop on whichever side
offers the best inducements.
Now we did not have our friend of the Home
Journal in mind in our recent dissertation on
Tie independent Editor, - though goodness
knows he is independent enough to fill the bill,
in certain particulars The editor we commits
Grated is the one who endeavors to maintain
perfect equilibrium between the Republican
ScylIa ard the Democratic Charybds; while if
we have read our contemporary Alright he is like
an freshman at Donnybrook fair. and wields
his shiIIaieh unfortunately. Whenever he
sees a head, whether it is on the shoulders of a
Republican or a Democrat, he gives it whack;
and every week we open his paper to see who
has been within range of his cudge. But we DO
not believe his opinions are whit more honest
tl.Ill ON