The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-27
Duty in Journalism,

There can be no more difficult and EN-.
barrassing position for a man to occupy
than that of the conscientious journalist in
times Of high party excitement. If he
essays to discuss public questions on Their
merits and dispassionately address his
readers, he exposes himself to unfriendly
criticism from both political friend and
foe. He is either charged with the alb.
sence Of active sympathy for the political
interests he is identified with, on the one
side, or it is intimated that he is yielding
under the pressure of public opinion on
the other. He is not allowed to criticise
the faults of his own party, without being
met with the complaint that he is too tim
id and wanting in aggressive methods ne.
cessary to the spirit of the canvass. If he
resents the falsehoods and ISLANDERS of his
opponents and arraigns their excuses in
spirited terms, he is pointed to as an agita-
tor andan enemy to thepeace of community
The friendly reproof is not admitted tobe a
virtue in politics, as it is in social life, but
is contorted into fault-finding DISPOSE
ton. and a tendency to compromise with
the enemy.
We have long since been impressed with
the belief that the newspaper is an impor-
tant public educator, and that to fulfill its
mission Of usefulness it must have the
courage to speak the truth whether it Of
tends friend or foe. 1t requires more cour-
age to expose friend and to point out the
faults and blunders of party, than it do&
to assail an enemy and criticise hostile
political association. But it is necessary
sometimes to expose the defects and faults
of ones own party and to dissent from the
methods of those who are assigned to
leadership. We have never yet known a
party or leader that was perfect and
against which there was not just grounds
of complaint. We have never yet seen a
| party OF leader whose every action we were
willing to endorse. Counsel and reproof
are absolutely essential to conservative
methods and successful training, and the
| journalist who has not the courage to ex-
press his honest opinions about parties and
| iStuSio 40 uiiipCCu w OOCtlPy tuO DOolUI VI
editor. And the leader who is not pre-
pared to receive the reproof of friend and
admit the possibility of his own faults,
! is not the man to command the con-
| tinued and tenacious confidence of the
people. 1t is because party journals are
allowed to become the mere organs of in
diyiduals-the slavish tools of partizan :
ism, that corruption creeps into parties
and the ends of public justice are not
made the paramount object.
We are aware that we do not measure
up in all things to our ideal Of journalism.
We aim to do it, but with the imperfec-
tions common to humanity we fall far
short of the high duty which the journalist
owes to community. We feel, neverthe-
less. the responsibility of our position, and
as far as we are capable Of discerning the
right we endeavor to pursue it. We mean
to criticse men and policies as we find
them, and when we believe it to be neces-
sary to the public good and the success of
cause, we shall not hesitate to express
dissent from whatever may interfere with
the objects desired.
In making application of these general
remarks, it is our purpose, as occasion
may demand. to discuss the political sit
uation in Virginia and the Nation, and to
maintain and defend the principles and
policy of the Republican party, and COM
mend them to public confidence. We be-
lieve the welfare of this State, as well as
that of the whole country, is in great part
dependent upon the success of the Repub-
| lican party in the Presidential contest of
1884, and so believing we would be untrue
to our convictions did we not urge all who
are opposed to the reactionary and some
times revolutionary methods of the Demo-
| cratic party, to, rally to the support of the
Republican party. There are but two
great parties in this country formida-
bic enough to command ..attention in a
national contest. Between them all vo-
tiers will be called upon to decide. 1t will
be our aim from time to time to present
each in its relations to the government and
the policies which have contributed to our
national growth and prosperity. In doing
this,it will be our desireto studiously avoid
offending any one, but at the same time to
impress upon all that public duty will be
best discharged by alignment with the
party with which we stand identified.
Ina great national contest where political
supremacy in the government is the issue,
and in which there can be but two parties
recognized, it would be folly to embarrass
either by local issues OF nominalisms. The
policies Of the two great parties of the
country are distinctly defined their antag-
onisms broadly marked, and there can be
no great difficulty in choosing between
them where the courage exists to make a
choice. This view will not be contro-
verified by any one who has convictions as
to national questions. The Republican
party cannot afford to compromise either
its name or its principles as they relate to
public interests, and no one who believes
in it's administrative policy, should hest
tate to accept the organization as that
which is best to give it practical effect.
On the Oath Sneaker Carlisle announced