Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-14

those interested tar Detter way 10 hCcom-
plish their professed ends than to start third
newspapers but the subject opens the way
for some general observations which it is prop
er for us to take this opportunity to make.
Before discussing the self-evident PROPOSE
ton that u new newspaper is the very last
thing that is needed or wanted in Brattleboro,
we may remark that when, four years ago, we
bought the Vermont Record and Farmer and
merged it with The Phoenix, we did so with
very grave sense of the responsibility which
we assumed in attempting to make this paper
the sole exponent of Republican sentiment in
this community. We fully realized how many
were the conflicting elements that claimed
recognition, and how imperative was our duty
to try TO hold the balance even between them.
The time was suspicious. Within six weeks
from the time the two papers were united an
event occurred which made it possible for a
bitter local fight to be ended, and for host
of old strifes and feuds and animosties to be
buried in the grave with it. Our purpose TO
help the healing of these old sores, and to
stand simply as the representative of the unit
cd Republican sentiment of this town and
county, was an earnest one, and has remained
so to this day. We have realized our respon-
sibility, and have been true to it to the full
measure of our ability.
When we bought the Record it was with
promises to no one, but it was in the spirit
we have here indicated. In itself the move
ment was purely business one and the re-
suits have abundantly proved its wisdom.
Later in the same season, when anew paper
was talked of and abandoned with entire
good feeling on everybody's part, there was
an understanding-not alone with the gentle
men who had talked of a new paper, but with
everybody whose interests were involved
that the firm purpose of The Phoenix was to
be independent fair and impartial in its
dealings with all !" and if now there is any
widespread dissatisfaction" with our course,
it is because we have been only too true to that
purpose to suit the pleasure or interest of
some aspiring gentleman or other.
This last remark we make with delibera-
ton. There are men so constituted that they
cannot conceive that a newspaper, while hold
ing firmly to its convictions, should smother
its prejudices and sincerely try to give every
element and interest in a community, that has
a right to be heard, fair hearing-without
trucking to this and equally without ignoring
or abusing that. To such men a newspaper
is only Independent when it follows their lead,
obeys their behest, hates their enemies. Let
it but give the other fellow the suspicion of q
fair hearing, and it at once becomes tool, 4"
an 'obedent organ" paid retainer, and ev-
AI,oN l., a. l..
and for all, we say that our purpose to
do equal and exact justice to every man, with
out being overruled or unduly influenced by
any, has been an earnest one. We may have
erred or failed, but our disposition to hold
the scales of justice even has been a settled
and continuous one. If to-day, as the para
graph at the head of this article intimates, any
man has q grievance against us, it is because
he feels no assurance that his dictum in this
Office would be obeyed, and because, on the
contrary, he cherishes an uncomfortable con-
seriousness that should he attempt to mark
out line of policy for us, instead of obedi-
emily following it we should first hold it to
the test, Is it right, is it just is it expedent?
The question as to whether a third news
pdpGI ID uSGuSu III DldtlltDOIu huLullb Vi Only
one answer, and that an emphatic negative.
Not only is another paper not needed-there
is no room for another. 70 this fact the ex-
perience OF the four years from 1876 to 1880,
after the Reformer came into the field, abun-
dainty testifes. In those years two of the
papers barely lived and the third literally
starved. 1t is fact, which we have no fear
hot mil l. IL
pute, that there is no field in the state of Yer
mont which is covered by its local press with
anything like the thoroughness with which
Windham county is now covered. There are
not in the county to-day 100 intelligent,
responsible men, whose custom is worth ask
ing for, who are not supplied in some way
with one or the other of the local papers.
deliberately and with full knowledge of what
we are saying. Tho Phoenix is not given to
talk about itself but it is in order for US here
TO say that we do our full share toward thus
covering our local field. For four years our
growth has been steady one, and especially
since our late reduction in price our growth
has been almost phenomenal. In its whole
nix was never so strong by at least twenty-five
per cent as it is to-day. And, moreover, we
are not strong alone in the size of our sub
scription list. In spite of what any man may
say about widespread dissatisfaction, we
bn0D that The Phoenix commands to-day the
cordial, willing, active support of the people
in every town where it circulates as it never
did before.
Advertisers who place their announcements
in the two Brattleboro papers reach every
responsible buyer within their region of cir.
/ culation with absolute certainty, and at a cost
lower by more than one-third than when
there were three papers in the field. Under
all these circumstances, to start a new paper
in Brattleboro would be like driving a wedge
into solid wood or metal. The thing can be
done, but it can be done only by main force.
All the brains that could be put into it, with
ability to write an table" editorial or turn g
pungent paragraph would not make it a sue
cess without ample capital behind it freel y
spent until sum had been put out more
than equal to the value of either of the
Brattleboro papers to-day. We do not say
this at random, but because we have beer
raised in the business, we have been through
the mill, and we know what we are talking
about.
But beyond these considerations, and be-
yond the fact that third paper would i'm
| pose needless burden upon advertisers and
on the community in general, there is anoth,
or consideration more Important than all-and
1t is the fact that the establishment of q third
paper would inevitably mean the revival Of
every old strife and jealousy and hatred
which has been slumbering and forgotten fol-
four years past. Not only would the Repub
lican party be weakened and divided, but the
whole community would be rent, its dregt
stirred up, and half-forgotten state of things
would be brought back for which the people
would never forgive those who should make
themselves responsible for it.
In beginning We intimated that we could
suggest to anybody who wants to see IAN ag
gressive, independent paper" in Brattleborc
a far better way to secure one than to start q
new one. If there is any man or company
of men who think the Republican sentiment
of Windham county is not now suitably
| voiced or represented and who wish IN baye