Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-05-13
The Independent and the Dependent
Press.
BY r. P. THOMPSON, NEW CAMBRIA HER
AID.

81 IT, L. IHoMPSON, NEW CAMBRIA TER
AID.
LADIES n GENTLEMEN, n MEMBERS
OF THE missouri Press ASSOCIATION.
Do not understand my subject as re-
ferring to those precious sheets which
style themselves independent, in that
they admit allegiance to no political Or
ganization, but to that class of public
journals which acknowledge Deepen
dence upon nothing, save their own
merit. l do not wholly endorse the
"yaller dog" theory in politics, not
withstanding the generally accepted
idea that we should stand for "Princi-
Piles, not men," But we must admit
that sometimes there is set before us a
dish of which neither principles nor
men form any perceiyable part-when
we are expected to justify our support
on the "yaller dog" theory. Whereas
if the press would assert it's indepen-
dence of Repression and tell the plain,
honest truth about measures and men,
we should more frequently find princi-
pies and men compatible.
But do l not desire to give any spe-
cial attention to my subject in a politi-
cal sense. From a business standpoint
We find the same cowardly, cringing,
mental customs and practices are crush
ing the life out Of the press, and max
ing miserable the lives of many men of
genius and intellect, that otherwise
might be prosperous and happy.
Here the thought occurs, that he who
has not the courage to assert his indie
pendence does not deserve either pros
perity or happiness. But when we have
examined ourselves closely many of us
will find that to be an unkind thought.
How many of US have the courage to
assert our independence? How many
Of us have seer our party nominate
grossly incompetent men for office,
without a word of warning, or a protest
against such nominations?
How many of us have sat like
mendicants in our office and allowed
the nostrum vendors to bulldoze usinto
signing contracts to publish their ad-
yertisements for less than half price?
How many of us allow business men to
select their W positions, disfigure our
papers until they look like circus pos
ters, and then name the price for the
work? How many of us have a habit
OF giving every one who inserts a dollar
and a half advertisement a two dollar
local notice? How many of us have
courted favors and friendships by heap
ing fulsome f~iattery upon the vain and
conceited? In short, how many of US
place any particular value upon our
space? How many of us have definite
prices, and are always ready to give
them? How many of us solicit bust
ness upon merit only? How many of
US tell the truth about our calculations?
How many of US SO conduct our bust
ness as to always retain our own self
respect? How many of US are led
around by the nose by some county
official, or set of county officials, fear
ing to open our mouths, lest they
should bestow the public patronage at
their disposal upon some other paper?
How many of us receive the full fees
allowed by law for the public printing?
How many Of US have never engaged
in the asinine practice of trying to cut
each others's Threats? How many of
US will attempt to justify such practi-
ces from either a political, social or
business standpoint? If there is one
here who has never been guilty of the
practices mentioned if there is one
here who will defend such practices, or
one who feels that he should not avoid
such in the future, I trust he will oc-
cupy the time allowed for general dis
cussion in giving his views.
Admitting the evils mentioned pre-