West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-16

peISOndi SdIlSiaCItOu nhiSh NOS
from an honest performance of
self-imposcd duty. Whatever has
been done towards protecting the
people against monopoly, (and very
little has been done) is the work OF
a few able men of peculiar intellec-
tual organization who had rather
think we'll of themselves than sacrl-
flee their self-respect in order to OBJ
tain either riches or office. We can
not shut our eyes to the fact that
these men, the only ones fighting for
public right, are so bounded and
lied about by the henchmen o. mo-
nopolist that they have little access
to the public ear. We cannot shut
our eyes to the fact that it is the
fashion to cry down aggressive men
who are able and sincere.
What we write is true. 1t is known
to be true by every person capable
of five minutes consecutive thought.
Then what becomes Of the platitude
that, 'the peoples rights are safe
because we have newspapers" The
truth is, the press fights for monop-
oily and is its strongest weapon.
Let us take another platitude now
passing current as the voice of phi
losophy. We hear it said;
In this age of intelligence the far
mers and mechanics read, think anu
form opinions for themselves.
A recent event ought to teach the
people Of this country lesson they
should never forget, and had we time
and space we could preach a sermon
on this text that would "turn the
stones of Rome to rise and mutiny."
The DEMOCRAT has never uttered
an un6emocratic sentiment It has
done more, and sacrificed more, than
all the other papers in the State to
inculcate sound Democratic doctrine
It's columns have always been open
to any one wishing to argue against
any proposition we support. No one
dared meet US in discussion because
the body of the people want the leg
islation we advocate. And yet tho
air was so filled with infamous and
senseless lies ABOUT us, that even
some intelligent and well meaning
citizens, who did not stop to think,
really believed that we were propa-
eating Republican doctrine.
An amusing instance occurred.
Some six months ago a certain far
mer near town urged US to print
some views. Wishing to please him,
we carefully noted down what he
said. The writing was mislaid and
forgotten until shortly before the
election it turned up and was at
once printed The day before the
election we met our friend on the
street, and this conversation occur
red:
FARMER.-I won't read your paper
because you have sold out to the Re-
publicans.
DEMoCRAT.-Why do you think
so?
FARMER.-I see for myself. l
know Republican talk when l read
it. Here is copy of your paper; |
always show it to prove you are a
Republican.
Observation-Disclosures read me the
part you don't like.
Our good friend then read US the
very thing he himself asked us to
print. The simpleton had heard
some loud talking stool-pigeon of
monopoly denounce the article, and
parrot-like, he echoed the stool-pig-
con. We did not undeceive our
friend. He is happy in that conceit
which comes from ignorance, and it
seemed cruel to disturb his serenity.
Our friend unwittingly echoes a new
school of politicians who imagine
that Government is formed only to
pay salaries to the strikers of Con-
gresham, and that parties are or
ganized to coerce the election of can
didates nominated by fraud. This
theory suits otficeholders, but tax
payers do not like it.
The cutlery against US is due solely
to the fact that we agitate and dis
cuss subjects which themOney power
wishes kept quiet. We make peo-
pie think, and when they think they
are FESTIVE while being plundered.
The cutlery against us is, not be-