, 1888-06-29
RATES OF ADvEHTIsING.
$40 = ctpuOLL. Edl
THE FATAL STEP rs TAKEN

The EUaa6g Tribune is no longer avow
eddy independent, but has come out
squarely as AN advocate of Republican
principles Politics certainly make strange
bcdfellows. This TALL we will witness the
queer spectacle of the Sun and Tribune,
which have hitherto not affiliated to any
great extent, doing the double song and
dance business for the &. o. y. With
two such admirably conducted journals on
the opposite side of the political fence,
THE LEADER will undoubtedly have its
hands full this fall in trying to hold up ITS
end. but we can safely promise that it
will leave nothing undone which might
contribute TO the entertainment OF either
or both of its esteemed Republican CON
t%emporarics,
In the flop of the 7ribmae the cause of
independence in political thought has lost
an able and disinterested advocate, while
pure Republicanism and high protective
tariff have gained an ally whose sturdy
blows in their behalf are not to, be de-
spised. In contemplating this joyous
union Of loving hearts we have but one
regret, and hat is that a paper which has
so long and ably advocated purity in
political affairs, which has been the cap
able and untiring exponent Of a higher
and better civilization aud which has
boldly grappled with and exposed the
rlaring abuses of the age in which we live,
should have voluntarily cast aside its
untrammeled freedom and bound itself
down to the narrow partisan bounds ofany
political party.
Retrogression in an individual is always
sad, but retrogression in a newspaper is
peculiarly affecting. To behold the pin
ions Of a soaring intellect, once daringly
free, tied down by the narrow limitations
of a political creed, is a sight which must
sadden the heart of every American free
man and cause tears TO trickle down the
iurrowed check OF every man who places
the good of his country above all other
earthly considerations.
Il it an evidence that we of Cheyenne
and we of.Wyoming are taking a back
ward step from the highest realizations of
a modern civilization that aggressive in
de~pendance, a lofty and immutahle con
ception of the right and a daring disregard
of the petty conventionalities of the day
should fail to meet with proper r~ecogni-
ton and encouragement? This is a ques-
ton in the contemplation of which every
thoughtful citizen must pause.
The Tribune has boldly ~striven to be
free for the past several years. That its
success has not been phenomenal Is evI-
denced by the fact that it anchor. itself
within the mUorings of the Republican
party. Have the people of Wyoming
not yet reached the stage when they can
recognize the utility OF Il purely indepen-
dent paper? Is our civilization less ad-
yanced than that of older and more fa-
vored communities, or do we really lack
in proper appreciation Of the efforts put
forth in our behalf by the free and indie
pendent press with which we have been
50 rarely blessed?
These are questions which each indi-
vidual must answer as his own conscience
may dictate. For our W part we regret
to see that the Cheyenne public so lacked
in appreciation of independent political
thought that the Tribune was compelled
to come in out of the wet
In the midst OF our fluctuations to the
O.. III u - 10 4
political combine this regret is thrust
upon us with the force of a steam shovel
into a sand bank.