The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-07-31


OF his ugly record.
We IRE gratificd when truth will
permit us to speak well OF our neigh
bors. But no amount Of fiattery, per-
suasion. threats or attempted vio-
lence and coercion will ever obtain
one word Of praise or approval that
has not our fullest sanction. Other
men with a similar bad record while
satisfied with the position Of a priv
ate citizen are exempt from criticism
in these columns. When they assume
the leadership Of their party and be-
come the custodian OF its morals,
principles and policy, their private
record becomes public property be-
cause what has governed them in pri-
vate life is what must be anticipated
from them in official stations. That
he has been recognized by the pres
ent administration and appointed to
Office does not wipe out the stain up
on his character, nor the disgrace of
the respectable people Of his party
who know these facts and are CON-
PEELED to live under the dictation Of
this man and that OF the infinitesiMal
creatures Of his selection and crea-
ton.
OF and for manacled or mercenary
press, whether enslaved or subsidized
with money or Office, we have the
same fear and entertain the same
contempt expressed by Daniel Web
ster in 1882. We demand for the
press absolute freedom to express it.
self upon every question of public
concern'yet holding it, as every per
son should be held. to a strict respon
sibility for the truth Of its statement,
touching private character and con
duct.
Mr.. Webster said: And Is pres,
that is purchased or pensioned NOR,
free than press that is fettered
Can the people look for truths tx
partial sources, whether rendered par
tial through fear or favor. Why shal
not a manacled press be trusted Will
the maintenance and defense Of pop
ular rights, Because it il supposed
to be under the influence Of a power
which may prove greater than the
love of truth. 1t may fear to speak
And may it not fear to speak, too
when its conductors, il they speak in
any but one way, may lose their
means OF livelihonl2 Is dependence
on government for bread no temple
ton to screen its abuses! Will the
press always speak the truth, when
truth il spoken may be the
means Of silencing it for the future
Is the truth In no danger, is the
watchman under no teiHptati on
when he can neither proclaim the up
proach OF national evils, nor seem to
decry them without the loss Of hi,
place. Mr.. President, an open at
tempt to secure the aid and friend
ship of the public press by bestowinl
the cmoluMents OF Office on its active
conductors, seems 10 NO. Of every
J thing we have witnessed. to be TIL
most reprehensible. 1t degrades boil
the government and the press.
The ghost Of Banquo, like that .
Hamlet, was an honest ghost. L
did not disturb innocent people. j
knew where it would strike terror
and who would cry out a ghost.' |,
made itself visible in the right quar-
ter and compelled the guilty and the
conscience smitten, and none others
! to start with:
''Prithee, se6 there, behold! look. 10
; II stand here, saw him''
/ 1t is idle for them to calculate
through their chattering teeth
"Thou canst not say did it, or t.
exclaim to a spectre created by theil
own crimes, fears and remorse
.Avaunt. and quit our sight,