The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-24

J. G. SLIGH.
The above communication has been
received by The Herald and News, and
we presume the parties whose names
are signed to it desire that we should
give it a place in our columns. We
grant them this privilege with pleas
ure. We regret to lose these names
from our list, because We have always
numbered some of them among our
personal friends In parting with them
We have no feeling in the matter what
ever, and what we shall say i'll this con
nection we shall endeavor not to be
personal.
Now let Us see what the crime OF
which we stand charged by this ALI
ance is. They stop their paper because
the editor has an opinion and expresses
it and that opinion does not coincide
with their way Of thinking. They
want paper, we presume, that has
no opinion, or if it has, is afraid to eX-
press it. Now we want to say right
here, that so long as we continue TO
edit a newspaper, we are going to en-
deavor to have an opinion on puolic
questions that affect the welfare OF the
State, aud We propose to express that
opinion, and that we have no oracle to
consult beforehand. This privilege we
accord to every other man. We shall
try always to have reason for the con-
clusion reached, and if it does not coin
eide with the opinions Of others we
can't help it. Al the same time, we
shall respect their opinions, and not fall
out with them if they do not agree with
us. We. have very little respect for the
man. or the editor, who has no mind or
opinion of his own, but who always
tries to fall in with the popular current,
and thinks, acts, and writes, what he
takes to be popular. On the other hand
we admire aud respect an honest man,
one who is honest not only in the mat
ter of dollars and cents, but honest in
his opinions and the expression OF
tlem-not only because we believe that
honesty is the best policy" but be-
cause it is right to be honest. We ad-
nire and respect such man, whether
we agree with him or not.
The Herald and News shall continue
to express its honest opinions on public
questions without regard to whether it
meets the appreciation ofany Individual
or not, and We accord the same privil-
eye to every other man. If in ccnse-
quence of this course certain persons
determine to stop taking it, that IS
matter for them. Whenever we are
denied that privilege We shall retire
from the business. Freedom of speech
and of the press has always been con-
sidered the bulwark of our institutions,
and no greater blow could be given
them than to undertake to muzzle the
press or to curtail the freedom of ofspeech.
But that seems to be the object of the
st. Paul's Alliance.
But they say The Herald and News
is not in sympathy with the farmers
and the March Convention. That is
not entirely true. There has never a
word appeared in this paper antagonis-
tic to the farmers, but we could not see
the wisdom of the action of the March
Convention and have not hesitated to
say so. Nothing has happened since
the March Convention to cause US to
change our opinion in regard to the
wisdom of what was done by that Con-
rention.
We belong to the Democratic party,
and while the members Of the March
Convention may be, and no doubt are,
as good Democrats as we are, we could
see no good reason for forming a new
party within the Democratic party,
out of a faction of the party. If the
farmers constitute, as they do, so per
cent Of the Democratic voters Of the
State, it would have been very easy
matter for them to have gone along
and had their way in the regular Demo
cratic Convention. But since the March
Convention has nominated q candidate
for Governor, and as long as he re-
mains Democrat, We shall not treat
him as an alien, and while that can
didate is not our choice, yet if be is
nominated by the regular Democratic
Convention for Governor, We shall sup
port him as heartily as any one.
We have insisted OIL L campaign free
from personal abuse, and in giving Mr..
Tillman fair play. But there is no
sense in falling out with man because
he does not agree with you.
Ifan editorundertakes to consult the
opinions of the individuals who take
his paper he will have as many differ
ent opinions as he has subscribers.
Whenever we have to adopt the
opinions CT others, whether those
opinions agree with our way Of think
inr or not, then We vii! let those parties
edit the paper.
But we have confidence in the good
common sense Of our people and their
desire for fair play, and that they will
accord to every man the right to free
speech.
ESrr WEI nE,, tn TENpTATIO%