The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-10-24

T. =, -
cnce to public questions or maintain that
one party is>neither better nor worse than
another.
The truth is thisilesultory Independence.
which was so MUCH in vogue few.ycars
ago, was 6iercly aFcloak for shallow prin-
ciplcs or selfish intrig,les. 1t was too
often used as an apology for goingo her-
ever corrupt motive might lead aud of
cnlisting, like the Swiss soldier of the
sixteenth century, where the highest pay
and the most plumber were offered. This
WIS not universally true, but it was too
often true: and there has been a reaction
against the independents, which has driven
those of the most doubtful character to
one party or the other.
A citizen should he independent so far,
and only so far, as to expose and rcbukc
corruption among his associates, to seek
to purge his party platform of all crro-
neous principles, to rcpudiatc its trickcry
and its frauds, and to be just to the prn-
ciples and persons of his opponents. He
should never profess devotion to one
party, and. while in its ranks, seek to
betrav it, nor cater to the prcjudiccs of
the opposition. His feet should follow his
heart and understanding wherever they
NAV 20: and whatever belief he has, let
him stand square on his legs and declare
it, being sufficiently posted TO give n
reason for the faith that is in him. Shut
fling in politics is like shutting in bust
ness, and is inconsistent with the dignity
and maniness of our race.
SO long therefore as there is no other
party that is nearer to our convictions OF
political duty our sympathies and our sup
port will be given TO the democracy.
Should II new party spring up which will
repudiatc the crrors-wc might almost say
the crimcs-oi the republican partisans
who acquired complete asccnlcncy over
the last Congress. and likewise the finan-
cal follics and economic errors into
which the democrats have been betrayed
bv their present leaders. we shall unhesi-
tatingly give it such support as Our oppor-
tunitics afford. Indeed the democratic
party would fill the measure of excellence
if it would rcpudiatc the blathciskitcs
and Adventures who have acquired con-
troll of it and return to the faith of its
founders. There was never better plat
form for my political organization than
that formulated by ,Ictleron and Madison.
1t consisted of rigid limitation of the
powers of the Federal government to the
terms of the grant, opposition 10 an in
ternal revenue and favor to Il protective
tariff, and honesty and economy in the
administration Of public affairs. And un-
less the party rcadopts this platform we
have no hope that it will ever again win
in national contest
But the Posr, under all conditions pro-
poses to tell what it conccivcs 10 |c the
truth about both parties. II will not
mnce matters when the public interest is
involved. IL is not sufficiently partisan to
conceal corruption or to sacrifice one .iOt
or title of its convictions for any person
or any party. Neither party is good
enough to justify the uttcrancc of false
hood in its behalf and neither is bad
enough to justify the uttcrancc of false
hood against il. The masses who are the
victims of misrulc naturally wish to know
the facts; and it IS quite certain they
cannot get them from Il purely partisan
organ The desire for truth is the dom-
mating instinct of mankind. If an occur
renee takes place, any one who is ut all
interested in it, wants to learn the truth
about it; and if there is a person or Il
paper that will tell it as it is and another
person or paper that will color it TO suit
Il partisan or personal purpose, the in
quircr will inevitably go to the paper or
person that can be relied on in preference
to the other.
What is true of ordinary affairs is true
of politics. 1t matters not how Disagree
able and hurtful the facts are that con-
Germ sensible man he wants to know
them and he wants to see them without
any deepening of shades or softcning of
colors. Yet there are partisans so narrow
minded and bgotcd that will cry out
don't publish that, YOU will hurt the
party
If the truth hurts the party it ought to
be hurt, even unto death. 1t becomes IL
matter Of hurt to The public when il is not
told, and Il part of the community had
better be hurt than the whole.