Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-01-14
THE LEADER.


As the LEADER enters with this issue
upon new and broader field, it will
not be inappropriate to indicate as
briefly as may be, what will he the pol
icy and principles which will distin-
guish it.
First of all, the paper will be fair,
fearless and honest. 1t will discuss
political parties, public questions and
men in their relations to public affairs,
on their merits, "naught extenuating,
and setting down naught in malice"
1t will be paper that may be safely
welcomed at any fireside. 1t will
omit the petty and immoral news that
fills so much of the space in the daily
press of the day, revolving crimes,
scandals and merely provincial items.
1t will be candid and open and indie
pendent. 1t will give a hearing to
different opinions and all enlightened
thought. 1t will seek reputation for
it's ideas as we'll as news. 1t will have
among its contributors from time to
time, some of the ablest writer's and
thinkers of the State. It's worth will be
measured by its ability, truthfulness,
decency and fairness, and not by its
sensation or size.
And there are many things it will
not do. 1t will not blackmail anyone ;
| it will not wear the livery of the rich
and the powerful it will not be ma
chine to crafty the personal likes or
dislikes of its editor; it will put on no
airs of Instability; it will be careful
to libel no one, and to make no mis-
takes, but if it should fall into error,
it will be eager to make amends. 1t
will not boast or brag of its own
achievements, nor will it engage in a
petty war of depreciation upon its CO.
| temporaries.
1t has chosen as its motto the words
made memorable by the utterance of
Cleveland. not because Grover Cleve-
land spoke them, but because they voice
the true principle which, as we con-
ceive, should guide a newspaper in its
dealings with the public. We are one
who looks upon the position of the
journalist as second only in solemn
responsibility. to the office of him who
is called to proclaim the gospel of a
risen Savior to a dying world. The
newspaper man has the right to make a
living and even accumulate wealth by
his business, but he may not do this
at the sacrifice of principle and right,
and the editor who fawns and flatters
or truckles or winks at corruption in
places high or low, from any cause, is a
disgrace to his profession and be-
trayer of the public he processes to
serve.
The paper will be the uncompromis-
ing foe of the liquor traffic, and will
preston by every means at command.
It's editor has been closely associated
with the Prohibition movement ever
since it's first Inauguration in the State,
and expects to remain in the forefront
of the fight until the last legalized dog
gerry is driven from Mississippi soil.
The paper will likewise be the friend
and champion of the Alliance. In
State almost wholly agricultural, as
is, to better the condition
of the farmer is to subserve the inter
ests of the whole people. We have con-
fidence in the integrity and patriotism
of the masses. They are honest and
desire only what is right and best for
all. They have no selfish axes to grind.
1t is the professional politician, the of
fice-seeker, the oily tongued dema-
gogue who needs watching and expos
ure, and we promise that their tricks
and schemes will receive ample venti-
latiOn.
Will the people of Jackson and Mis-
sissippi sustain such paper? We be-
lieve they will, and to that faith we pin
our hope of success and usefulness.