The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-03-01
INDEPENDENT AND PARTY JOUR.
NALISM.

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more Republican patronage.
This we must understand to be said
upon the assumption that the RECORD
UNION has been under obligations for or
has had Republican patronage; that is to
say, party political favor, and that it has
made new departure in declaring itself
to be an independent journal. If the
Stockton paper does not know, every one
familiar with the REooRD-UNIoN does,
that this journal always has been an in
dependent paper, and years and years ago
rebuked those who sought to saddle party
upon its shoulders, and that SO far as
patronage is concerned, if any obligations
exist they are largely in favor of the
RECORD UNION.
1t never has been party paper; what
ever advertising any political party has
done in this paper it has had value re-
ceived on precisely the basis OF any other
advertiser paying for the space used. If
any patronage has ever been given to
the RECORD UNION because of the opin-
ions it has entertained (which it has not
all such patronage is notified that it was
mistaken.
But the truth is that the Republican
party, the Democratic party, and every
other party, knows that the RECORD
UNION never was party organ, and that
its support of candidates or party always
has been of its own choosing, and wholly
irrespective of advertising or patron
age" given the paper. No complaint
comes from party, by the way, that the
REcoRD-UNIoN has broken any contracts
with it, for the excellent reason that it
has never been subject to the dictation,
control or organ-work of any political
party.
There is not, as we have repeatedly
said, thoroughgoing leading journal of
the age, of, any prominence, that is a
political party organ. 1t is simply amaz-
ing that there are any intelligences SO
dense that this fact does not penetrate
them.
Everybody whose respects worth hav-
ing, knows that it is no more reputable
to be in favor of the Republican or the
Democratic party, or the Greenback or
the Labor party, because of patronage re-
ceived, than it is to be in favor Of gam
ever the counting controls the edi-
torial side of a paper, it IS on the sure
road to speedy loss of value as a journal
The counting-room interest does not run
the editorial side of the RECORD UNION,
and does not seek to; its management is
never inharmonious on that account, be-
cause it is the management of an indie
pendent paper.
The Stockton Republicans idea of
journalism must be that patronage and
policy are inseparable. Is it ready to
mortgage its value as paper to such a
doctrine and still expect to command any
influence among men? A political party
may set up press and issue sheets for the
dissemination of party literature, pre-
cisely as the free silver, and the anti-sil-
yer, and the National League, and other
political organizations are doing now.
But such sheets are nc more than official
circulars. They are in no sense within
the realm of journalism.
The Harvesting of patronage and policy
in journalism involves all the essential
elements of blackmail. If man advo-
Gates policy to get patronage the policy
is colored by the patronage-it is, in other
words, the blackmailer's sentiment. Sup
pose other business to be run upon that
level how long would it hold its own {?
Men do not buy boots and shoes, and
household supplies. because the goods
are made by Republicans OF Democrats,
but because of the service and the fitness.
Nor do they absorb ideas because of gain
and expect to remain sincere. In short,
the difference between the journalism
which takes position on clear convic-
ton of right, and that which takes a posi-
ton for the sake of patronage, is the diff
ference between the patriotic volunteer
soldier and the sutler. The soldier does
battle for principle, the sutler plies his
business for pocket gain
The REooRD-UNIoN has no love for
party as such, but esteems it an instru-
ment for the accomplishment of results.
When the result is accomplished the in
strument may be discarded. When party
organization is maintained TO uphold a
principle and advance standard of right
it is to be commended, and independent
journals agreeing with it viii do so, and
applaud it; but no self-respecting journal
mortgages itself to party and closes its
mouth when party deserves criticism and
castigation, no more than it fails to criti-
else and discipline any other agency
among the activities of men. When
party, therefore, fails as an instrument
for good as the independent journal
esteems it to be, it cannot sustain it, but
must, for common self respect. seek for
other instruments to move upon society
for its good.
In other words, parties are organiza-