Connecticut western news., 1896-08-27
OUR POSITION.


 many newspapers have either been call ed upon to state their position, or they have voluntarily stated their position without being asked. It has been mighty hard work for some newspapers to define or explain their position, or to give reason for their faith. Likewise it has been mighty hard work for indi- viduals and political parties to explain their position, to give reason for their faith and platform, or to appear con- sistent,
 For many years the NEWS has been an independent paper. It supposed that all It's readers knew what independent" means; but it seems that some do not Some evidently have the impression that independent means neutral. The editor of the NEWS was greatly surpris- cd last Friday when democratic friend informed him that ''thirty or more subscribers in Canaan were displeased with the NEWS because of it's position upon the currency question, and that said subscribers would discontinue their subscriptions if the NEWS continued to advocate sound money" But greater surprise was in store for the litor, viz our democratic friend informed us that he was a free silver man; nevertheless he would not discontinue his subscrip- ton to the NEWS even if it did advocate sound money. But he said that ''neutral paper ought not to take sides, and he had been informed that several free silver articles had been sent to the NEWS for publication and that no atten- tion had been paid to them" The last statement was the greatest surprise of all. Now for the facts in the case as follows:
 Thirteen years ago last April when the writer became the proprietor and editor of the NEWS the question was asked, "What will be the political com plexion of the NEws?" In an editorial published April II. 1883 we stated our position as follows: "The NEWS will not be the organ of any political party or faction. The right is reserved to criticise any scheme or combination liable to defraud or oppress the public. Any enterprise of doubtful character will not receive the approval of the NEWS. To maintain paper devoted to the highest and best interest of society will be our aim." That has been the platform upon which the NEWS has stood, and upon which it stands to-day. It has not advocated the election of Mckinley, nor Bryan, nor the third party" candidate whoever he may prove to be, nor the election of any candidate already named by any political party. It has criticised the free silver move ment because it believes that ''free sill yer" is scheme or combination liable to defraud or oppress the public. To attempt to buldoze or boycot the NEWS because it advocates sound money and national honesty would rally every genuine friend of the NEWS to the SUD- port of the NEWS, without regard to their political creeds.
 Now with regard to refusing to pub. fish free silver articles. Only one free silver article has been sent to the NEWS for publication, and said article is 8 series of irrelevant, untimely, and threadbare questions which would re. quire more time and space to answer than they merit. We wish it distinctly understood that any free silver article of genuine merit and reasonable length is not prohibited from the NEWS col. umns. We do not wish to prevent dis. cussion of the silver question, but we cannot devote unreasonable space to either side. In justice to oursef we must state that we have deferred and finally suppressed some sound money articles contributed to the NEWS, for we do nos feel warranted in devoting SC much space to the subject notwithstand. ing the articles themselves are as sound as the kind of money they advocate.