The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-07
THE PRESS AND THE STATE.

! UnquestionSbly one of the chief ne
cessfties for the success of republican
/ government IS an enlightened and free
press. So essential did Jefferson es-
! TEEN it to the success OF republican
! government that he said: THE basis
/ OF our government being the opinion
OF the people, the very first object
should be to keep that right. Were it
( left to me to decide whether we should
have q government without newspa-
perss or newspapers without govern
ment, should not hesitate to prefer
the latter
a country without government but
with an enlightened and free press, of
course, has never been seen, and many
viii doubt the possibility of such a
thinS. But government without news
papers has been tried, and government
with press under the strict surveil-
lance of government has been tried;
and also government with AN enlighten-
ed and free press; and 1t is not
difficult to decide in favor of the
last combination. An enlightened and
free press at once becomes a powerful
aid to good government, and preserva-
tive Of the rights and the liberties of
the people. Its outspohen boldness
and incisive analysis of the actions of
men and the motives which stand be-
/ hind those actions are never dreaded
! by upright, Yirtuous officers of the
state A free press is a terror only to
/ evil doors. 1t is a praise to them that
/ do well. Thieves, robbers and rogues
alone dread the light that honest men
welcome with gladness
And so with truth. Like its compan-
ion honor, truth breads not an en-
I lightened and free press. It asks no
shield from criticism, nor can criti-
cism, be it ever so searching, harm the
I truth. Secure of its ultimate triumph,
and conscious of ats own power, it
smiles at the shafts of criticism as the
soul secure in its existence smiles.at the
drawn dagger and defies its point An
enlightened and free press is TO truth
what it is to right and pure govern
ment, an aid-at once its spear and
shield, the means by which it shall be
affirmed, maintained and spread
abroad
Happy Utah! Blessed state. Doub-
ly assured of success in thy career as
a sovereign state by having a. govern
ment framed by the people and a free
and enlightened press to aid that gov
eminent and guard the rights of the
people through instructing their reason
and helping them In the formation
Of their judgment And again, happy
state! Happy in having honorable
men entrusted with the administration
Of government. Men who will not fear
the light, but will welcome it as re-
dected through an enlightened and
free press: men whose ways are just.
whose ambition is to do right, whose
love for the state they serve will guard
alike it's honor and its interests; and
who viii look upon the press not as
something to suspect or fear but as a
chief aid In securing at the last that
which shall be best for the common
wealth.
The Herald will put forth it's best
efforts to the attainment of these OBJ
jects. Though differing in politics from
administration of Utah's government,
and thinking the general welfare may
be better secured through the adoption
of a. different policy of administration
than that which their political prin-
ciples at times may incline them to fol-
low While we shall contend for the
rightfulness of Democratic principles,
we tender them our aid upon that very
large plane of common ground upon
which all citizens may stand. to assist
IN making a, success of the new govern
ment, and of Utah a prosperous and
happy state. But while we shall do all
that lies in our power to make of the
new government a successful that a
newspaper may of right attempt to do,
so far as The HERALD is concerned
HERE WILL THE PRESS THE
PEOPLES RIGHTS MAINTAIN, UN-
AWED BY INFLUENCE AND UN-
BOUGHT BY GAIN"