The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-12
THE PEOPLE AND THE TINES.

Referring 10 an editorial in this paper
| did not concede the right of any man
! to catechise The Times as to its views
on this or that question, the Petersburg
Tndex-Appeal says:
The Times is an able. courageous and
Independent paper, and we have the very
highest respect fer IT, But this does
not deter US from thinking that it has
a wholly erroneous conception Of its duty
10 the public The Times undertakes 20
instruct, direct and control public opinion
by argument of course. and the ASSUME
ton of this right properly implies a cor
responding right on the part of the pub
lie, Mr.. Bickers or any other man to
catechise it. and the paper is under the
highest obligation, having put itself in
the attitude Of instructor, 10 treat all
such questions with consideration and re-
spect. a newspaper is something more
than private property; IL is a public in
stitution, IT has publicduties to perform,
one OF which, in our judgment is
TO give a reason for the faith that IS
in IL upon the respectful demand Of any
reader. made in good faith This is a
duty which a newspaper owes TO itself
quite as much as to the public, for in
answering questions one sometimes gains
light on doubtful points-and we all want
hight. much light
We are surprised at such an expression
from our Petersburg contemporary which
Usually takes practicable and sensible
view Of all questions. especially of ques-
lions relating TO the publishing business.
We do not deny that a newspaper is in
sense a public institution. and we believe
that every newspaper should have an
opinion and fearlessly express it on all
questions Of public concern. But to con-
cede the right of every man at all times
to demand Of newspaper how it stands
on this question or that whether or not
the question be an issue before the peo-
pie is conceding too much to The rights
of the public.
In the case cited a correspondent de-
manded of The Times to know what
would be its position In case there should
be Prohibition contest in the city OF
Richmond, and if we were TO concede
that every citizen had the right 10 thus
catechise us, we should be put in the
position of having TO declare ourselves
on all sorts of irrelevant questions, on all
sorts OF remote or impossible issues, or
else give to our questioner ground for
alleging that The Time was afraid TO
speak its mind.
Our position is this On all living ques-
lions, on all real issues before the public,
The Times has an opinion and will make
~ known and defend It without being
catechised and we are unwilling to admit
that we are so reticent as TO make it ne
cessary for our readers TO question US
I'm order 10 draw us out" In short we
are the Judge as TO when and how the
opinion of this paper shall be expressed
The conduct Of the editorial policy OF
q newspaper is no trifling matter. as our
contemporary we'll knows. An editor
must be fearless, but ne must also be
discreet. There is a time to express an
opinion and time to be silent. The
opinion OF an honest intelligent news
paper has great weight and influence. we
say this In no spirit Of egotism and It is
sometimes contrary to public policy for
such a paper to express an opinion out
of season. We say that the editor is to
be the Judge not only of the character of
the opinion that he expresses, but of its
convenience.
However, this is a matter about which
we give ourselves little concern. II will
never be necessary for any one TO cate
chise The Times as to its views on any
living public issue and. therefore. we
shall not be pestered by questioners.