Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-23
BIPARTISAN INDEPENDENCE.

We are in receipt Of letters from
respectei correspondents, In reference
70 the alleged recent dispute In an eN'
ecutiye meeting of State leaders Of
political party. We do not publish
them for the reason that they would
give ground for the charge, which some
folks appear anxious to prefer that the
News" lnterferes In political affairs
Any reference In this paper TO the ac-
lions or sentiments OF either Of the
great political parties, Is Interpreted by
the other as partisan on our part. The
oversenstiveness Of some politicians on
this point would be very irritating II It
were not 50 highly ridiculous.
While the Descr,t News Intends TO be
strictly bipartisan in its utterances'
and to abstain from fayoring or sup
porting any political party or faction,
It does not intend TO be tied down or
muzzled either IN publishing partlcu-
lars Of current events or the expression
Of views in relation to living questions.
There are principles underlying the
frame work of our national system and
OF our State institutions which can and
ought to be freely discussed, no mat
ter how they may affect any political
organization. There are also principles
OF morality, Of integrity. Of social policy
OF religion and Of philosophy which may
properly be ventilated In a non-partsan
public journal, even II they do come IN
contact with ideas entertained by some
political faction or party or It's organs.
The Deseret News has more than once
announced its independence on these
matters, and again takes occasion to
state that this does not imply its silence
on public questions, whether local or
national, that affect the general well
fare. on the contrary, that very inde-
pendence Is an assertion Of It's freedom
from party bias, and Of It's determine
ton 10 abide by It's motto from the be-
glnning-"Tru,h and Liberty"
We claim the right and purpose to
maintain the exercise thereof, to touch
on such public questions as appear to
US OF general interest, or Of conse-
quence 70 the people Of the Church we
represent and the State In which we re-
side. Also to critlciso the remarks and
the position taken by our contempor-
aries in relation to any matter Of mo-
ment. whether concerning the Church
OF the State.
We can understand the desire on the
part Of some papers to restrict the Des-
eret News, to bind II with cords Of their
own fashionng, and to put a gag In
It's mouth 80 that its constantly in
creasing influence and usefulness may
be cut short. But such attempts viii be
be In vain The Deseret News has kept
within the limits clearly defined In It's
first issue Of the present year. and eX.
poets to DO so In the future; but at the
same time will strive to an TO the full
the position which Il then assumed.
As to the letters received as mem.
toned above. We do not suppress them
simply because they might displease
some extreme psrtisans. or because we
entertain any fear as TO such displeas.
ure when We are in the right, but be-.
cause they contain matters that could
be nationally and fairly objected 70 as
having a party tendency Our CORE.
spondents Will therefore please take
notice, and understand the reason for
our action In this particular.