The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-28
THURSDAY..-.......JUNE IS, 1900
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicanity
Thursday fair, 'oest qcindS.
AS MANY Men As MANY MINDs.

AS MANY MEN AS MANY MINDS.
THE FREE LANCE, as its most sug'
gestive name implies, does not fight
under any banner belonging to party,
creed or sect, nor yet under cover or
in any uncertain tone. The chips
must fall where they will it is not
our lookout. We are called upon to
define our mission periodically by Oc-
essional letters from some reader who
think we rap certain individuals or
parties too hard. They seem to lose
sight Of the fact that we are here for
thst purpose, and g glance at the
head of these columns will display
our independent mission. Never
theless, we would not do with
out our critics, for they are usually
persons who are close readers Of these
columns, and take great interest in
our paper. They keep one, too, from
getting into ruts, and sometimes put
q new idea into the head.
Along with these-sometimes by
the same mail and from the same
postoffice-coms letters of cheer and
encouragement. These always give
a wonderful impetus to our pen, and
the think box " is excited into re-
newed activity. In the busy days
busy for the newspapers as we'll as
the law-makers-of the Legislature
The FREE LANCE dealt in impartial
and unstinted criticism, pro and con,
of the actions Of that body. We we're
beseiged with compliments by CORE
spondents and readers, which have
since been supplemented by an occa-
sis6al writer with you told us so"
emphasis. A prominent official OF
Caroline county wrote these words
81 see that THE FREE LANCE was
sound on sll of the questions of i'm
portance before the last Legislature"
Yes, many Of those questions have
now been tried and experienced by
the people of Virginia, and their YER
diets are but the predictions of this
paper. Most notable among them
is the fertilizer tax, about which we
have little ammunition stored for
firing purposes little later.
A prominent Prohibitionist of
Middlesex wrote us about the same
time that he had only subscribed at
Christmas for q six-months' period,
but that the paper has shown such
marked Improvement Of late that he
desired his name placed On the list
indefinitely.
A Prince William Republican
writes that "yOu hit us hard, but
never below the belt; and expect
we deserve the blows as much so as
the other fellows, who, am glad to
see, do not go unscathed."
While canvassing, leading Essex
Democrat said that he couldn't do
without THE FREE LANCE, as it gave
both sides in politics, and was the
best condenser of news that he ever
saw; while q prominent Lancaster
Democrat, in renewing his subscrip-
ton, remarked: =" 1t is the-meanest
paper | ever saw, but like it for it's
meanness. "
Now we have simply given these
opinions as coming from representa-
tive men Of the various political part
les, in order to show that We are try
ing, with q fair measure of success,
to carry out our program and pur-
pOses-to belong to no man, party or
creed, to treat all fairly, but to hew
TO the line. As stated at the outset,
the work Of conducting such paper
: IL no bed of roses-though we do get
bouquets, as noted. The dark side
comes often and our adverse critics
make the bed little harder, but for
it we feel that we are the wiser.
We have read = good article on
criticism from the editor of London
Truth, and we give it to our readers.
LIKES HIS READERS TO DISAGREE.
II venture 70 run counter 20 demon:
STATIONS OF public opinion, / know
that shall have to read letters from
this regular reader" or that "old
subscriber, who, after reading Truth"
for years, has decided never to let such
. pernicious publication be seen in his
house again.
Itpuzzles me that grown men should |
be 30 childish. For my own part.
ind every day matter that disapprovei
Of In the newspapers that buy and |
read. From the "Times down TO the |
most rapid lingo half.psnny sheets
scarcely meet with q political utterance
In any Of them with which agree.
This, however, does not cause me TO |
cease buying such journals In'the first |
place, think one Is she oester Tor |
studying the opinions opposed to ones
own. Ia the next, there 10 great deal
besides politics In most papers, and the |
politics need not prevent one enjoying
the ress Of the contents. Ia Oil this, OF
coarse. most sensible people VIII agree |
with me. So FAR as can make out' ali
reeuler readers Of Truth hate my
politics at any rAte. it Is Q rare thing /
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