Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-05
STRONGLY coLonED GLASSES


There are some people who do not
seem TO understand that newspaper Is
published. not simply 10 please a few Of
its readers. but for the benefit OF the
general public. or course, when IT Is
the organ Of political party. II viii
have a bias IN favor OF that party. but
at The same time 1t win, OF necessity
give the general news and comment up
on current events according to the best
information and the clearest light at
lis command. No person and no paper
can reasonably expect TO please every
body AMI offend nobody.
On Saturday morning the editor OF
the Deseret News was aecosted by an
esteemed friend from the North. who
objected to the stiong British sentiment
OF the News as against the much
abused Beers OF South Africa. He
stated that he had intended several
times TO express his dissent by letter.
A short time afterwards. on the same
day, a Salt Lake reader OF this paper
denounced what he called the pro-Boer
attitude OF The Deseret News, and was
quite vehement In his few words OF dis
appreciation. These two dissentienis
illustrated the difficulty Of writing so
az 10 suit persons OF different views
and temperaments.
This morning we received a eornmuni-
cation from the aforementioned gentle
man. IN which he criticises, In not very
temperate terms, the attitude Of the
"News" on the question OF the war In
South Africa, and particularly some re-
marks In our columns on Wednesday
last, relative 10 the Interview between
General Croije and Lord Roberts after
the surrender OF the Boer chief and his
command The comment referred TO
was based on a dispatch received that
day, and was qualified by our introduce
tory remarks The matter was fully
explained in an editorial on Thursday.
and any one who has read the two arti-
cles with ordinary care will have OBJ
ialned fair and correct comprehension
OF the incident,
Our critic INDUCES In much COM
mendation Of General Roberts, but
there Is not sentence IN his letter on
that subject that has not already APP
peared substantially In the Deseret
News. Further, We have made no COM
ment on the conduct Of the war In
South Africa, whether as relating 10 the
Beers or TO the British. that has not
been warranted by the dispatches which
have conveyed the news OF the progress
Of the conflict and the course Of the
troops and their commanders on either
side.
IN touching on these and other pub
lie questions. our friends who take OPP
poslte views must not expect the Des-
eret News 10 put on Boer binoculars or
British Eyeglasses. Nor should they
desire us to wear the yariously colored
spectacles worn by partisans on either
side. 1t is quite funny 10 note the
comments OF different persons with
strong procliyities.. as to what they
read in public prints, The subject APP
pears TO them as looked at from theil
own point Of view. and imagination al
50 frequently plays very vivid part
Just as Il is In relation to the South
African war, so II has been In regard
to matters political. Democrats hay,
complained about the evident Republi
can leaning OF the News" and Re
pnblicans have protested against thu
Democratic bias OF this paper. This Il
vastly amusing TO one who IL not
partisan. Although II Is sometimes {
trihe annoying. II furnishes food fol
reflection. and shows the tendency O
the human mind TO cast a tint from IL
own peculiar color upon that whicl
comes before It's observation. The habi
too. OF some people to add to what 1
written that which they read betweei
the lines" and which rises up In thei
own Imagination. or which they thinl
they discern in the motive Of the writer
renders their criticism usually incor
rect and frequently unjust and abso
lutely worthless.
We have to repeat that which W
have stated before: The Deseret New
Is not published for the special eraufl
cation OF any particular class OF read
ers. II does not desire to offend, no
can It attempt to placate those VIII
do not agree with its conclusions. I,
growing in favor with the public. MS
evidenced by its increasing circulatio
and The interest II arouses among pee
people Of various views on cnrren
questions. This shows that the News
is exercising an influence for good.
surs up thought. and causes discussion
and contributes 10 the streams OF ligh
and Information which are continual
flowing from the press. the creates
agency for the promotion OF truth an
the spread Of intelligence that III
world has ever seen.
A WORD tn STUDENTS