Evening journal., 1900-11-14
he STOPS THE STAR
From the Sunday Star.
The mail Of Thursday brought to Us the
following communication:

LAlANN W AnE EANlt EAlf ANu VIII
please discontinue my subscription 70 The
Star from this date. In advocating the
election Of a Democratic candidate for
Governor The Star proves that it is a
rank Democratic organ, aud have no
further use for 1t. Yours, etc.
Henry g. 5. Marsdon,
Central Hotel, City.
We have no apologies to offer for sup
porting Mr.. Ford for Governor. Our rea-
sons for advocating his election were of
a personal nature, entirely apart from the
fact that he is n Democrat and We're
based upon our intimate knowledge OF him
as a man ana upon our confidence IN his
especial fitness Tor the position. Belev-
ing him TO be particularly qualified. both
by character and ability. for the office of
Chief Executive. We earnestly sought, in
every honorable way. to advance his
claims in that direction. We did this
openly and fairly. and al no time did we
present any argument that did not ad-
dress itself to public rather than TO par
tisan interests The fact that Mr.. Ford
happens TO be Democrat is the only
ground that gives color 10 our cores
pondents bigoted charge that The Star
is Democratic organ Mr.. Ford was
the only man on the Democratic ticket
whose election we advocated. while our
columns were wide open TO all the candi-
dates alike on every ticket, and many of
the aspirants TO public Office. ON both
sides-either personally or through their
friends-took advantage OF the opportu-
nifty thus offered TO present their appeals
for pnblic support.
Our hide-bouud correspondent who
thinks The Star is no longer "independ-
cnt' and orders his copy discontinued.
because it advocated the election Of a
man for Governor of whose fitness for
the place there is no question. reminds us
of n subscriber TO the Philadelphia Led
ger who dislikcd something that paper
had said Meeting Mr.. George W.
Childs on Chestnut street one day, he
swclled ont in his most pompous man
ner. and said: Mr. Childs. | do not like
your course on public questions lately.
and have just been down 10 your office
and stopped the Ledger" why, my
dear sir. exclaimed Mr. Childs, "you
surprise me; let us go TO the Office and
see if we can't fix the matter up" And
back they went TO the Ledger Office. In
the counting room the clerks were all
busy; up stairs the reporters We're
rushing copy TO the printers; the editors
were deep in the consideration of "lead-
ers' on public questions for the next
days paper; the compositors were pick
ing type as though their lives depended
on getting certain amount of work done
in given time, and throughout the
whole establishment everything was go
ing ON as usual The disgruntled sub
scriber had followed Mr.. Childs around.
wondering what his object was in taking
him through the various departments
After a complete tour of the plant. Mr..
Childs turned To his companion and said:
- Thought you told me You had stopped
the Ledger so | have. sir: SO ] have.
and youN ohlige me by not sending an-
other cON to my house. oh ] sep,"
snid Mr.. Childs. "you moan that Won have
stopped your subscription 90 the Ledger
that's quite different. Why, sir you
frightened me. / Thought you had shut
up my place. As 20 your personal sub
Scription. my dear sir, ! want you to
know that while / appreciate il, / care q
great deal more for ny,independence and
sclf-respcct. and if you are the kind Of
man whose good opinion and moral sup
port are worth having you win be read
ing the ledger again in a few weeks.
Good day, sir"
And that is what we say to our
thoughiless correspondent and to others
Ike him, who. overlooking the fact that
The Star is really the only independent
newspaper ia the city. would force it, if
they could. into the narrow lines of q
neutral nothing, having no opinions about
esther public men or public measures, and
afraid to open is mouth for fear Of
offending some one. What would such a
paper be worth: III The Star had been "a
neutral Or a Democratic paper il would
have said nothing about the misconduct
ofa Democratic Attorney- General. nor OF
a Democratic State detective: nor would
Il have commended a Republican Police
Commission FOR doing its duty by enfore-
ing discipline in relation 10 q Democratic
Chief OF Police; nor would it have con-
demned q Democratic Insurance Com
missioner for neglect Of his public duty:
nor would it have had anything to say of
the recent outrageous appointment Of an
unscrupulous Democratic partisan as
municipal judge for this city by Demo
cratic Governor. If The Star had been a
neutral paper il could not have taken uu
the fight against the Wilmington City
|, Railway Company and the Street and
Sewer Department. in favor Of the right
OF the people 10 the ownership OF the
Streets Of Wilmington and fought it TO q
satisfactory finish, nor would il hav,
criticised q Democratic Chancellor FOL
delaying adecision in that case. until IN,
patiencc of.thc people was wcll-nigh OK
hausted.
All of these things are Of recent occur
renee and are fresh in the public mind
but we might 20 hack Tor twenty year:
| and demonstrate TO the satisfaction OF
| any fair man that The Star is absoutel,
independent OF partisan considerations
/ Having decided opinions concerning pub
/ lie men and measures. Tho Star must
now and then, necessarily takes sides
but it never does so from partisan mo
tivcs. but always from the standpoint o.
what it regards as most likely to hes
serve the public interests. II may some
times be- mistaken: its Judgment may b.
nc fault, but it IS never moved by part
preference. nor can il be intimidated b.
narrow minded Efforts 20 punish it 10
following The plain course IL has marke,
auf us fhe Ur0Der one Tor IA Duhlic ionr