The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-09-20
INDEPENDENCE OF THE PRESS

Every newspaper ought to be indie
pendent. Every honest newspaper is in
dependent. Like an individual, a news
paper should have the courage OF its
convictions and express them without
~equivocstion If it hopes to obtain and re-
tain public confidence and respect.
A newspaper should stand for clearly
defined principles and align itself with
the party that honestly advocates them,
keeping In mind the best interests OF the
State and Nation, the interests OF human
ity and justice, enlightened civilization
and the inslienable rights Of the people.
II should be loyal to party as long as
party is loyal to principle. and support
its nominees if they be clean, competent,
honest and incorruptible; but with a
tongue of fire it should roast and blister
the degenerate citizen who seeks public
office only for private gain, who would
defraud the widow or orphan. or take
from the mouth of labor the bread that it
has earned.
Such men may be found in all parties
and occasionally may be placed upon
their State tickets, but it does not logi-
cally follow that even q partisan news
paper should support or be expected to
support them. An individual may be a
partisan and yet perfectly honest. A
newspaper may be partisan and at the
same time absolutely honest, and its
very honesty must prevent it from sup
porting an unworthy candidate for office.
Fidelity to party does not imply treason
to principle, treason to the people or
treason to the commonwealth, but know
ingly to support ar unworthy candidate
for Office would be rank treason to all
these. Loyalty to party requires no such
sacrifice, nor does it require a newspaper
to support a dishonest or disreputable
candidate.
An honest newspaper will be abso-
lutely fair, giving credit where credit is
due. Its first duty is to the people whose
interests it should sacredly guard and
whose rights it is bound to protect.
This the SENTINEL will do to the best OF
its poor ability. and in 80 doing it will
follow the example of two we'll known
metropolitan papers. The San Francisco
Bulletin and the Sacramento Bee, both
strong Republican papers, have pledged
their support to Franklin X. Lane, the
Democratic candidate for Governor Of
California. They do 80 because they
believe that he is the better man fo- the
position, in closer touch and sympathy
with the people, in favor of honest, eco
nomical government. and because he is
absolutely Independent of all political
bosses, of all trusts and monopolies, and
Of all industrial kings. Being 80, he will
not be influenced by them, and can de-
vote his time and energy in securing good
government and promoting the interests
of the State and people.
The SENTINEL believes those reasons to
be sound. 1t applauds the Bulletin and
the Bee for their manly course. In the
interests of the people Of Nevada it will
pursue a similar course Of action, and it
reserves the right to c~riticise the public
acts of public men, and will support NO
candidate whose past public or political
career reflects dishonor on himself, dis
credit on his party, or savors of treason
to good government and the interests of
the commonwealth.