Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-11-06
JOURNALISTIC PERFIDY.

The Baltimore Sun, which went
either from conviction or by purchase
into the Republican party and sup
ported Mr.. Taft in the recent campaign
in its issue of the 4th inst. congratu-
lates the country on his election, and
paves the way to ingratiate itself once
more into the good will of the Demo
Gratis it has betrayed. 1t says in part:
With reference to the attitude of The
Sun in this election, we can only repeat
what we said at the beginning of the
campaign-that We supported Mr.. Taft
because we regarded him as the safer,
the stronger and in every war the better
man to he intrusted with the great re-
sponsibilities of the Presidential office,
and because we believed he stood for
policies and methods which would tend
to restore confidence and business pros
perlty and promote the best interests
of all classes. In word, we supported
him because we believed his election
would be better in every way for the
country then the election of Mr.. Bryan.
Our Endorsement of Mr.. Taft, how
ever, did not include the Endorsement
of all Republican principles and prac-
tees, and we take it that neither is the
country's Endorsement of him to be so
construed. There are many things
which the Republican party will have
to repudiate and many reforms which
it will have to institute if it hopes to
retain the support and confidence of
the county. Mr.. Taft will begin his
administration with great opport-
unity and a great responsibility and we
sincerely trust that he will fully inn
prove the one and measure up to the
other.
1t changed it's attitude because of the
man, not principles, it says. But in
doing SO it helped, insofar as its fast
waning influence is concerned, to turn
the people over to the policies of the
Republican party, policies it has been
sincerely damning for years, or it is the
veriest liar that ever opened mouth.
1t has preached against the Roosevelt
administration time in and time out.
1t has denounced the appalling expen-
ditures of the government, its corrup-
ton, Tariff policies, it's tendency to
Imperialism, its colonial policy, indeed
everything that party has done which
the Democratic party found worthy of
condemnation, and yet because Taft is
considered by it "a safer man" it be-
comes an apostate to party, to princi-
pie, to people, to the South, indeed.
Can anybody credit its statements
Can any man, endowed with the
smallest degree of intelligence, fail
to question the truth of this asser-
ton in the face of its past conduct, and
its past history? In 1896 it bolted and
went to Palmer and Buckner, it said,
because of the ''silver issue" In 1900
it supported Mr.. Bryan in half heart
ed way, in 1904 it was uprorous in IA
vor of Mr.. Parker. The same people
own the Sun today who owned it dur
ing those years, the same staff, with a
few changes, write its editorials, and
the same directorate controls its poll
cy. That they should not have seen
fit to go over TO the Republicans earlier
is astonishing. Possibly they wanted
to, but lacked nerve. Possibly the
'sright kind of influence" was not here
tofore forthcoming. No matter what
excuses may be given the Sun has lost
its influence in Virginia and we hope
everywhere. Hereafter we will never let
it enter our house. The reliable old
Baltimore American is finding the ia
vor the Sun used to enjoy. 1t never
changes its politics. If Baltimore
paper must be read we commend it.
The Sun is a stencil in Democratic
nostrils.