Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-09-23


or consider anything not. pleasing
To him, not strictly in accored with
his own prejudices or opinions, he
evades his duty, stunts his own
thought, beclouds his own mind.
When a newspaper deliberately
tells or by error or hides from them
what it believes 20 be truth, it is
guilty of betryal of sacred trust
and forfeitS its claim on public
confidence.
We cannot assume that the
editors of the Culpeper Exponent,
the CLARKE COURIER or the Farm
Vile Herald are more anxious to
to he popular than To bc right.
Suppose one Of them, after study
ing the political situation thorough
~ became satisfied that the election
of MIR. Taft would be better for
.,,,' country and for his own people
taan the election of Mr.. Bryant
Would hc not feel that his duty
required him To say what ne
ti,ugh0 Would he think himself
traitor TO the democratic party
or his readers if he printed in his
editorial columns the result of his
own study and considerations Sup.
pose 0e applied 10 the whole coun-
try the rules we undertake tn happily
here in the Suuthl Suppose we
argued that no man or newspaper
had the right after supporting one
party a number OF years TO sup
port the other. What possible
hope would the democrats have of
carving any Northern or Western
State or of gaining any votes or
newspaper support therel The
New York World supported the
republican nominee four years ago.
Now it is supporting Mr.. Bryan,
in half hearted kind of way, but
ali of Us throw up our hats and
applaud it Cor its change. Why
has not a newspaper the same right
to change from democratic 10 re-
publican that it has to change from
republican To democraticy
The NewS-Leader has no interest
at all in the fortunes OF the Balti-
more Sun. We have a very great
interest in having our people and
newspapers divest themselves of
narrowneSs and partisanship and
learn to think and act along broad
lines and To reach political positions
through their own thought and not
by the influence of tradition or
habit or prejudice. We want TO
see the Southern people politically
free rs the people of other sections
of the country are and not to be
regarded as mere assets of one
party or another To be counted a.
a wool grower counts his sheep.
The best assurance of consistency
and stability is clear and honest
thought. A party founded on con.
victions is established and will live.
\ party founded on mere pre-.
JUDGES, sentiments and custom:
has q slippery and shifting found
alton likely TO slide from under i
/ with any change of the wind OF
: any stress of weather.-RichmonC
r News-Leader.
The COURIER does not CRITICS,
the Sun for its support of Taft a
, a simple proposition, but becaus,
of the support given Taft after tn,
reasons set forth by it for sucl
support. That is the meat of tn,
l case.
Just few months ago the SUI
was the most yellow of the yellow
: journals in its opposition to every
=. thing Rooseveltian. He was de
: scribed as menace and firebrand
S Since that time, Roosevelt ha
p. used his big stick and patronag
to secure Taft's nomination, an,
e has said that Taft represents IN.
e policies. Taft himself has openl.
: said that he stood for and woul
S enforce the Roosevelt policies
d elected. Roosevelt has written +
a a friend that Taft represented hi
h policies. All the parties TO tn
r. Republican campaign unite in say
r ing Taft is RosseveIt's polio
}. holder"-his man Friday, so t
o speak.
g The Sun opposed everythin
k that smacked of Roosevelt. and We
S supports Taft.
: That is what we criticise, an
/ that is what we mean when we sa