The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-09-18


few; THE SUN told the story when nc
other Journal dared do It, and THE
SUN did this IN the face Of threats and
pleadlngs because the editor could moi
pass over a matter Of 80 great impOr
lance without failing signally in his
duty as the publisher OF a jouTnal
whose mainspring was the purpose 10
serve some useful end; TO take up tbs
burden where others did not, beCaus.
OK failure to properly conceive or d
carry out the work Of intelligent And
honest journalism.
The censor Of the acts OF public off,
Gals is the press; the initiative in the
correction Of public wrongs belongs 10
the press II the press will assume Il,
end be 1t furthermore said that no
man or combination OF men can defy
the press in a fight against upright
eous acts or institutions. In the press
is a power which nothing else APP
proaches or can compare to In a cOun-
try which cOnstitutiOnally guarantees
its freedom, and when 1t is not a power
II is because It substitutes the robes
Of honor for the trappings Of prosti-
tuition, or else is guided by weaklings.
Since the paper has been published
from Tallahassee IL has had an I'M
usual opportunity for printing the
news of the departments when there
was news Of real Importance TO print;
It has also had the rare opportunity
which 1t has exercised without fear or
favor Of cTiticising the acts Of the ad-
officers at close range. Il
would have been better policy by far
to close the columns Of the paper to
Of these officials-better pol.
icy, | mean, for Claude L'Engle. for
while he is editor Of THE SUN. he is
also the State printer, and the admin
istrative officers compose the Board
OF State Institutions, and Il is but a
human falling for resentment to rise
at criticism. There are few men who
go into office realizing that when they
become servants of the public they
offer themselves a target for the slings
and arrows Of criticism. Yet, while il is
true that as a simple matter Of policy
1t would have been better to keep
hands off the administration under
which he in the capacity Of public
printer held a contract, the admins
trative officers came soon to under
stand that Claude L'Engle, the printer,
and Claude LEngle, the editor. were
not bound by any tie even remote of
affection or affinity, ard I think they
have upon the whole, been glad TO
have THE SUN with them. since Il
gave credit where credit was due, and
since their conduct in office has been
)f such uprightness as to warrant
more TO be said in COM
nendation than condemnation.
still would there be testimony
rom them to effectually refute the
ling often made by State papers at
THE SUN that It was a court journal. |
administration sheet and personal or
IAN Of the Governor From the Gov
rnor down the list, with possibly one
# two exceptions. they have all felt
he keen edge Of his stylus in just and |
Ionest criticism and they have been |
zig enough and broad enough to accept
in the spirit that delivered it.
There must be an end somewhere, |
o here follows the finish. THE SUN |
s discontinued only as a matter Of
BUSINESS eXpediency. 1t has been a |
eavy drain on the publishers bank
ccount; he has kept 1t going with |
he hope that he would eventually see
he light through the woods. but as we
ave proceeded, the darkness has
TOWN more dense; still, THE SUN |
as done some unusual things In the
ray Of gaining an audience. II had
lore paid subscribers for the time
INNING than the history Of any other
utilization in the State has shown.
his assertion can be made with rea
enable certainty, because l have
llked with numerous publishers, and
know from experience that the sue
ess OF them all as rule has been
low and Of many years growth.
that went into the making
THE SUN was expensive. II was
rinted on good paper; 1t carried the
artoon and picture features up to
hree months ago, and the time re-
uired In the preparation of its arti-
les made its features costly. We
night have filled its pages with cheap
dvertising from patent medicine con-
ems, but In this also did the editor
I've up TO his idea Of ethics in pub
shing a public journal.
For my own part, I think he has
ought the good fight for which there
hould be some reward somewhere,
7hich trust he will some day real
%. Such talents as his, such energy,
UGH resiliency, should not be lost to
he State in the messy ways OF private
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