Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-27
HEARING 'SOMET'lNG DRAP."
Richmond Papers and Their Republican
Allies Being Scored by Vireinians on
Their nti-Rhea Position.
we'il Think for Ourselves.

We'll Think for Ourselves.
(Nors hampton Times1
We are not quite sure we understand
fully the import of several intimations
recently emanating from this source,
and that, to the effect that the rural
press of Virginia is being relied on to
view certain matters in certain ways,
because perhaps some of our daily
brethren are no longer to be depended
upon for support; we do not know, in
other words, how to interpret these ex-
pressions of confidence, l. e., whether
they mean that we are accredited with
inferior or superior discrimination in
matters upon which the public must
| finally pass. Nor do we undertake the
| obviously absurd task of answering for
| all our weekly co-laborers; from the
knowledge we have of part of them,
however, we do say, and quite unhesi-
tatingly, we'll think things over for
! ourselves, and render a verdict accord
ing to the evidence. Such, at least, is
the attitude of The Times, and we are
by no means so pharisaical as to think
we are better than our fellows. We
will not follow the lead of the daily
press simply because it is daily. nor
will we dissent from its editorial pro-
nouncefhents for that cause merely;
they are entitled to and command our
highest respect, but not seryile imita-
ton or obedience. Their advantages
are such as enable them to speak with
authority on many things, while it is
no disparagement of their perceptibili-
ties to say that our proximity to others
make US equally safe as judges. In in
dependence of thought, the rural press
yields place to none; it asks little, and
receives, if possible, less, and although
as free of the spirit of vindictiveness
as any institution under heaven, those
who guide its destinies would be super
human if they forgot how utterly inter-
mittent is its exaltation i'm the esteem
of the typical politician.
After Them With sharp Stick.
Petersburg Index-Appeal.l
Inc country newspapers are after
the Richmond newspapers with a sharp
stick, and if the latter are wise they
viii accept discretion as the better part
OF valor and take their punishment in
silence; otherwise they will make
matters worse for themselves. There
is better understanding and a closer
sympathy between the country news
paper and its subscribers than there can
ever be between city newspaper and
Its country subscribers, or it's city sub
scribers, either. In the minds of
country readers, the city editor is a
dim, vague and rather mythical guam
tity In the first person plural, and he
stands for much that the country
reader has been educated to regard as
lnlmical to his interests and as always
lying In wait to take advantage of him
In business. But it is quite different
with the country editor. To his SUBJ
scribers he is real flesh and blood-bone
OF their bone and flesh of their flesh
They note his going and his coming.
and he shares pot luck with them
whether IN feast or famine. To them
there is nothing oracular or corruscat-
ing in his utterances, but he Is in
thorough sympathy and close touch
with their sentiments and feelings, and
ne so often and so faithfully voices
shose sentiments and feelings that
they easily believe that he is do
ing so when he expresses his own
views on matters about which thew
have formed no opinion. 1t is, there
lore, only necessary for the country
editoSko tell his confiding readers that
IN opposing the confirmation of Judge
Rhea as member of the State Corpor-
alton Commission, the Richmond news
papers We're waging a vicious and
treacheous warfare on the Democratic
party and they will believe it to be as
true as Holy Writ! Neither the sonor-
GUS eloquence of Copeland, nor the
scintilating wit of Williams nor the pro-
found and irrefutable logic of Pendle-
ton will ever convince them to the con-
trary. If they see it in their own
county paper, it is so, and that's the
end OF it. That county paper has
been their lifelong friend, guide and
philosopher in matters political, and
habit inclines them to believe the worst
OF anything inside of corporation.
whether municipal, commercial or
financial 1t would be sheer waste
OF time for the Richmond newspapers
to protest their innocence or to declare
that they were fighting for the honor
and the integrity of the Democratic par
ty. The best they can do, perhaps the
only thing they can do, since silence
might be construed as confession and
obstinate perversity, is to cry, Pecca-
vimus! and promise to sin no more.
The Southwest and Judge Rhea.
EDITOR The News LEADER:
You say you want ''no ordinary ex-
halations or feeble rays" on the SUBJ
Ject of Virginia Democracy, SO this
letter may find its way to the waste
basket; but have you ever lived in or
visited generally the Southwest? If
mot, perhaps little information about
the Republicans in this section, as con-
trasted with those in the Eastern part
OF the State, may not come amiss.
Quite frequently here one is intro
duced to man who is undoubtedly a
gentleman, and an honest, cultured one,
and to amaZement Democrat who
has lived the greater mart of life n, tl,a