Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-08-21

"n.pITeu CoNIEy
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THE SIN AND DEMOCRAOY
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$1,000 - .nrror, ,ha Renrh,icap n.r,v In
49, $500, ,,a,i,,o., con,es, ovnre.s,no IN.
s -, .s. ~ ,n,aa. non.;aorad ,ha .rh
s,.a,,.I ;n,sr..,. ~ Tho coun,,v v,,l he hs.,
$3.50. a. 49, A.. o,.o,,on of NJ Tai, n ,hs
p...,s. IT, er,Tr,,,r, has M h.,d
-. a. IN. O., .na nil, M, .nocr,.,o
mon IN ,no,,ves ,bnt ventures ~ differ from
~ oon.,r-;o~' -'t,,. !, w,Il discusa from
tirs 10 a. e. X car.osia, nrr.-rsases
Uwsscs,t. ratnrsl bal tEsn,shii..,s 4,
M.rvla, ~. ,Issy,bero sNonid ale best,
unon M ps soinee bv an ,iiuantisl rnstro.
nolitan saglv pnb,I s ne ,sadins
Southern titv.end ed ~ supporting tbs
candida, 81 and mi. he DeuoeYatir
marty: and come 4)g,S Las. aonbtleas. have
fa,t that tbe ,ask NJ Fsrsv in MARYLAND
"a made beav,ez hy n. 5poslt.on. and their
first impulse was one ., suxrg resentment
Rut neither the Republican iubilation nor
the Democratic dependency has a sub.
stantial foundation when we come 10 studv
the matter calmly-the only manner. bv
the way, In which we can study political
problems with any hope Of arriving at lust
conclusions and adopting wise measures to
accomplish political results.
1t would be disingenuous in Us To belittle
the influence OF the press. The newspaper
has opportunities to impress its views upon
the minds Of its readers which the individ-
nal cannot possess, and as the purveyor of
news and the only literature Of the masses,
It gets hearing which is the envy of the
statesman and the despair OF the politician.
In its comment upon current events, how.
ever, Its opinions are entitled to the same
weight as the opinions of an intelligent In
diyidual and no more. Il. In fact. expresaes
the conclusions of It's editor who NAV be,
and probably is, Influenced by considera-
tions quite as selfish and one-sided as those
which influence any other individual In the
community. 1t 10 true that these opinions
may DO entirely unselfih and conscientious,
and urged with an earnest purpose to ad.
vance the general welfare OF the commu.
nifty. II follows that In the expression Of
Its views upon public questions the news
paper should be Judged as we would Judge
the views OF Q public speaker or of the
rsSsh5Or with whom we converse upon the
street-for what they are worth In intrinsic
value, and not because they appear In print.
The opinion which is formulated In cold
type is entitled to no more consideration
than the opinion which Is spoken by the
mouth of a fellow. man or formed from our
own reflections; and If there be such a
thing as the thraldom of the press (which
we sometimes fear there LAY. II Ia high time
that an enlightened people should emanci.
pate Themselves from II and think for them.
selves.
As far as we can see from the article an.
nouncing its attitude In the present cam.
paign, The San lie Influenced more by the
characteristics of the candidates than by the
broad policies which are to shape the future
Of the country. But behind the candidates
are fundamental principles, and It is diff.
cult to understand how newspaper which
has steadily adversely criticised the policies
of Roosevelt, can advocate candidate
whose avowed purpose lie to clinch those
policies as the permanent system OF the
Federal Government. II may be true that
MIR. Taft would never have inaugurated the
schemes Of Federal usurpation which have
well. nieh reyolutionized our government
but his speech of acceptance is an unouali.
fed endorsement Of all that Roosevelt,
has done and an equally unqualified dec
lsration Of purpose TO use the great Office
of President to carry them into effect.
What the rampant. restless energy of Roose-
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