The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-01-09
OUR SENTIMENTS.

The following from the editorial
columns of The Pee Dee Daily ex-
presses so well the views we have on
the independence of the press that
we reproduce it and heartily endorse
1t as expressing our sentiments:
"As this is campaign year, and
politics will probably be worked up
to a white heat again, we wish to
make some statements early in the
, year, for the benefit of all candidates,
their friends and their enemies.
This paper is not under the con-
troll, domination or influence or any
politician or set of politicians. We
shall endeavor to be fair and just
to all, but shall be entirely free to
advocate or condemn any man or
measure which we deem best for the
common good.
"Any communications which boosts
or condemns any candidate must be
signed by the true name of the writ
err and must be paid for at regular
advertiseiug rates. This is the only
way by which we can protect our
selves from controversies which are
burdensome and costly-to the man
who pays the printers-when some
body else gets the benefit.
I'VE invit the discussion of public
questions b of our req ders. Pub
lie discussion is one of the best
means of starting and accomplishing
reforms. But discussions should not
drift into unpleasant personalities;
and we shall endeavor to keep such
personalities, as far as possible, out
OF discussion in this paper.
"Editorially we shall continue our
fight for whatever we believe to be
right and against the wrong. Our
judgment may sometimes err; our
information may at times, be at
fault; but our purpose will always be
pure. and our conscience our guide.
When We make mistakes, we shall
gladly maze correction and atone
ment wheI we discover our error.
We are not infallible. A Benefits
Vile minister recently said that the
only men who never make mistakes
are dead.
I'VE are anxious that this county,
state and nation should have the pur-
est and best government possible,
and that patriots and statesmen
should be our leaders. We believe
that one of tn emost powerful fac.
is free, Independent and fearless
press. When our papers are con-
trolled and operated by selfish poll
ticians or political forces for the ad-.
vancement of selfish interests, the
people may well be alarmed. Thomas
Jefferson said that a free press with
out government would be better than
without a free press.
THE freedom of the press is guar
anteed by the constitution OF the
United States, but that guarantee
does not make all the press free.
Some papers are controlled by sim
lister business and political interests.
Such papers are not free.
"A number of eminent men in re-
cent years have said that the free
press is now found largely in the
smaller towns. The country editor
is the boss of his pa and can con
duct it as he pleases. In nearly all
of the larger cities, the editors OF
the big papers are hirelings, who
must hear and obey their masters
voice. The master may be a poll
tician, the agent of a corporation, or
n panderer to interests which are
imical to the welfare of the people.
"A recent writer has we'll said that
the bulwark of American liberty is
now found in the country press.
I'VE are proud of the fact that The
Pee Dee Daily and Advocate form a
link, small though il may be, in the
great chain of unbought and unbuy-
able eXponents OF the peoples rights,
which are published in the country
towns of the United States, and es-
pecially in the South"