Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1881 — Newspapers and Politicians. [ARTICLE]

Newspapers and Politicians.

From Richard Smith’s Wabash Address. Editors make politicians. An-editor made by politicians is rarely of much account. Can you afford to be independent? Rather ask can you afford not to be independent? tothe extent of editing your own paper and expressing your own views. The press grows in power in proportion as the editor insist* upon his independence of thought. I do not mean now independence of party; but the right within the partv to discuss men and measures fairly, ft is bad policy to swear, with your paental eyes closed, to everything the.party leaders may. say or do. The latter ar. largely selfish and seek their own gai n The editor is snpposed to represent the people and seek the good of tne country, and the editor as well as the individual who serves his country most serves his parly best. An honest in telligeot, fearless course on the part of* the press is .essential to the welfare of any party. The latter, left to the control of professional politicians, who live on office and spoils, would sorely die. The political graveyards are full of the remains of those who have insisted that a newspaper is an organ, and that the business of the editor is to obey instructions. There is no clam that does so .much for the party as the editors; yet there is no class so grudgingly recognized by politicians. This remark does not refer to office, for I hold that an editor who has a paying business cannot afford to take an office. His calling Is higher and more ennobling than that of an officeholder or office-seeker.

The Spanish Abolitionist Society Jteld a meeting in Madrid a few days ago, attended by some 3,500 persons, in the Italian Opera House, in honor of Calderon. * Enthusiastic speeches delivered by several Republican and Democratic politicians, and the in<» ing approved the proposal of a portion t» Ibe SiWHMWBt for the imr>;< diate abolition of slavery >ln tbs Bp »nish colonies, and the prohibition punishment by whipping and of 'putting negroes in iron emigre. *. J i r,_j , ;, General Grant’s Opinion. ( rtafci i Long Branch, July 2. • ; . General Grant, in speaking about the attempted assassination, says: “If this is the outgrowth of Nihilism in our country,-Mra in favbr of crushing It out immediately by the prompt execution of the would-be assassins and their followers,”