Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1340, 9 August 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1883.

We wish to say a few words on the subject of letter writing to the Press. Now, the value of this privilege to the public is beyond estimation, as it enables all alike to give expression to their views on any subject whatever, to ventilate any grievance, to clear themselves before the public of any wrong impression which may have been created to their prejudice —in fact it opens up such a wide and vast field for good, and is calculated to be such

an auxiliary in the cause o£ truth and justice “that it behoves those who have the power to do so to be most careful in the extreme how they curtail or in any way suppress this privilege, and that some strong pungent reason should present themselves before rejecting any communication whatever. Now, the majority of people who exclaim against this privilege argue that most letters are written for private and interested motives, forgetting that the argument applies equally to themselves, and that they object on the vpry self same grounds Interested parties cannot be expected to see through and beyond the immediate subject in question. Perhaps the subject matter of a communication may be mean and poor in itself, and yet have an indirect hearing upon a point of vital public interest as affecting the community in general. Again others think that because communication is not in accordance with their, or even our own views, it should be refused. But not so. The truth is frequently unpalatable, but, nevertheless, it must be recognised. -- We would never be cowardly enough to refuse insertion to any communication directed against ourselves, because being clothed with the armour of truth we are impervious, consequently the shafts must fall harmless. Why then should we be called on to shield those who are not invulnerable from the same cousej? It might be policy on our part to do so, but we dare not, having once entered the lists as the champion of justice and truth, be guilty of the Judas like crime of betraying our trust. Neither can we for one moment permit ourselves to be led. Too long has the Press here been dragged through the mire and filth by toadying subservience, and pandering to the whims of those whom it should command. We take our proper stand as leaders and directors of opinion, and constitute ourselves judges of all matters public. To judge and not to be judged, to lead and not to be led, to direct and not to be directed, isour proud right, and we shall certainly most jealously maintain and guard those privileges which we hold by by virtue of the noble profession of which we are, we trust, no unworthy member. If personal and interested motives prompt a man to an action by which the cause of truth is benefitted and furthered, then most assuredly the ends justifies the means, and no wrong has been committed. We always distinctly state that we do not identify ourselves with the opinions expressed by our correspondents, but as ours is not a cliques’ journal, but the public’s journal, it would be monstrous to exclude all matters except those which closely fitted in with our views. An assertion made by this means can be contradicted by this means, and the discriminating public can then judge. We take it that no man who is living by the public is above public opinion, and if he is placed in a false position before the same, it is plainly culpable on his part not to right himself when the means lie so ready to hand, and when he refuses to avail himself of these means, there can plainly be but one reason for so doing. We do not study one, but all. We entirely lose sight of the person in looking at the principle. We have decided to endeavour to secure success by fair and honourable means, animo non astutia, and we are surely and steadily progressing towards that point, whence we can calmly turn and survey the field of our past struggles and efforts, and with unmixed pleasure, welcome beneath the folds of the Standard many of those who “ seeing through a glass dimly,” are now pursuivants t-» a recreant Herald.