True Democrat

The Administration and the Press.—Neutral in politics, we are American in feeling, and we have been astonished and grieved at the course which has been taken by a portion of the press in the present crisis of our affairs. We believe that the Administration has pursued the only course consistent with the rights and honor of the Republic—but right or wrong the position which it has assumed must be maintained. It cannot be abandoned without national disgrace—it cannot be assailed by our own citizens without dishonor.

"Our country—may it always be right, but our country, right or wrong." was the sentiment of one of our bravest naval heroes. What he adopted as his maxim in the battle, editors should adopt as a guide in their writings. Let them canvass beforehand, every public measure—influence the opinion for or against it as they may have the power. If it be a matter of domestic interest, oppose it if they please, even after its adoption, and labor to obtain its repeal: but when in relation to foreign governments, the chosen agents of the popular sovereignty have committed themselves to a certain course of policy—a course which in the nature of things cannot be changed—we think it little less than treason to oppose them. How different is the press of this country from that of England. There they are bitter enough against the government on all subjects of domestic policy, but let any foreign country raise a finger or look askant, and no one will ever know whether a paper is whig or tory—it is all English. Here however, in opening some of our influential sheets, we have been forced to doubt whether they were published on this or the other side of the Atlantic—whether their conductors were American citizens or British subjects.

N. O. Delta.