John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[109] even if accompanied by some exaggeration of its merits as compared with the others.

Surely the foregoing is a sane and helpful rule for the modern editor, whatever may be the subjects engaging his attention. That Dana followed it always thereafter is abundantly evident not only from the Tribune, but from the Sun, which he took in hand many years later. No question affecting the people at home or abroad ever escaped his analysis. No political measure or public law ever escaped his criticism, no act of violence or outrage, whether of the many or of the few, ever failed to receive his condemnation. He stood at all times, and everywhere, for a fair and equal chance for all, for public improvements, for free schools, for equal rights, for honesty in office, for virtue in all classes, and, so far as can be discovered by reading his editorials, he was absolutely fearless as well as independent in expressing his opinions. He was a Whig, a Free-soiler, and a protectionist; he sympathized with the down-trodden, the impoverished, and the oppressed, and never for a day stood neutral or indifferent in any controversy which affected the interests of mankind at large.