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St. Andrews Standard, July 21, 1880
A Retrospect

It is rapidly approaching a half century since the Standard was first issued. At that time St. Andrews carried on a large trade with great Britain and the West Indies, the Port owning upwards of eleven thousand tons of shipping, carrying ton timber to Great Britain, and boards, shingles, house frames and cattle, to the West Indies, and return cargoes dry goods, iron, coal, salt and ships fittings from Britain, and rum sugar, molasses mahogany and tropical fruit from the West Indies. Her merchants were men of capacity, enterprise and energy—one of them owning forty sail of vessels, among them ships, barques and brigs; only one small vessel, a schooner was registered here, it being the port of registry and entry for this County. There are no such merchants now as Scott, Rait, Wilson, Allanshaw and McMaster, Ker, Douglas and Campbell, Scott and Jack, Wyer, Babcock and Son, and others.

At that period the C. C. Bank was doing a large business and was the only money institution in the Province with the exception of the Bank of New Brunswick at St. John. Business was brisk, money abundant, no lack of employment. The trade of St. Andrews was second only to that of St. John, indeed in commercial standing it was almost on a par.

At that time, the Standard was ushered into the world and was welcomed by its contemporaries the St. John Courier, Observer, City Gazette, Watchman, Chronicle, and Colonist, all which papers have long since been discontinued, and their proprietors have gone the way of all flesh, the Standard alone is left; a perusal of its files would furnish a history of the County for the last fifty years.

In its prospectus it was announced that the Standard will be conducted on liberal principles. The affairs of New Brunswick demand peculiar attention and will be discussed with firmness and fairness. The vindication of liberty will not e allowed to degenerate into licentiousness; but an undaunted maintenance of political rights will be carried the whole length allowed by the constitution. How we have adhered to those principles we leaved our readers to judge.

It has ever been our aim to advocate the interests of the town and province to the best of our ability, and were instrumental in past years of advancing the prosperity and commercial status of St. Andrews by urging the formation of a company to build and purchase vessels for the carrying trade of the port, which were afterwards known as "Company vessels." The building of the steam mill which gave employment to a large number of men, in the manufacture of lumber. And last but not least, as stated in our edition last week, the Standard was the first and for some time the sole newspaper which advocated the construction of railways in the British Provinces, and ultimately succeeded in its efforts, resulting I the formation of the St. Andrew and Quebec Railroad Company which commenced the first section of the line to Woodstock, which was afterwards completed to that place by the N. B. an C Railway company. It also lent its aid to establish branches to the main line, and railways in all parts of the Province, and other enterprises to develop its resources and increase its prosperity.

It also maintained and defended the people's justice. In politics it had decided views, and supported new government which it believed administered the affairs of the Province for its welfare. It studiously avoided attack on private character, and invariably treated those with whom it differed with respect, always discussing questions on their merits, and eliminating unpleasant and disrespectful remarks to those with those views it did not coincide. It is a pleasure to be able to record that when our contemporaries differed with us, they treated us with marked respect, for which we felt grateful.

During our half century of editorial life we would have been more than mortal, had we not committed errors, knowing well that perfection is not attainable on earth, the errors were those of the head, not the heart. But "to err is human, to forgive divine." When alluding to the Press, we know no party; and from a lengthened experience, we assert that the people of NB have just reason to be proud of their Press, which for enterprise, ability and sturdy independence is not surpassed. It is probable that in the large cities of the United States and Canada, with dense populations, and enormous wealth and business, they may possess journals of greater circulation and wealth; but for ability, tact, and journalism the Provincial Press is their equal.

To conclude—in a lengthy review of the "Past and Present," and wishing our readers "a very happy new year" it was added, "we do not know what is in the womb of futurity, it may, or may not be, the last time we will have the privilege through these columns of extending our annual greeting." It was our endeavor "to swallow a sun beam" that we might look at the bright side of the picture. Well, we did so, but—we cannot say that word, which calls up memories dear to us, and our readers will pardon the omission.