Inconvenience of a sectarian organ

“Midhurst, October 17, 1861. (To S. Lucas.)—I said in one of my notes to you that the Star should not appear the organ of a sect. I will give you an illustration à propos of this remark. In an otherwise excellent and tolerant article on Lord John yesterday, you bring in Bright and myself at the close to sting him by our contrast. This is the kind of remark which stamps your paper as the organ of a strait sect which tolerates nothing but what comes from your own preachers. You remember the anecdote I gave you of a person I travelled with in the railway carriage from Guildford to London, when he bought the Telegraph and I the Star. He remarked. ‘I don’t like the Star, it is so intolerant; it never admits anybody to be right but Bright and Cobden.’ I should like to make a bargain with you in he interest of your paper, not to let my name appear in your leaders (unless to find fault with me) for two years.”