Purposely Antagonistic

In this feature we excerpt material that has appeared on The Register's editorial pages in previous years, whether from the editorials, the column written for many years by former editor and publisher R.C. Hoiles, or the Question Box feature.

This column has been attempting to do a dirty, nasty, mean, disagreeable job. It has been attempting to get people to discard all beliefs that interfere with men's natural rights. Just as one cannot build a solid structure without first clearing away the debris from the site on which the structure is to be erected, so we cannot build a solid social structure until we clear away the social and political errors which are out of harmony with principles. ...It is for this reason that this column so often says things that antagonize people. It is not done disrespectfully with the idea of antagonizing people. It is done only with the idea that a sound structure must be built on principles, and before we can get people to accept principles, they must see the end results of their lack of principles.

R.C. Hoiles, April 12, 1944