President Bush has come under relentless criticism in the press recently. The attacks are startling for their vehemence and anger — and they have had their effect, driving down the president’s favorable rating in opinion polls.

If you are angry at the press for its treatment of the president, please spare the Register from your wrath.

It is true that we have disagreed with the president about some very important matters. But do not confuse our stand with what you have seen elsewhere.

Vigorous dissent on important matters is a hallmark of American democracy — and the reason America’s founders granted freedom of speech. President Bush certainly doesn’t mind that it exists, and neither should his supporters. The purpose of such criticism is to build up the society by directing it to the right ends.

But criticism can also be used to divide and undermine a society. Personal attacks and insidious accusations are an unfortunate result of the freedom of speech, but should not be confused with its nobler purpose. They are unprofessional, unjournalistic, and not part of the Register’s mission.

It is our policy to serve the truth in matters small and large. For instance, other media outlets ridiculed the president for a gift he gave to Pope Benedict XVI — so we looked into the matter to show how remarkable and meaningful the gift really was.

This week, we have a much more important matter for which we wish to commend the president. When Congress made an attempt to use federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research — research that kills human beings — President Bush vetoed it.

His decision was unpopular in the polls, and did not help him further his desire for a cooperative Congress. But it was the only morally viable option for a man of conscience to make.

We salute the president for his courage — and point out that this veto shows precisely why it is such a disastrous idea to support a presidential candidate who is not pro-life, no matter what kind of deals he says he will make.

When push came to shove, we are glad President Bush was in the right place at the right time to do the right thing.