The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-15 00:00:00

TILE NEWSPAPER G_ENERALS.

After a defeat, from which it-will take weeks,
perhaps months, to recover, some of the New York
journalists have discovered that their genius does
not lie in the path to Richmond. Having been the.
means of sacrificing hundreds, if not thousands of
lives, and adding millions to the public debt, they
have, at length, come to the conclusion it cannot bo
said of generals, as of poets, that they are nacitur
non fit.
It is not every man who has the brains to con-
trol the columns of a daily, who has necessarily a
similar mission to perform with reference to the
columns of an army. The editor in-chief of the
New York Tribune has, at last, made this discovery ;
and, like a true man, has made the confession over
his own signature. In a letter to that journal, after
acknowledging that the Tribune has been, in great
measure, instrumental in producing the mischie',t
Mr. Greeley makes the following announcement,
which, as far the Tribune is concerned, augurs well
for the future :

"Henceforth, I bar all criticism in these columns
on army movements, past or future, unless somebody_
should undertake to prove that General Patterson 15
a wise and brave commander. He seems to hair!,
none to speak his praises so if there is anything tv
be said in his behalf, I will make an exception in 1111
favour. Other than this, the subject is closed ell.
sealed. Correspondents and reporters may state,.'
facts, but must forbear comments. I know t"'
there is truth that yet needs to be uttered on this subjectei
but the paper has done its full share—all that it ought, ee
perhaps more than it can afford to do—and hencefortil
stands back for others. Only I beg it to be understood--
once for all—that if less than half the Union armies directly'
at hand are hurled against all the rebel forces that could Da,
concentrated—more than double their number—on grown'
specially chosen and strongly fortified by the traitors, the
Tribune does not approve and should not be held respon-
sible for such madness. Say what you will of the past, but
remember this for the future, though we keep silence.
" Henceforth, it shall be the Tribune's sole vocation i(),
rouse and animate the American people for the terrible ordeal
which has befallen them. The Great Republic eminently
needs the utmost exertions of every loyal heart and haecl;•
We have tried to serve her by exposing breakers a-head
and around her. Henceforth, be it ours to strengthen, "`
all possible ways, the hands of those whose unenviablt
duty it is to pilot her through them. If more good is thus
to be done, let us not repine that some truth must l
withheld for a calmer moment, and for less troubled ears,.

Well done Mr. Greeley, say we—that is sir Aa
we call honest and manly, and we comments the
editor of the New York Times, who has been little
less guilty of bringing shame and confusifin 11131°1
the flag of his country, to come out with a similar
declaration:

Let all of the Northern press learn a lesson from
the taciturnity of their Southern compeers. From
the very beginning of the troubles the Southern
journals have left the control of the rebel arm! ill
the hands of its chosen leaders, and they have
exercised a wise discretion in keeping from their
prints all details that could afford information tv°"
to the Federal authorities, while the New Y°"
journals, particularly, have turned their reportorial
corps into, squads of spies, who have hung roan
steamers and even given the address marked upon,
the private stores of the Federal officers. Every
movement of troops has been recorded. ,„,J
" special spies" at Washington have nosed and
smelt out every preparation which the Government,
authorities were making, and have frustrated the
plans of General Scott more than once. When Col.
Taylor brought a flag of truce from Manassa°
Junction, he asked, on his arrival at Arline°
Heights, for the privilege of reading the New Yorg
papers, feeling sure, undoubtedly, that he wow.
there find valuable information.
Let those papers gather wisdom from past exPe;
rience, and learn discretion from their enemies, an
the mistake of the 21st July will not be again re'
peated during the war, even though it should b°
continued during the Next decade.—London, Ana"
rican.