Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-08
poeTRAIT Of The Philnd1Iphia Press.

The "Llncaster lntclIigencer, 4 paper Distinguish
ed fer its "good taste, good temper and ability,
pays the following just compliment to the fh'laoel
phln Press
~, WoRp Psrs..rhe Philadelphia editors will
one two exceptions. are without distinction oil pal! a" no
nor comfy. political opposition with them Is nt ve
made p,rscnai aud the hole city is that though they
aci"cy vigorously opposed 10 each "lfr III 20
cs, they forget that they are grnlenen-nev.r 30 IA
cend The bounds Of proprey az 10 make meeting after
stars lead the Press Of the country from path where
tut personalities and examinations abound we can meet
Wing editor Philadelphia with the same cordial feeling, as
he d. iocai, and we know that many o te edos rt
who poIca!y opponents are warm and sincere p.'na
o many papers and editors The interior We think
however, that those viii" prefer this kind OF warfare vi" t
example the grnttmaHly conductors o
Philadelphia Press. At least most frtventy hope So"
The correctness of this Portrait is recognized by the
Presses Of both parties IN Phude phia-the "lnqurer
(Whig) as well as the "pennsy vanan' (Repubican. )
The Inquirer truly adds, that Editors to be respected
By The public respect themselves. IL they desire
their opinions and advice to have weight and influence
they mus, least exhibit spirit CT moderation and
magnanimily, prove 10 the world that they exercise
reason rather than prejudice, and that difference o:
opinion however bread upon any public question: does
no, imply personal li-will and luminosity.
Perhaps no truth has been bet
Ter established by the history of the newspaper press
of this country, than he fact that public journal
which delights in scurrlity, personality, msrepresenla
ton and unchar,abeness, is certain to be shor-ved
Time was when the Philadelphia political press was
quite indccoous that any other section of the
Union Then, however, our journalists permitted
themselves 10 be too much influenced by mere dema
gogues--empty pretenders, who, living IN Inc atmos
phere of Ward Meetings and excited political ciques
anced thet the opinions of such circles constituted
public opinion. Sad experience taught our editors
wiser lesson; personal intercourse has made them ia
milhr with each Others princ pies and traits OF charac
er and while their fidelity to party and 10 principle has
not in the slightest degree abated, their attachment to
order, decnrum and the couriesles OF lie, has been
It hem d nnd he
,agc well 10 the public as Themselves.
The "Pennsylvanan says: "Ihe time was when
the conductors Of The press seemed to think that the
chief purpose Of their being and there are few who ap
pear Think STILL 10 hlackbal and, We may say
I'd each other-to hold each other PERSONAL
10 the contempt and derison of the community, by IN
venting and promulGong all sorts of Islander. Accord
ing TO this system Of enghiening the public nind
every editor lie whose business politics
found himself daily represented guilty of crimes which
should consgn hun To the prnirenary: and as the
people wearied with repetition of this species OF
warfare they very naturally began to think that where
there much smoke there must be some tire, and
that these abusive conrnversIasts had reason Tor Their
respective assertions In this way the character OF The
ne paper press sunk to the lowest ehb. It's conduc
tors were Iak-n their word and looked upon as
little better than egalized assassins. OF late years
however, there has been change in this respect IL
has tecn made apparent, that it quite possible that the
editor OF Journal ol decided political journal
may be gentleman ana that ms Columns may oeaf
the impress Of gen,Icmanly eengs-that he may con-
tend manfully for principle, without dealing IN SQUIRT
lily toward these who differ from him in opinion, and
that, in discussing questions OF public import II Is MOI
necessary tina, he should pursue an opponent into The
Of private life 10 stab his reputation and destroy
his happiness
For our own para, we cheerfuly bear our testimony
to the dignity as we'll the ability Of the Philadelphia
Press. In both respects it ia model TO the other Edi
tors Of the Uninn. We epub- these extracts for the
edifca;ion of the Wing press Of Vgnia--"f those Ed
tors who pleased to think that The harder things
they cay Of opponent, the better for their cause
Sometimes, as the last Madisonan strongly remarks
"lhey require fumigaon before admission INTO our ia
miiies-they mus, serve long quarantine before the
reach un,an,ed places Cannot they be prevailed
upon 10 initiate the decency aud dignity OF The press
of Philadelphia, and save Old Virginia from the dig
grace ct exhibiting the most vlo!entand abusive press
in the Union