The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-30

at o'clock this afternoon, half an hour before the
letter bags of the steamer close.
Character and Influence or the Whig Party
Press.
We give on the first page Of this days paper,
two articles taken from the leading organs of the
recent wing party in this city, which present ano-
Their forcible illustration of the inconsistency in
congruity, and general impotence ofthe wing party
press. AS to the question discussed in these arti-
cles itself, aud on which such dametrcally oppo-
site sides are taken by the prints in question, we
do not. at present, mean to enter upon it, nor 10
review The arguments offered by the respective
disputants. Our views on the annexation Of Tex
as are well known. They have been again and
again presented to our readers. But we have taken
up this instance of disagreement between the lead
ing journals Of the wings in this city, as afisrding
curious example Of the utter disorganization
produced in the ranks of that party, by the in
sirumentality of It's newspaper editors. Here
we have the edfyng spectacle of one Of the
acknowledged organs of this party taking
ground on the Texas question, apparently with the
view Of affecting alliance with the aboliuonists
or "liberty party" in the north, whilst another
gan takes directly opposite course, and labors with
might and main to counterfeit the operations of its
fellow aborer in the wing cause; and this at a
time when the common of the most ordinary
mind discovers that the only chance for An eflec-
tive reorganization of the defeated and scattered
wing forces is be looked for in the exercise of
the greatest possible discretion, universal union,
and careful avoidance of the slightest contact
with dangerous and uncertain elements.
But the truth is, their newspaper press has uni
formly been the greatest enemy of the whig party.
more reckless, unprncipled, obstinate, and ig-
norant set of men than the majority of those who
have had Tor many years past, the managema mt and
control of the wing press of this country, probably
never existed. They have been generally men
who have represented particular cliques, ready at
any time TO adopt the most inconsistent and DANCE.
course far respected the great interestso of
the party to which they were professedly attached,
In order to advance the palry and short sighted
policy Of few individuals. In this respect, the
wing journals certainly contrast unfavorably with
the organs of the democracy In the management Of
the democratic journals there has, heaven knows,
been abundant room for anlmadversion-bu gene.
rally speaking, they stick pretty well together, and
have in the main labored with consistency and
union for all the measures Of the party. But the
case has been very different with the whig jour.
nails On several Of the great issues, which the
couflict between the two dominant factions Of the
party has been fought, they have, again and again,
presented notable illustrations of the parable OF the
"house dividsd against itself" What has been
the cons, quencel Disunion, disorganiz alton, and
weakness in the ranks of the party have followed
as matter of course. Thus we have
portion Of the wing press counting the abotionists,
and another portion at the same time denouncine
them in the most unmeasured terms-o portion
adopting the shibboeth Of "nstveism," and ano-
Their portion loading il with all sorts of anathema
There has been an utter want OF steady, honest
upright principle in the management of wing jour-
nalism. II has been the mere tool in the hands OF
innumerable petty cliques, and scheming local In
fuences. What moral influence could such
press possess How could it prove other than a
curse to the party which il pretended to serve?
In one thing only has the wing press been consis-
tent. 1t has been uniformly faithful to the great
business of abuse and vituperation. In this devo-
ton TO the chief work Of partnership 1t has been
tolerably well matched by the democratic journals.
Our readers will recollect the expose which we
made, DUNG the course of last summer, of the Ii
centiousness OF the party press of all denomina.
tons. The scurllity-the indecencies-the false
hoods-the forgeries-the reckless and outrageous
violation of all the rules of civilized society, OF
which we convicted these whig journals-excited
the disgust of al the intelligent friends of public
morality and respectable journalism. The expo
sure was not without its effect. This was seen in
the utter want of confidence in the statements Of
these party prints, which a great portion Of the
community afterwards discovered when the re-
turns Of the elections began to be received. 1t
was notorious that by great numbers none of the
int mel of he vUhi
journals were received as accurate, until they as
certained that the statements were corroborated
by the independent press.
The eyes Of many intelligent wings are now be-
ginning to open to the truth that the recent defeat
Of the party may, in great measure, be attributed
to the violence, the folly, the stupidity and the
Ignorance of their own newspapers. In the CON-
mencement of the campaign, these prints misled
the people by the most voclferous assurances that
the election OF Mr.. Clay was absolutely certain
there was no possibility of any party defeating the
iustrious statesman of the West. Immense num-
beers we e thus mised, and fattered into ruinous
security aud inactivity. We all recollect the e.
feet Of this incessant and universal defamation
on the part OF the wing press. Instead of going
into the field and exerting all their energies
for the purpose Of securing the triumph Of their
favorte Harry Of the West," the poor wings,
deceived by their silly newspaper editors, be
gan to build splendid carriages to convey Mr.
Clay to Washington; they already saw him in the
White House, had the "spoils'' already par
ceed out IN lots to suit the numerous customers,
and quietly resigned themselves to happy and COM
Portable ease. We saw the insanity OF this con.
duet. We endeavored to alarm the slnmberng
wings. We told them it was no time to sleep.
We warned them Of their danger. But what FOL
lowedl Why this very wing press came out in
perfect paroxysm OF fury and denounced us as
ocofoco"-as Thought by the locofocos'-as
the enemy Of the wings! And SO it was through
the whole contest. We told The whole
truth We pointed out the weak places in
the Rhig lines We caufinned them aaalnst