The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-11-21

Correspondence OF the New YORK Herald
WASHINGTON, Nov 10, 1916
The Organ-Hs Manner, Tone, and Importance.
find thata good many people h We d false notion
about the Pres idents "organ." word on this sub
ject.
II was natural that Mr.. Polk should select Mr..
Richie. He was an old, tried friend OF the de-
mocracy-he understands peculiarly the interests
and feelings of the locofoco party-he could be re-
lied on as an unfilnching, unvaryng democrat-he
was kind, gentlemanly and obiging, and not part-
cularly given to harsh language. The Globe had
always been filled with denuncation, invectve and
nnumerable personal attacks; the party whose or
gan was had often, BY its njudicious management,
its gag spirit, its Procrustes rule, been shaken, and
more than once driven upon the rocks The con
servatives of 81 rose up under this kind OF infu-
ence, and had it not been for the consummate ma
nagement OF Van Buren,, these disaffected men
would never have been brought back into the fold.
II was known that no great objection could be made
to Mr.. Richie, and although he lacked some OF
those racy qualities desirable in an editor Of
great paper, yet for Mr. Polk, who had, as Mr..
Richie says, emo FUTURE" there was probably no
man who could fill the place better.
il Is supposed, il we are to believe some OF the
letter WRITER'S that the virgnian is tied to the tail
OF MIR: Polk-never speaks without being first OF
all told what to say-that he has no mind Of his
own, and that the President selected him because
u
However much truth there may be in other things
the letterwriters say about the Pythoness this IN
hardly to be swallowed. ] thought | would exa-
mine this matter for myself, and l made enquiries
the other day in very unsuspclous manner, and
was informed that the editor seldom Is in commune
cation with the President and very rarely consnts
HIM about the course the Union is to pursue. He
leases the President, am told, sometimes TO read
his edltorials-wishes him to advise him about this
and about that-but Mr.. Polk always has reply
-''Do as you like, Mr.. Rltchie--you know my
primer ples-they are the same the democratic party
hold, and have held-we have no shifting or shut
fling in our measures, or our plan of action. You
know what are our views In regard to all the great
movements OF the time. Before you came to Wash
ington had long been satisfied you were true
friend OF democratic principles. You are tree, and
you know have never bound you, and never wilt
our views harmonize in the maln-all minor matters
are unmportant, and you must take just srch
course as you think best" happen also to know
that Mr. Polk seldom knows what is coming out in
the Union till he reads it. This is the proper course
to take The President must have paper in WHICH
he has conference.-the is expected by every body.
pretty quick IN the eyes of the world by edit
ing his organ himself am inclined TO
think that so far from doing this he leaves good
Mr.. Richie rather too free 1t would not be a bad
Wirginian" occasionaTy-p particularly when he runs
a tit against Bennett Slap says the Grand
Master Of the Union, 6 am man Of no intrigue;
am not going to court. Bennett"-(he would
knows) "What do care what Bennett says ,
will not bow to get favor from any body, by Jove-
(nothing worse.) wouldn't even do II to the Pre-
sident'' Very well, Thomas, like your pluck
any body likes it whose like or dislike is a matter
of any consequence. But, Monsieur ie Cavalier,
with all your spunk, you had good deal better say
poor pussey, than 'scat, you bitch" tor you know
the organ Of the President never should loose Its
keeping-it should preserve its dignity-it should
not 90 out OF its way to hit clip any fellow that
wishes play ofa joke. Most Of these Jokes" are
only lures, flung out to get you OIL from your guard
They amuse themselves by disturbing your equani-
mlty-this you should never loose-no, never, ne
yer, never. You should remember that the Presi-
dent never allows his equanimlty to be upset by a
Joke, lure, bait, or even lie, or an insult ne
is perfect Taeyrand in respect of sef-possession
"a Metternch in respect of GOODNESS IN diplomacy,
and Chesterfield in his gentlemanly dignity IN
not noticing flea bite
chases in Mr.. Richie or any body else. AS long as
his great PRINCIPLES are kept in view-their spirit
regarded as well as their letter, he will show the
largest llberay IN every thing else. II ls well that
like TO know the truth about public men. It's the
great office Of the Herald get the truth and pub
sh 1t. Where there is virtue, honesty open straight
forwardness, give credit where It is due-where
there is intrigue, Jesuitsm, humbug cliqaes, out
with it, down with it. This is the spirit OF the He
rald-ths is why sought first and read with the
greatest eagerness-thls is why it Is independent.
With nothing to win, and nothing to lose, in any
political game-nobody's favor to court. and nobo-
dy's Ire to dread, men rely upon it.
The prospect, from all my observations, is, that
we shall have a good, a noble administration. I
have looked into these matters pretty carefully, and
doubt if any very important lntrigues could have
escaped me. II discover one, 1t shall be known. All
men have their secrets, to be sure and these Sc
crets, so long as they are personal private mat
tiers, no body ese's business. But when polltl-
cal men, elevated to posts of honor, begin to ugge,
and humbug, and play double games where the
country, and the reputation of honest men are at
stake, then, if get hold OF those secrets, will
write them, without fear favor, and know that,
gan" For what you have published of nine,
thank you-for you have always printed every line
I.wrote it. Endorse il or not, as you like. This
is all we want in free, independent press This is
country knew that there is at least press of this
description, upon which they may rely, that press Is
sure OF their enthusiastic support.
MACHIAvELI.