The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-12

fetal to the public and to the government. Much
Misrepresentation and error were thus prevented
or exposed Often, when "the organ" was blum
dering away, incapable of using, with discretion
and candor, the information within its reach, we
were enabled to place important facts before the
public, enabling them to weigh fairly the conduct
of the administration. During the progress of the
Mexican war, this arrangement operated to great
advantage; and TO it General Taylor himself owes
not little. As we have said, Mr.. Polk refused to
extend any courtesy to the Independent press 1t
could hardly have been expected that he should
have done so. A mere partisan-with all the mar
row-minded notions and paltry tricks which
cunning little country lawyer picks up in village
caucuses and county meetings-Mr. Polk came to
the Presidency utterly incapable of any just and
noble views of the duties of that position. No
wonder, then, that he should have affected to de-
spise the press, of whose power and capacities he
exhibited his most profound ignorance in the choice
of his 'organ." u.1 1909
The same course, which we have just described,
was taken on the advent of the present administra-
ton. We made the same offer to communicate to
the public fully and fairly, without distortion any
information which the cabinet conveyed to our
agents but the only member of it who appeared to
be capable of estimating properly the proprey and
value of the suggestion was Mr.. Meredith, the
Secretary of the Treasury. He perceived the per-
feet delicacy of the arrangement, which enabled
both parties TO preserve their independence and,
at the same time promote the interests of the pub
lie. We asked no favor, and offered no induce
ments, beyond the service which might be rendered
% the government by the wide diffusion of accu-
ate intelligence, in plain and unvarnished form.
But it is matter of regret, that many of our public
men do not appear to understand the nature of the
citations which exist between the press and the
public. They fancy that they create and direct
public opinion; and hence they imagine that if they
can control the columns of some obscure journal in
the remote village of Washington, they mount
tripod on which they can ''rule the spheres"
The absurdity of all this has been often enough
made transparent and we see already the npea-
SAINT effects of the bunder in the case of the pre-
sent administration. Already, the incoherent and
injudicious Washington correspondence of the
Philadelphia North american, which is supposed
to emanate from some one in the confidence Of the
| Secretary of State and the awkward, equivo-
eating, unsatisfactory hints thrown out in the IN
teligenca, with regard to free SOIL the tariff and
other questions, are producing considerable annoy
| ance and mlSchlef.
We are confident that General Taylor himself
understands this business better than most of his
cabinet. lie must regard it in the light of plain,
common sense. 1t was the independent journalism
of the country which chose him as the popular
candidate for the Presidency, pressed his claims
and finally bore him to the White House. Many
months ago, when the very presses which are now
clamorous for spois-when this identical National
InteNigencr, which now stretches forth its palsed
hand and screams in tones, tremulous but shrill,
the everlasting beggar's petition-were attempting
to dsparage the claims Of General Tayler, the in
dependent journals of the large cities, hoping for
no reward, scorning all selfish motives, were en-
gagged in pressing him upon the masses. Nor will
they desert him now. For our part, we believe
General Taylor to be pure patriot. Let him not
be misled by artful and designing politicians. Let
him repudiate that merstricious connection which
| has heretofore existed between the government
and the press. He must already see through the
selfish designs of certain wing journals at Wash
ington and elsewhere. Why even now, some of
these prints in their insolence, are threatening to
'Tylerize" the President! The only safe organ
of the President to be found in that independent
journalism, which is above corruption, and has
been, with himself sustained and supported by the
people. r-