The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-28

cessarily leads those who pursue it TO moro in
innate connection with the politics of the country,
than any other. The profession of editor is "a
honorable and respectable" as that of merchant,
doctor, soldier, sailor, lawyer, or clergyman, and
mu,h more honorable and respectable than the 90.
cupaton of Office beggar, or of political hue6ster
of Office to the needy. IL requires ability, in
dependence, learning, integrity of character and
moral principle, to conduct leading newspaper in
the United States properly, than it does to folio
any other calling. Generally, the selection Of an
editor for Office, if he has succeeded in efforts to
make his press useful and influential, is guarantee
that he will fill the Office worthily.
But the appointment to Office Of the conductor OF
a political par.izan newspaper, solely in reward
for his having prostituted himself and his press to
advance the cause of party, The interests of a
particular aspirant, with understanding, ex-
press or implied, that he will do so-and when
the appointee has but few other meri.s-cannot
be justified. So also to allow the holder of a
lucrative subordinate office, subject to removal
at the will of the President, that of the head
of department, TO continue in Office while
editor, is not defensible on the grounds We have
suggested as justifying the appointment of honest
and respectable editors who, upon acceptance of
the commission relinquish all interest in and con.
nection with the press.
Such continued connection with a political pa
per, by an Office holder, also comes within
the scope of another prominent and sound doc
trine, promulged and advocated by the wings
during the administration of General Jackson and
which the democratic party obliged to con-
form to, viz.-"the improperly of federal officers
using their official influence in political con-
tests" To allow an Office holder to be at the
sane time the editor and publisher of apoli.cal
partizan newspaper, is a practice which no honest
public man, Of any party, has ever attempted to
justify. The essence of the objection urged by
the wings to the appointment of editors, exists
with tenfold force against this practice. No pro-
minent whig forty years old dares attempt its
justification, under peril Of having his former de-
nunciations Of the appointment of editors, (even
upon express condition of disconnecting themselves
from the press) quoted to show his fagrant incon.
sistercy. We could readily cite speeches by pro-
minent wings, and language used by them while
Jackson, and Van Buren, and Polk were in 20 ser,
that would choke them stone dead, if they we're
honest enough to die, upon any attempt by them
TO justify this practice. They denounced the APP
pointment fedtors as tending to deinoralizc and
corrupt the public press; as calculated to induce
men Of weak minds and corrupt princip pies, and am
bilious Of distinction, avaracous, or inGaned
by lust Of power, and having control Of a news
paper, TO Prostitute its columns in order 10 com
passselfsh ends.
But the case Of press conducted by an oii,e
holder is much more glazing. Dependent for
his meat and bread upon the will OF the
President, one Of his secretaries, 70 see such
editor honest, fearless, and independent, would bea
sight that Of a white crow. Indeed, we
do not believe honest, and Trustworthy, and high
toned man, could be persuaded to place himself in
such degrading position. The supple, truck
ling, time-serying knave, doubtless will feel
few scruples Such creature does no. feel ashamed
or humblei that others own him. Tho property
may be more or less yaluelcss to the owners but
still such oice-holding editor is the chattel of
Of his superiors, as much as the ourang-outang or
anaconda chattels Of Barnum. His masters
hold him not by mortgage title, but they have
full, and complete and perfect bill Of sale Of him.
and his types, and his press, and his paper-of bis
mind If he has any-of his principles If he had
any-and of all his remains Of honesty and indie
pendenoe, and TRUTH his body and soul, head, heart,
hands, brains, brooches and all. Such an Office
holding editor ceases TO bo man. His slavery is
more abject than that Of Georgia negro, and /,
as degraded a. that Of a black eunuch in the harem
Of the Grand Sultan.
ON looking over the list Of appointments since
March 4, 1919, find upon it the names Of several
editors, prominent only violent partzans, aud not
distinguished for peculiar fitness for the offices they
have received Foreign missions, in several in
stances, secretaryships and attacheships to embas.
sizes, coniulates, storekeepershps, important bu-
reaux at Washington, clerkships, commissioner
ships post off ,cs, lucrative agencies, and other
places OF every imaginable character-some illegii-
mate, not being provided by law, and many not on
the regular list submitted for confirmation to the
Senate-have been showcred upon editors, and their
sons nephevs, cousins, family connexions, or pro-
teges, more numcrou2ly than upon any other pro-
fession or class. The wings have gone infinitely
beyond General Jackson in this respect. They have
"out- IIeroded lIerod." What has been distributed
TO needy wbig editors in the way Of Jobs and con-
tracts, and Galphin pickisgs and stcalings-a
chunk of Of the public loaf here, and slice there
the Lord only knows.
We are endeavorng to compile list Of these
appointments. and % forth, With full cxplana-
tory notes. for the use Of the public While
il viii edify, il will excite the indignation
Of every honest patriot in the land II we mistake
not this subject will become Of tho leading
points in the next Presidential canvass, and no one
participant in the appointment aud continuance in
Office Of some Of the exceptonable appointccs, will
receive the support Of the honest and independent
portion Of the press. even Of the whig party
IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT BANQUET
PRorosrp 10 AEoHHsHor HuGHEs.-We under
stand that m oyement has been commenced in the
proper quarter, among Of rcspcctabiity, piety,
aud good taste in wines, 70 get up banquet 70
Archbishop Hughes, that will Ear surpass, in
elegance and sllcndor, tina. recently given II his
honor in Liverpool, OK that in London. Mr..
MeMestus, . religious and literary philosopher Of
some repute in the Catholic church in this city, i