Washington sentinel., 1853-10-20
OFFICIAL ORGANS.


then one of our whig exchanges, the Petersburg
Intelligencer, has attributed to us the wish to
become an administration organ in the strict
party sense Of the term. That fact has sug-
gested to us the propriety of presenting our
ideas Of political organship as good method
of explaining. what our position is and must
continue to be.
In the first number of our paper we stated
distinctly that, having full confidence in the
ability, integrity, and frmness of the present
Chief Magistrate, based as well upon the decla-
rations of his admirable inaugural address as
upon his decided and consistent career as
politician, it is our intention to give his admin
stration hearty bnt independent support.
More than that, we said at the same time, our
selfrespect would not permit us to do; and
that we had studied the character of the Presi-
dent in vain, if more than that would be ac-
ceptable to him from us or from any one
When we used this language we thought that
we had left no room for doubt or misconcep-
ton as to our position or our purposes, with
of the government. But it seems that VIC were
mistaken; or, perhaps, it may be, that, in this
instance, there are none so blind as those who
will not see. Be that as it may, we certainly
have never desired to reach the bad eminence
of official organship. And we embrace this
occasion to say, that no one thing has tended
so much to increase our high estimate of Gen
eral Pierce, and add to the great confidence we
reposed in him, as the knowledge we have that
he thinks as we think with respect to the en-
ployment Of subservient official mouth-piece
in the form and shape Of a recognised official
organ Of the government, and has repudiated
the idea of entering into degrading alliance
with such dangerous and demoralizing insti-
Advantageous, because powerless but for
harm; and demoraizing, because it degrades
the public press, and collects, musters, and dis
ciplines political subserviency, and imparts con-
cert and efficiency to the cowboys and camp
followers, who never strike blow, but live
upon the plunder gathered from the battle
field.
1t is surely to be desired by any administra-
tion to have within convenient reach an ably
conducted journal Of high integrity Of com
manding influence, and extensive circulation
to defend its acts against misrepresentation, and
to place its policy fairly before the people A
public journal may perform its part in such an
arrangement with an upright patriotic, and
honorable administration, without sacrificing
any of its Independence or losing any of its
proper influence. But such task is entirely
different from that which is expected at the
present day from a government organ.
To defend the acts of an administration from
misrepresentation, and to place its policy fairly
before the people, and to treat both with a
candid and independent spirit is not the whole
duty of an organ according to the lights of the
present hour. Such journal must cast away
all idea of manliness, of political principle OF
good taste, Of sensibility and even of morality
for in becoming slave, these things are cum.
bersome appendages. To discharge its task
fttingly and according to modern ideas, il
must consent to be emasculated, and to pimr
and pander to the vices of men in authority
1t must be as wakeful and as watchful as the
faithful maidens of scripture, keeping its cen
sers ever burning and always filed with in
cense, to swing before the bridegroom when
ever he may come. Like Polonius in the play
it must recognize in each passing cloud a
camel or a weasel, or a whale, according to the
whim and fancy of the Prince, even tho the
Prince be mad.
We do not speak without some knowledge
for we know something of the task which an
organ has to perform. 1t must file its mind.
1t must not speak even in whisper Of any sub
ject of political concern until the order has been
issued from headquarters. 1t must fill its
columns with fulsome and nauseating adulations
of the President and the members of his cabinet.
IT must study every speciesof hyperboe, and
every manner Of exaggeration, and practice
itself daily in making new combinations and
collocations, in order to sing fifty Of the sur.
passing merits of the brother to the sun and sis.
ter to the moon, and tell of the superior efful.
gence of his attendant satellites. Men Of real
e1nlneHce anu utrl,p uiubt De pdsstu WIFI Only
a distant look of simple recognition by the
Thoroughbred organ. But every public man
of low abilities, obscure name, or damaged
reputation must be landed, and pulled, and
caressed, for they are 'congenial spirits, and Of
such are subservient instruments and fit com.
panions made. If our troops should starve
on the ~frontier-if the public mails should
not be safe medium Of communication
if our ships should rot in port-if our in
terror affairs should be neglectedif our for
eign relations should be mismanaged, and oui
financial operations be thrown into confusion
the regular organ dares not utter word, but ia
in duty bound to come forth with its incense
whenever cabinet officer presents himself and,
with stereotyped whine attuned TO stereo-
typed phrases, tell an incredulous people Of
his surprising energy and devotion, and his
tremendous industry and application, ofhis mi
raculous purity and patriotism.