The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-17
A Plea for tho Party Press.
MD.pENDENCs OF NEUTRAL JOURNAL

INDEPENDENCE OF NEUTRAL JOUhNALS-
We often see, in this class OF papers, diatribos
against the political journals Of the country on ss
count OF their connection with party, and an arroga
ZION 70 themselves of superior indie ,eadence In the
questions and they appeal to the people for support
upon TINS ground. We say neutral or Independent
prints for they used to take the former appelston
until, for some reason, 1t became unpopular, and
they then dubbed themselves independents which in
their opinion is more taking appellation. We care
not by what term they are known, as rose will not
lose its fragrance even II it liz called by another name~
but the fact that it has been necessary to sdopt an
alias is well worthy Of passing comment. II is very
rare that you paper now which calls itself neu-
trail. Oh! no; they are all "ndependents,' republic
ting, entirely The badge Of neutrality, which used to
be fashionable with that class OF journals.
Now we deny that this claim Of superior honesty
put forward by the "independent' press, over tho
Tar more numerous class of journals which are de-
nominated party papers, is well founded; ON the
contrary, we are firmly convinced that il is most
gross and impudent falseh0od Corrupt aud I'M
principled men far more likely to be ut the head
ofJournals that are under no tie OF oDgati0nto any
party or Sect for the very obvious reason that II Is
more likely to lead to their pecuniary aggrandze-
AZ nus CONTROL can watch all the dferen. changes0s
pubic opinion from his 'ndependent" pedestal and
thus be able to catch all the breezes OF popularity
Of bis "inde pendent" craft accordingly. A party
editor, on the contrary, having principles rs his
guide, must always keep them in view, as the mari.
ner does hs compass, points to the Polar starr
whether they are popular or not hs must adhere to
them and share the fortunes Of the party with which
he is connected, although to do may be the great
est disadvantage.
ness of having done his duty-that he has not fall.
tered In the support Of his poll teaets and the
with whose success they are identified even in
the darkest hoursbut that consciousness, although
is hardly an equivalent for the peculiarly loss which
his honest fidelity has brought upon hfm-which he
could have avoided had he been in an Independent
position We find the neutral, or to give them their
favorite designation, independent papers, pandering
to all the popular caprices- catering TO the preu-
dices of the masses in certain particulars where
public opinion gets strongly set-advocating all the
isms andstrange novelties ofthe day. whichar likely
to have an ephemeral run Of popularity on that a0
count and as soon as the tide turns against them.
going with it, is indeed that sees their
Independence displayed in opposing the general sem
timent Of the masses upon any question, however
quaintance with the facts upon which it is based
and in all things pandering to error instead Of en-
deav0riHg to correctit.
We are confident that in giving the so called indie
pendent press this character, we shall be sustained
by every one who has the least familiarity or 40
quajntance with it. Its editors may be "indepen-
dent OF oil political principles, of all party organ
zaton but more dependent creatures than they upon
the slightest breath of public favor cannot well be
imagined. They always eudesvor to find out tho
popular side of controversy, and array themselves
upon It, the merits being quite
ton. This want Of principle in the Independents
sheets and popularity counting disposition, readers
them perfect chameleons in the sentiments they adj
vocate, taking one position to day and it's opposite
tomorrow, as interest shall seem to dictate, without
any regard to consistency, for they are indepen-
dent" Of that also, and Neutral betseen truth and
fasehood, and yet they are the ones who, If We are
to believe them, are such paragons OF honesty conn
pared with the political press of the country. The
reason why they profess to be independent is because
q a m W IS n
and immoral life, find sound principles exceedingly
inconveHient in their vocation.
At the head OF the independent press Of the Union.
its great exemplar and the fair exponent Of its cha
racter, stands the New YORK HsaALD, conducted BY
the notorious James Gordon Bennett, who, by the
most discreditable means, has built up paper Of
large circulation, and acquired for himself hand
some pecuniary fortune. The HERALD, like most Of
the journals Of its GLASS; has ,ted indepen lent Of
sound principles Of morality as 1t has Of any politi
cal organization, and has owned 10 allegiance to
either. The New York Sun, COZ Quoted under tho
auspices of Moses Y: Beach, Of New Jersey bank oe-
lebrity, and the Philadelphia Ledger, rank next to
the HERALD in standing IN the independent corps Of
the press viii any one seriously pretend that the
opinions Of those papers upon public questions are
leading journals Of the respective political parties,
that they are entitled to more confidence from the
community? Taking them as the representatives Of
their Glass; will it not be generally conceded that
was to look for the most corrupt and mercensry
sheets belonging to the American press, his attention
would be directed to the neutral or Independents
prints Of the land, as the quarter most likely to fur
nish the object Of bis search2
Party papers may be, ana often are, over jealous
in the cause which they espOuse-may be blinded
by prejudice and partisan feeling, but yst we con-
tend that their opinions upon contiovertad subjects
honest ard better entitled to the confidence
of the publis than the piratcal neutrals aud indie
pendents, who will advocate anything chat happens
70 chime in at the moment wish the prejudices Of
the popular masses, and viii ID are conducted not
will n inf of ~
the people, banded together under party organize
tion but with the sole aim Of benetting peculiarly
their publishers Mammon Is the flag under which
they sail. The NEW YORK HERALD, az we said
before is true representative OF that class of papes
who all, more or less, initiate is example. Owing
no allegiance to any party or sect, these indepen-
dents or neutrais duricg seasons Of political excite
meLt, will prostitute their columns to the highest
bidder and their editors per ect soldiers Of for
tune in every Presidential canvass.
And yet these are the sheets which, if we are to
believe their often repeated assertions, the public
to look to for candid and impartial views upoa qua6-
tloDs of engrossing and paramount interest to the
country It's journals Of that description that TEEN
with assaults upon the party press impugaing its
character for reliability aud arrogate to them selves
superior claims to honesty and disntereste 1ness.
The position they occupy toward the great political
parties of the country is very analogous to that of the
cow boys of the American Revolution, who, enisting
under the banner Of neither Of the contendng regular
armies, wsre ready to ok parties of royaliss or
rebels as their interests dictated and who were de-
tested by both begerents for their mercenary cha.
racterislics. In this country with its repub in
every man of any degree Of intelligence has his par
tcuar party and the editors Of those
sheets protesting to be neutral or independent are
generally great hypocrites when they hold out such
monetary consideration to the contrary, the cloven
hoof Of partsanship is very clearly dscernible in
their columns, and democracy or whigism is iucHl-
Gated under the pretence of neutrality.
Some of the most violent part'sans OF the United
States are ct the head OF the independent pressso
called and they can no more conceal the fact in
bis sects: It is an impossibty We have vet g
learn that q man is any less partisan because, in
addition, he chooses to be hypocrite-makiag pro-
LESSONS of freedom from party bias; TO which he il
quality Of piety. The New York TL45tsne now dis
claims the appellation of party Journal it, too, has
become independent in its poll al character. but
do not that 1t has lost apy of its old whiyism
hv yha oh ID ohuOv iOuu avnr IN