The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-11


like the laws of nature, unseen but not uneelt,
producing in due time it's visible, tangible ef
fects. like the seed sown in the earth, which
silently terminates and brings forth fruit in
abundance. We can always tell what are the
political operations in England and France
from the tone of the journals Of Paris and
London. The press in France, under The Ma
poleon dynasty, is not free to discuss do
mestic questions but il can treat OF foreign
politics, and SIS to these it is entirely united in
denouncing the policy Of the Emperor Of Russia
and sustaining the cause of the Sultan Of Tur-
key. The London press takes the same course.
This sentiment, consequently, prevails among
the intelligent reading classes all over Europe.
| The same rule applies with equal force to
this country In politics as we'll as in religion,
THE country press is merely the echo Of that
lQf New York. The truth of this statement is
SO abundanty proved by the political history
of the last few years that it is worth nothing.
Previous 10 the year 1885, and even up to
1910. the press Of the United States was very
much under the control Of the party leaders of
the day. Very few journals were Independent of
their tremmels, and the influence of the press
was, therefore, comparatively small. In
1910 a. change took place. In that year
nearly the whole press of the city-per-
haps four-fifbs-were in favor of the cleo
ton OF Gen. Harrison and opposed to Mar
tin Van Buren,. The result throughout the
country was the sanction of the public opin-
ion that radiated in all directions from
the metropolis. Harrison was elected by a
large majority. In 1914, there was q more
equal division of the New York metropoli-
tan press for and against Clay and Polk.
The result was close contest and the cleo
ton Of Polk by small majority. A SINH
Lar state of things in a modified form, took
place in 1913, and similar result ensued
throughout the country. The course pursued
by the New York city press, and the re-
suits that followed i'm 1852, are well known.
Feur-ffths of the press in this city, either
secretly or openly, were in favor of Pierce.
His majority was consequently overwhelming.
At this moment we may observe en- pas
saat the singular fact is developed that
nearly the whole O. the city press of New
York and large portion of the country at
large, is against the administration Of Gen.
Pierce. This is only the beginning Of the
great game OF 1856. Out of 100 900 she.ts
issued every morning in this city, not 5000 are
poaitively and decidedly in favor Of the Cabinet.
The result At the next Presidential election
may, therefore, be calculated from the present
position Of the New York metropolitan press il
relation to the President, his administration,
and the present stool.pigeon democratic party
in Congress.
Sc Of religion. If the New York press is
tolerant the country papers will likewise be
tolerant; if we grow bigotry, bigotry will
soon develope itself in the country. Such is
the result Of our experience, and we have not
yet been mistaken in prognosticating results
from permanent and undoubted causes.
No matter what politicians at Washington,
and such papers As the Usaion, may say
Of public opinion emanating from New York
no matter whs! little country papers may print
in their sheets, or how muck they may SINGER ct
New York journals, the tone Of the aggregate
press Of this city, when it is allowed time to
dsvelope itself, will ever turn out to be the tone
Of the people Of the United States
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS SErTLED-Ne al re-
member the intense excitement occasoned by
the questions as to who struck Mr.. William
Patterson. and whether saltpetre would ex-
plode. But the interest excited by these great
historical and scientific problems has been gra-
dually dying away since the rise of those still
more absorbing questions, l'who are the oyster
house critics." and what is black mail ~ The
recent great operate libel case, Fry VS.. Ben
nett has furnished o complete solution of these
tough and puzzling problems SO that, even
should no other advantage to the purse or cha
racter Of the aggrieved parties result from this
case, the time of the jury, the patience Of the
judge, and the genius Of the counsel, will have
been well expended.
As to the question regarding the oyster
house critics." it appears that the existence of
this amphibious and mysterious race of literary |
troglpdytes has at last been definitely estab- |
lished, and its origin traced. From the evidence
in this case, it seems that Mr.. Fry, the |
Napoleon Of operate managers, was in the |
habit of taking the literary part of
the army" as Mr.. Foster called it |
in his evidence, down into certain |
oyster cellar, after the opera was |
over kept by the ever immortal Johnny Keefe,
COO Broadway, where these hired and paid |
critics, in conjunction with the manager and |
his staf-including the physician of the COM
pany. in case any Of them were taken suddenly |
ill-used TO discuss champagne and criticism
in the same BREATH and serve up an article for
next days papers along with each dozen fried
devoured by the hungry critics.
These immaculate geniuses who thus obtained |
the name Of "oyster house critics." seem to
have been :" the big, long musical critic If the
Courier and Enquirer Foster. Of the Tri-
bunc, Mr.. jim Otis Of the Erpress," and |