New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-22
pICTATIoS TO NEWSPAPERS.

TIE Boston journals are discussing an event
which may appropriately be the subject OF COM
uent in this quarter also. 1t appears that The
Tyarele, lately noticed LongfelloS's new poem OF
"Hiswatha in terms OF condemnation. as it had
q perfect right to do. There is no evidence that
there was any thing in the language of the crique
which exceeded the proper limits of such discus
sion; but the publishers Of the book. Messrs.
TcLnor & Fields, took umbrase at it, and wrote
note On the same evening TO The Trareifer speak
inc of the offending article as eynciDg very little
regard for their personal feelings as publishers
"or their friendly regard any way" and ordering
all their advertisements to be stopped, and The
T,areller to be sent to them as subscribers no
longer.
OF course it is the right of any advertiser or sub
scriber ola public journal to bring bis relation with
il to close at any moment, but we hardly think
that condemnatOry crtique like this IL good rea-
sop for 80 doing. 1t would seem to imply that the
publishers will only advertise in such newspapers
as viii praise their publications but We fancy
that If those terms were made public beforehand
few journals DESTROYS of decent reputation would
be found to accept them. For our part, we wish
II TO be distinctly understood BY everybody, if
there is anybody who does not understand IL al
ready, that our reviews OF book, like our notices
of artistic performances and industrial Inventions,
are desisned exclusively for the information OF the
puhic and no. tor the benefit of authors, publish
ers, artists, or inventors We aim to consider
matters of that sort on their own merits, and we
certainly hope never to be found commencing
literary, histronic, or other production because it
il announced to the world through our advertising
columns. Advertisers pay for the insertion Of
their announcements and nothing more. If they
do not find they get their moneys worth, they will
do well to seek some other medium to make known
their wares, for they need never expect that such
q deficiency will give them any control over the
other part of the paper. These convenient ar
rapgements which are said to exist in some estab-
lishments, where the sum paid covers not only an
advertisement but puff in the leading columns,
are such as in the end are as advantageous to
the advertiser az they are dishonorsble TO the
journal.
We can hardly believe that Messrs Tcknor IL
Fields have not something like good explanation
TO offer for the attempt thus alleged against them
TO dictate to The Trarelier what sort Of critical
Judgment it must express upon their books In
deed we suspect that there is some mistake in the
matter. We have had as extensive relations with
publishers as per haps my other journain the coun-
try-TBE TRIBUNE being regarded by them, so far
a. we are aware as the best channel for the adver
Using of books that il at their command. In the
course of these relations we have met with occa-
siopa instances of such dictatiOn as The Traceler
complains of, having on several occasions known
publishers for time to withhold their advertise
ments from our readers because our judgment
happened to differ from theirs on some points
which they thought important. Bat this is the
first intimation we ever heard of that this Gstin
guished and popular hou,e could be guilty OFF,
duct so unwise, so hurt'ul to themselves, and aim
ing at such degradation Of that great agent of
social illumination, the newspaper press, on whose
independence and honesty the progress Of htera-
ture as well as of all other good things, so much
dept nds.