The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-02-09
PIE HYw YoKK TRIBUNE.


The New York Tribune is newspaper
which deserves praise for many particular
merits, but its extraordinary circulation
does not necessarily endow it with super
natural virtues. To assert superior knowi-
edge is different thing from possessing It,
and unbounded arrogance is not untrequent-
~ allied with the most profound ignorance.
A paper conducted BY one or two indisid-
uals 10 sometimes Athletes. with monoma-
MIA. on some one subject, but it is u peculi-
arity Of the 7ribxne that as each of its ten
or dozen editors has particular hobby, 1t
often exhibits symptoms Of semi-inssnily
on q variety OF subjects. We say this with
out meaning to detract from the iTsoxne'
many good features, but we are decidedly
Of the opinion that the peculiar character OF
its multiform ultrsism greatly disqual!ies It
for beng wise and prudent counsellor Of
any political party No paper has been
more remarkable for preaching the most eS-
IRENE doctrines at one time. and for paiila-
q
been different when Mr.. Greeley was the
principal If no, the sole author OF sil the
leading articles in the paper, but II IS not
20 now,-and we for one, are not willing to
yield to the New York 1tibane any greater
authority in political matters, than We give
TO any other intelligent private who Is hon.
sstly endeavoring to secure the triumph OF
the Republican cause.
We have been induced 70 make the fore.
going remarks from seeing in the Boston
Atlas reply to some structures OF the TIT
bSae on the character OF the Attorney Gen.
erai of Massachusetts,. The vanity OF the
Tyibxae max es il draw the illogical conclu.
sion, that because it has large cirrulstion
INN ost Of the States, its knowledge OF dlf.
ferent localities is commensurate with that
circulation. /, 10 thus frequently betrayed
into gross errors, which are sometimes sim
ply absurd, but which are often calculated
to do much harm. In reply to its attack on
on Mr.. Clifford, the Massachusetts, Attorney
General. the Atlas says
mThe New York Tribune OF the 2lst in
stan; contained an article headed "Massa'
chusetts Politics. Notwithstanding this
most comprehensive title, the writer de-
votes himself to q review of the political and
official career of the Attorney General OF
Massachusetts,; and he manages. in the space
of short single column, to peTpetrste more
hlunders snds.to show greater ignorance than
we should have thought possible. The
Tribune, a becomes a metropolitan Jour-
nal, processes TO know everything We
would respectfulls suggest that large cir
culation and the assumption oil q general
censorship imply certain esponsibiiites.-
A paper which undertakes TO instruct the
whole country should possess itself OF de-
cent amount of information about those sub
jects which it discusses; and sspecialiy
should it be careful when il assumes TO de-
duce the character of an individual from the
facts of bis life. Articles based upon false
hoods are very likely to be only lioels.--
We shall show that the Tribune knows
very little about Mr.. Clifford, or that il will
fully misrepresents him"
The Atlas then proceeds to specifics-
lions, but with the merits OF the controver-
" we have nothing to do. We have quo
ted the paragraph in order to give sample
ofihs injury the Tribune may work by thus
affecting quasi omniscience, and assuming
to dogmaticslly dictate the particular course
which should be pursued by the people Of
ell the States from Maine to Iowa. We do
not think it equal TO the labor il undertakes
We quote the concluding paragraph of the
article in the Atlas-
"In conclusion, We advise the Tribune
whenever il undertakes TO denoance any
public man as ga trimmer" az doughface'
and ga sneak" to be little more careful in
collecting testimony upon which TO found
its accusations. In this State, in which Mr.
Clifford is known and universally esteem.
Cd, the ISLANDERS Of the New York Tribune
will do him small harm; but its lbels will
reash thousands Of readers who will never
see this refutation. We cannot see what
good end can be accomplished, or how any
cause, however prsiseworthy, can be promo
ted by thus recklessly and, we fear, mali
eiously sssaulting public officer. On the
contrary, the best cause will, in time, be ir
retrievsbiy damaged, If its advocates per.
sist in such ebulitions Of mere persons
spleen"