The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-22

A very marked degree OF ignorance on the
subject of the true nature and influence Of a me.
tropolitan press is being developed just now ia
the columns Of certain country cotemporarioss
On one side we hear that the five leading ours
nails of New York, issuing nearly million Of
sheets per week, have no influence, because at
the late Presidential election the candidate whoul
they supported did not carry the city of New
York. On another We fad in certain starveling
party organs groans OF distress, and querulous
appeals to all true democrats . to come to the
captains office and settle" by subscribing to the
paper. These are two prevailing forms OF error.
1t is, in the first place, wholly untrue that the
"quintuple alliance 80 called, was without in.
fiuence upon the election in this city. As it hap.
pened, the interest awakened here was more than
divided between the contest for Mayor and the
contest for President: there were perhaps more
persons who cared about the Mayor than the Pre-
sident- 1t also happened that one-half the Issues
OF the quintuple alliance were either openly In
favor of Wood, or NOT opposed to him. Hence it
came about that the votes secured to him by this
half of the alliance Che other half being so d.
yided and lukewaJm 10 be comparatively pow
erleS) not only gave him the victory, but actual
ly gave far larger majority than would other.
wise have been poled tn James Buchanan.
But this is only one partial view of the case.
Metropolitan journa iism is not bounded by the
precincts OF CRY. The leading journals of New
York are also the leading journals of the State,
Of New Jersey, Of Pennsylvania, Of New Eng.
land Of the United States. Their influence is not
much more felt in New York than in Boston or
Philadelphia; they are written for the whole
country. To test, then the question whether or
no they have any influence the whole country
must be examined; and when, as in this case, it
is found that nearly the whole country where
Fremont had ticket went for him, and symp-
toms show that but for the bunders Of the FREE
mont managers the whole North would have
gone for him, you must not conclude that the
five journals have no Influence, but on the con-
trary that their influence is paramount.
As to the other matter-the reckless barbart9
Of democratic voters in refusing to subscribe to
the genuine unadulterated party organ-this is
not so very singular as the said organ seems to
think it. There seems 10 be an impression abroad
among political editors that men are politicians
first, fools next and last Of all men of business,
mechanics merchants professional men and what
not. The fact is, that the very reverse is the
true order. Men are first merchants, me-
chanics, professional men, farmers and so forth
next some ore fools; and Of these latter, few
are politicians. 1t is in the first capacity that
they subscribe to newspapers. Men take the
journal which suits them best in their private
capacity; which contains the most news, the
most advertisements, and which meets the most
eyes: and, furthermore, which is.in the habit Of
telling them the truth about politics. They may
retain their own party predictions, but they do
not acquire any the greater liking for politi-
clans, or any the more interest in their petty
squabbles for Office. Nor will they, to please
this or that politician, contribute to the eleemo-
synary sustenance of journal which only serves
as the mouthpiece Of certain politicians, to air
their private concerns.
Journalism in the United States Is rapidlp
passing the stage of party papers There are
party papers still in various parts Of the country,
and very ridiculous affairs some of them seem.
But-as the editor of the aforesaid party organ
SO feelingly lamerts-they are going down no
one will buy them; their doom is sealed. But
the Independent press has not yet reached its
full Development. 1t is only in transition
state; its influence is yet immature. Yet few
years, and the politicians who now dcride 1t shall
see whether 1t have influence or no.