The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-10-22

lish this morning truthful article from the Bal
timore Sun, in relation to the province, duties,
value power and usefulness of the independent
press The Sun sets out with the declaration
that an independent Journal is not neutral one;
and states further, that it is the boast Of the lat
ter never to have an opinion Of its own" where
as, the Independent press is earnest, truthful,
bold, vigorous truth and justice even at
the expense of obloquy. 1T sets out to teach the
people, not to cover before them. When it
speaks, it speaks out decidedly" The Sun fur
ther defines the neutral press as stupid. at
winks and blinks like an owl in the light, but
never has anything really to say, except to boot
inarticulately at times to keep up its own cour-
age" In contrasting the Independent with the
partizan press, the Sun states that t is only the
independent press which can join vigor to truth,
and be racy without being wrong Sometimes
when the Independent press attacks partizan fol-
lies, there is cry that it is no longer impartial;
but an Independent press which never censured
party would soon cease to be Trustworthy"
We heartily endorse the sentiments of the Bal
timore Sun. The remarks quoted above are
planks from the platform upon which the
New York HERALD has stood during its
existence; but we are sorry to say that
the Baltimore san, and its confrre, the
Philadelphia Ledger, though very excellent at
preaching, are very lax in practice. The Sun
and the Ledgg are published under false pre-
fences. They assume to be Independent papers,
but we charge them with being pitiful neutrals,
and quote the language Of the Sun to prove that
our charge is the living truth. The Sun and the
Iedgr are both owned by the same persons,
Meszrs Swain & Abell men who have worked
their own way to fortune from the
smallest beginning. The joint circulation Of
these journals amounts to seventy thousand
sheets daily Neither of them have shown their
hands in the great Presidential contest which il
now being waged They are published on the
battle ground. where the fight Is hottest and the
result is the most doubtful, and they have never
yet indicated their opinions. No one who knows
the proprietors of these journals would so far in
suit them as to say they have no opinions on the
great questions which have agitated the country
during the past six months. Their past histories
prove them to be men OF ability, energy, perse-
verance and sagaeity. Such mems opinions arc
always firm, decided and generally with the
right Yet we find them winking and blinking,
like an owl in the night, but never having any
thing really to say, except to boot inarticuately
at times to keep up their own courage.
Think what power these men might WELD with
their seventy thousand sheets, and their three
hundred thousand readers, and then think how
contemplate is their course, in throwing away all
this power, ignoring their duty as journalists,
and insulting their readers by never having an
opinion of their own. That they know their
duty is clearly proven by their own words and
that they wilfully neglect it, to gain few paltry
dollars for political advertisements, is also pain
fully apparent.
If the proprietors Of the San and the Lolger
had the excuse ofpoyerty, they might plead 1t in
extenuation, but they are rich-rich beyond
their most sanguine hopes, when as poor printers,
with cash capital Of less than two dollars,
they published the first numbers Of the Led
ger. Their conduct is contemplate and wholly
without pallation. We take leave Of them,
with another quotation from their own words
The time will come when the neutral and par
tisan papers will almost cease to be- for there is
no press in the long run, which can be trusted,
except the independent press"