Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-05-30
Parties ana she Press.

Under the above head the Boston Traveller sub
mits the following forcible, as we'll as just re-
marks, upon the position and mission of the In
dependent Press" which has of late years been
growing up in this country:
The plea that journal which discusses po.
litcal subjects, must necessarily be in the imme-
diate interest of some party, is one that is hard
TO eradicate from the American mind. Political
discussion means party fighting, according to
most mems manner Of viewing this matter. In
dependence in politics is something many people
have yet even 10 have their first idea of. Yet
there is no necessary connection between polti-
cal party and Journal that frankly urges views
which that party accepts and for the advance
mtnt of which it ostensby exists, though the real
object Of its organization is to place some few
persons in high Offices that they much desire to
hold, the chances being ten to one that they are
entirely unfit to be placed in public stations Of
any grade. The press has too long been the
slave Of organizations of this kind and has made
great men out of some of the very smallest kind
OF material that ever was worked over from its
raw state, into presentablc snowy and sometimes
tclerablc articles--things that have even been
known to wash in few extraordinary instan-
ccs.
Much is said Of the power Of the press, but the
greatest proofs it has afforded Of its creative
power are to be found in the lofty regulations it
believe it was Panurgc who demonstrated that
something could be made out OF nothing. by
quoting the large amount Of debt that he had
contracted. Had Rabelais lived in our tine, he
would probably have made q political party edit
or out of Panurge, who was so skillful in con-
verting nothing into very unsatisfactory a
something.
We bold that a Journal can take proper part
in political discussions. without having its adj
hcson 10 any organized body of politicians. It's
influence will generally be found to be in exact
proportion 10 its independence of n-of cliques
that are constituted secretly, to rule powerful
communities for the benefit of those who belong
to such cliques, and who have been aptly de-
scribed by q calm bnt keen observer Of our party
interests. rs practsed politicians. and skilled to
adjust those preliminary measures which steal
from the people, without its knowledge, the pow
or of choosing its own rulers Whatever Of evil
our country now suffers under, Of political or-
gin. is almost entirely owing TO the craft of these
political managers, and TO the subscrviency Of
the press to their DEGREES. in the face Of an in
dependent press. not one OF the deeds that have
caused SO much trouble to the nation could have
been accomplished. An art which has been Justly
raid to make knowledge the common property of
mankind, has in this way been compelled 10 min
lister to that interruptions individual ambition,
the qualification of which is rarely compatible
with promotion Of the general good.
A change for the better has been coming over
American journalism during the last few years.
II moves slowly TO be snre but this is rather to
be reoced over than to be deplorcd. All changes
that are destined to be improvements are ncces-
sarlT made gradually, and so are safe against
reaction. Independent journals are now TO be
found in all large places. Their number will in
crease while on the other hand. old party papers
are one by one dying-thus leaving the field clear
for better laborers This change L. partially due
Ia circumstances having no necessary connection
with politics but the leading cause is to be
found in the sounder views which men are be-
ginning to have OF their duties to their country.