The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-25
THE PRESS AND PUBLIC MEN.

AS an edltCF, IN IDe n5rle VI USiIS SOhSASNA
able freedom of speech, we shall hardly be sus-
pected of q willingness to concede single right
of the Press. Public men are public property;
their acts aud words are legitimate subjects OF
comment and criticism. The Press can do
| much to increase or diminish their influence
much to strengthen or weaken their position in
the confidence of the People. 1t overlooks at
times it's own power in these respects. 1t may
not consider how much mischief may be done
BY hasty report, thoughtless imputation, an
When hostile press assails statesman, no.
body is surprised-we are on our guard, and
are quick to detect the prejudice or party feel
ing which dictates and colors the attack. But,
when a man is wounded in the house of his
friends, the impression goes abroad that an Of
fence which can constrain Friendship to strike
the blow, must be indeed grievous one.
The truth is, Human Nature is apt to be in
tolerant, and Human Nature has good deal
to do with the issues of the Press. Is it not
true, also, that the masses of the People are
more ready to believe evil than good of their
public men? 1t may be, because they have
been 60 often deceived, or because they have
been trained in the doctrine of total depravity ::
but whatever the cause, confidence is plant
of slow growth, and, when grown, so frail, as
to be easily blighted.
The Republican Press, especially that of
New York, seems to watch the conduct of Re-
publican leaders in Congress with a jealousy 80
| extreme as almost to exclude generous conf.
| dence. 1t does not always await full and an.
thentic reports of their doings, but should
their words or votes, as announced hurriedy by
the telegraph, seem not exactly right, it is
quite possible tina. the next mornings leader
may be serious discourse on their lamentably
wrong position. Men who are engaged in
great struggle for great object, ought to be a
little forbearing towards one another-wstch
over each other for good-tolerate opinions not
at war with the Idea that combines them for
single purpose overlook eccentricities of move
ment not incompatible with the achievement of
this purpose-bewsre of exalting every point of
difference into question of overshadowing i'm
portance, raising issues calculated to divide and
embarrass.
We had occasion, more than year ago, to
vndicate Mr.. Hale against severe, an unjusti6.
able assault, made by q Republican paper in
New York, the editor of which now is better
prepared to do justice to the devotion which
that Senator has uniformly manifested to the
rights of mankind, since be took his position
on the Texas question in l845. Gerrit Smith
refused when in Congress to join in struggle
OF endurance against q measure pressed by a
majority, and the insufficient reasons he assigned
for it, were made the subject of extended and
severe comment by Republican papers, carried
to such an extent as to raise doubt in some
minds of his Anti-Slavery fidelity. What an
absurdity! 1t was proper to dissent from his
conduct, and expose the insuficiency of the
plea on which it was justified, but why pursue
him as if he had committed grave error?
A short time ago, a miserable story about
money lent to Mr.. Banks, told in such a way as
to convey the impression that his action while
Speaker in regard to the Tariff had been infu-
enced BY it, was published in New York Re-
publican paper, which previously had shown no
particular good will to that gentleman. There
was not a particle of truth in it, as was subse.
quently shown, AID it ought never to have ap.
peared in Republican paper
And now, the next nan aasa a is E Migls
Post of New York have elaborate articles
upon him, to Fay nothing of shorter paragraphs
which, without any such intention on their
part, are impressing some minds with the idea
that he has either fallen, or is about falling.
like Daniel Webster. If we did not know him
to be just what he has always been since he
stood out from his Party in New York, as Gov.
ernor of that State, stating and virdicatine, in
hrs correspondence with the Governor of Vir.
ginia, the Principles on which the Anti Slavery
movement rests; to stand just where he has
always stood since that time, supporter of those
principles-we should infer from the newspaper
comments upon him, that he had at last aposta
tized and done work meet to be praised BY the
Pro Slavery Party. One says he has renowned
allegiance to the Republican Party; another.
that he announces that the battle between Free.
dom and Slavery is over another, that he is in
favor of a permanent augmentation ofthe stand
ing army; another, that he has given up
Kansas, and 80 on. To show the effect of this
newspaper criticism, we quote the following:
William b. Seward, through bis able de.
fences of Freedom and the belief in his faith.
fulness to the rights of the freemen of Kansas.
was elected Senator; and for no other reason |
obtained the true Democratic votes of New
York, and without which he could not have
been elected. Ny determination is, az far as |
my study of sixty years will enable me, with |
devoted watchfulness to promote the liberty of |
my country and true Democratic principles. |
but l advocated and supported him, notwith. |
standing his profusion in the application of |
public money by bis votes but w. H. Seward, |
having failed in his devotion to the freedom of |
Kansas, thereby the perpetuity of our liberties,
can never again obtain my support, nor that |
will venture to say, of the State thai sent him.
If were in our State Senate, should advo- |
cate to instruct him to vote against the in |
crease OF the army, as We have enough already, |
If the bayonets against Freedom were with |
drawn from Kansas Webster, through his
ambition, was slain; W. e. Seward for. what
will not now say. As the honor of Massa. |
chusetts was furnished by Daniel Webster. so |
is that of New York by w. 81. Seward. men
of (hardly) equalled talents in their several
States. Woe to men of great talents with
greater vices. A DEMOCRAT.
"P. S.-To the National Era"
Now, if our friend could have had something
beside the telegraphic reports and newspaper
discourses to judge from. he would not have
been so hasty. Had he been in possession of
the files of the Congressional Globe, contain.
ing an authentic report of all that Mr.. Seward
has said and done about the army bill, he