The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-12-21
WHOLE NO. 1855.
The Indepc nt(ens Press.

The Independent Press.
Occasional" the brilliant correspondent,
Of the Philadelphia Press, very truly says
i that wherever newspaper has prospercd
in this country, the secret Of its success is
to he found in the fact that the editor has
either been entirely independent of mere
politicians, or if a partisan, has devoted him.
self to news and literature" VIE
Truer words than these were never writ.
ten, and if newspaper editors would lay them
to heart, their bank account, at the end ol
their career, would be in much more sat.
isfactory state than thsy are likely to be as
party hacks. In confirmation Of his opin.
ion, Occasional" gives resume Of the press
of the country, which SHOWS in marked
manner what poor success the mere politi-
clans have, when compared with the jour-
nalists who devote themselves to news and
literature. The greatest newspaper success
in this country is unquestionably the New
York Her.la. 1t has in turn supported all
the prominent parties in the country, has
been entirely unreliable as an organ Of opin-
ions; but so successfully has it catered to
the wants Of the reading public, so keen has
been its scent for news, that people will buy
it and support it, because the Reraldis is sure
to have the news, together with all the
piquant personal and political gossip of the
day.
The New York Times started as Repub-
lican paper, found it did not pay, and now
pitches in all around in most refreshing
style. The Tribune is political paper and
has consequently the smallest circulation
and influence of the three leading New
York papers. 1t has large country week
ly edition, which Is kept up solely bv the
remarkable talent Of its editorial writers. -
Even the Tribune, at times, is compelled to
'spit" upon its party's platform, and its
conductors will acknowled ge that they have
made much more by it than by their SUBJ
serviency to party preiudices. Boston has
many newspapers, but none of them have
mad, their mark upon the country, because
they have generally been party organs, and
th:ir editors the recipients of party pa p.-
Col. Greene, Of the Post, is always in office;
Col. Schouler, Of the Atlas, is Clerk of the
House Of Representatives and all the pa
pers have been the organs Of the different
cliques into which Boston is divided
In Philadelphia, the Ledger is the great
newspaper success, yet it stands entirely
aloof from party politics. The Tsnnsylea-
nian, even, when edited by Forney, never
paid expenses; but the Press, which is in
dependent of party, is doing well.
In st. Louis, the Republican is the great
paper. 1t was an old Whig paper, but it
came out for Buchanan, and is now for
Douglas; but its changes did not affect its
influence, because it was a good newspaper
The Evening Bulletin, Of St. Louis, is also
a splendid paper, and is weak only in being
Democratic organ.
In New Orleans, the Picayune is the
greatest success, and is independent.
Chicago has not yet got over its country
village proclivities for partisan papers,
The Press & Tribune and the Times, are
both good papers, but neither Of them have
yet reached the dignity Of metropolitan jour-
nalism. Their discussions of political topics
are injured by the partisan temper they
betray.
Of the western weekly papers that reach
US, the North Iowa Times is one of the very
best. 1t is a Democratic paper, but then It
contains but little politics, and is iull Of news.
The Aurora Beaco'. is fine paper, but
its Rcpublicanism is Of minor importance,
compared with its other excellencies.
There are number of western journals
that just escape being first-class, owing to
their intense partisanship. Tn, Dubuque
Herald and the Milwaukee Neacs are both
examples of this description of journals.
This resume should be caution to Jour
nalists. News is the first, the second and
the third consideration with readers, and
the paper that will best supply this public
necessity, will reap the richest reward.
The above article is clipped from the
Rockford Qlls.) Daily Ne,cs. We are OBJ
bligcd to the Ne,es for its favorable notice of
the North Iowa II res, but as we work hard
to make our paper pass muster, we accept
the pretty talk, and continue to pull away
at an inkstand that hasn't drop of color
in it for the reputation Of any one on account
Of his political opinions. Our Democracy
is good many years old now, and we would
not swapit for the brightest fancy of modern
'higher-law" reformers; but we want no
man. be he ever so great, to come to this
sanctum claiming serrice of us because of
the identity of our political views, nor shall
a candid and manly opponent of ours be
ta6ooed, personally, because we condemn
his politics.