The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-07

During tie four centuries which have rolled
away since the art preventative OF all arts-,he
invention of printing its earlier victo-
res upon the banks Of the Rhine, the world Of
letters has eeen many and wonderful changes.
For our English classics we go back to the Eliza
bethsn era, to the days of rare Ben Joason aud
| glorious Milton, stately Dryden and sweet Will
Sbakspere. Books in those days were expensive
manifestations were badly paid printers made
fortunes. The newspaper was mere official
gazette, or an ephencral expression of the gossip
Of he coffee house. or the slang Of the river and
the street. From this condition the newspaper
did not emerge in hundred years or more.
Indeed, a the commencement Of the present CEN
fury, journalism, as a special vocation, was ull-
known. The editor of the official gazette was
called the printer of it; he simply superintendent
the publication Of number Of notices, adver-
tisemenis, etc.
In the United States subsequent to the
| Revolution, the newspapers were entirely at
tie disposal Of the political parties Of the day;
and so fierce were their contentious that Presi-
| dent Adams thought 1t necessary to lock up
| number of editors, who were released by Mr..
| Jefferson. There was no special Improvement in
he press of the country for thirty years after
| that day. The English newspapers--t London
Tine, at the head-had progressed remarkably,
and had become power in the realm. The
American journal, however, was aways con-
trolled by knot Of political wire pullers, who
used 1t to forward their own ends, and viewed it
in no other light than that of party machine.
The publishers and editors were usually poiti-
clans; but in any event, for peculiarly reasons,
always bad the same narrow views as the polti-
clans. Thus the circulation of the newspaper
was circumscribed and its influence contracted
No man could be found who had the ability and
the pluck to establish newspaper and make it
successful on its own merits, and altogether
separate from parties or ciques of any
kind--poliical, social, commercial, religious
or financial. 1t was very simple thing, plain
and easy as the principle Of the steam engine,
vet no one did it, and the United States was
without living newspaper until the first num-
Der Of the New YORK HERALD appeared, twenty
aud three years ago. From the smallest begiu-
nines, but upon definite aud an original plan,
which was never once departed from, this journal
steadily progressed to its present position when
We can say with truth that the sun never sets
upon all of our readers at the same time.
The HERALD was the pioneer of the Independent
press in this country. Up to the time when it
was established there was no such thing known
as daily journal which sustained itself by it.
SELF We asked for the aid of no class--mer-
chants, politicians or traders; in time their
support, and the support Of the whole pub
lie, came to us by the action Of the ma
tural laws Of trade. People who desired the
HERALD bought it. Its advertising columns only
were open to all who saw ft to call attention to
their wants or their wares. The paper grew
with the growth and strengthened with the
strength Of this great metropolis, the young giant
Of the West, to whose gates pours the commerce
of the world. And we may say, in passing, that
it is the city Of New York which has made the
NEw YoRK HERALD what it is-a self sustaining
concern, like any Of the great mercantile houses
If our circulation beyond the city limits should
suddenly be cut off it would be matter of small
consequence to u.s. Subsequent to the establish
ment of this journal several limitations of il
have sprung up, without, however, injuring its
prestige. As we were the first to print real
newspaper, so we have led in every enterprise to
extend the sphere of the press and to increase
the facilities for the swift and correct transmits
sion Of news from point to point At every i'm
portant point our correspondents are on the
alert, and we are ready to send special commits
soners to the antipodes if circumstances require
such an effort.
While the independent press has thus been
growing to be the first power in the country,
the political press, which was once quoted, up
held and sworn by, has gradually fallen in pub
lie estimation until it is now nothing more than
the tool in the hands of pimps and spoilsmen.
Once, and in our day, the people were ruled by
a few persons, who made political oligarchy,
and used the press to set forth their DEGREES
Only one side Of question ever saw the light
of types. Now the Independent press gives
every possible view of o great public question,
sifts it, argues it, Analyses it, ventilates it, and
never leaves it until the public thoroughly I'M
derstands it. Discussion of the topics of the day
is entirely free. So people think for themselves
Formerly their thinking was done by an implied
contract as in the Old World. That diffusion of
IDEAS that quick perception, that acute intel
lectuality, that ever ready and almost invariably
just public opinion for which our people, distinct
from the politicians, are distinguished, come
from the two great levers Of civilization--the in
dependent press and the free public school, Of
what consequence to-day is the Washington
press? Who in the world cares what the Union
or the haelgeacr, or, indeed, any other political
journals, say about any of the questions of the
day? No one; because it is known that they are
dependent upon their masters for their bread, and
their opinions are bought with price and cx-
pressed under the whip Of party. And this is