The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-28

x000-Ihe
s,on " the IndsPendsnt Journalist.
The debate In the British House OF Com
mons apropos to the irrepre@ible conflict
between Mr.. Walter, of the London Times
newspaper, and Mr.. Horsman, taken to.
ee.her with the awful massacre of Julius
Cesar Seward by JuDius Brutus Greeley,
with the funeral GRAFTON OF Marc Antony
Raymond, affords fine commentary upon the
progress of the Independent press in the only
countries where it can be thoroughly and en-
tIely free. The position of the London Times
is exactly the same "a that of the NEW YORK
HERALD. 1t assumes the privilege of public
censor; attached to no party, welded to no
Greco, Influenced by no clique, the Times criti-
cises public men from an Independent stand
point, and is the medium whereby the force of
public opinion Is brought to bear upon the
public servants. The Premier gracefully &C.
knowledged the power of the press, and de-
fenced the managing editor of the Times, Mr..
Delane, from some slurs which had been thrown
out in the course Of Mr.. Horsman's remarks.
Lord Palmerston alluded to Mr.. Delane as his
equal socially, while Mr.. Horsman was obliged
to confess that Mr.. Walter, as the heaviest pro-
prietor in the Times newspaper, was the most
powerful member sitting upon the floor of the
House CT Commons. If we contrast these &C.
acknowledgements Of British Statesmen, who are
far superior in education, mental training and
practical experience, to say nothing of personal
purity and all the externals and Intervals of gen.
tlemen, to our public men, with the vulgar at
tacks made upon prominent journalists by mem
bers OF Congress at Washington, we shall find
that the independent press of the United States
has still great work before it. We believe,
however, that the journalists OF the day. and the
generation which is to follow them, will be
equal to the work before them. The inpor-
lance Of that work can hardly be overrated.
As the republic has grown in wealth and ma
teIial resources the government has become
corrupt. The public funds have been plum.
dered right and left. Legislatures are bought
and sold like so much beef or mutton and the
Capitol of the nation Is turned into brokers
shop.
This state of things has not passed unnoticed
abroad. 1t bias been used as an argument
against republican governments, and has
well nigh discouraged the friends of free insti-
tutiAs in Europe, as well as the United States.
In the British Parliament, prominent speakers
on the tory benches have detained against
the extension of the right of suffrage, on the
ground that all our troubles spring from the
freedom of the ballot box. On the Continent,
the arguments Of the republicans have been
met by citations from American journals, show.
ing that when the popular voice is the supreme
law Of the land, there is really no law worth
mentioning. AT home, the respectable classes
Of the community acknowledge the existence
Of the evil, deplore it, but neither suggest a
remedy nor tase any active part In an effort to
secure one. The general impression is that
no remedy can be had. This is an error.
The remedy has been growing up side by
TO eradicate, If II fulfls its chosen
mission. In the independent press will
be found the panacea for the diseases of
the body polite. For five and twenty years we
have been at war with the corrupt politicians
of all parties and at all points. We have not
hesItated to rebuke and expose the corrupt,
lying, wicked, vulgar, trading politicians, Of
all cliques and at all timea Now we proclaim
them what We know them to be, whether at
Albany, or Washington, or Charleston, or Chi
csgo-all spoilfmen, all seeking their own ag-
grandizs ment, and utterly Indifferent as to the
fate OF the country, so they secure their own
personal sgerandizement
1t is against this system Of political corrup-
tion that we have declared eternal war, and,
with other Independent Journalists, will main
tain II to the end That the masses of the peo-
pie appreciate free press may be readily I'M
dsrstocd from the rapid decay Of the old party
organs and the prosperity of the Independent
press. No purely partisan journal In this coun-
try has particle Of influence over the public
mind, While the leading metropolitan journals
WELD power which makes the most power.
full party leaders shake like the Assyrian
at the handwriting on the wall. This power
increases daily, while the prestige Of the po-
litical leader dimirifbes In an exact ratio. The
people begin 10 find that when true picture
Of their hero is presented to Them, be is only
very poor clay, after all.