Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-06-29
Nzr. Greelyss Letter--the Press and the
. Politicians -...-.. b.

1 The letter, SO much talked about, from Hor
ace Greeley TO Gov. Seward, which the latter
showed around privately among his friends
! to prove its writer to have been actuated by
personal motives in his course in regard to the
! late Presidential nomination, appeared in our
columns yesterday. 1t is document full OF
meaning, and one not to be lightly forgotten.
1t was written in the frankness and fearlessness
of an honest heart, with no thought that the
public was ever to share in this confidence. 1t
was addressed to great statesma n, then in the
height of his power, indicating to him that
a newspaper editor " was no longer to be re-
lied Oh to do hard work for his personal ad-
vancement, receiving not merely neglect but
abuse as his reeompense. z7 e.=
With nanifestly some feeling, through all of
which great deal Of calm philosophy is APP
parent, the reasons for " dissolving" any sup
posed personal ties or obligations existing be-
tween the two are impressively set forth. A
genuine mau!iness, which no one who respects
himself can fail to admire, pervades this episte.
Mr.. Greedy losses nothing by its publication.
Mr.. Seward, least of all, gains anything. Hav-
ing shown the letter around, and thus made it
subject of public comment, he could not right
fully refuse, though it seems that he long hesi-
tated to give it into Mr.. Greeley's possession
on demand. Nor could the latter have prop
erly withheld it from the public.
We are not about to discuss in detail the
personal relations of Mr.. Greeley and Mr..
Seward. 1t is very certain, however, that the
former is more sinned against than SHINING in
this case. Although he had abundant provo
cot finn he hoe ,uaJa no rpsanrnlu Or ,rirc+
fare upon Mr.. Seward. We are not aware of
anything he has ever said or done in regard to
the latter, which it was not his perfect right
to say and do, as freeman, or which was not
strictly just in itself. Whatever services he
ever rendered Mr.. Seward were gratuitous, and
certainly imposed on him no obligation to con
time aiding that gentIeman's personal advance
ment, especially to the injury of the cause in
which both were laboring.
Since the time Mr. Seward first entered into
political life, considerable change has un-
taken place in the relative power
and Importance of the press and the politi-
clans. Some of the latter, very naturally, have
failed to keep pace with this progress, and
perhaps have even degenerated, in their est-
mates of the journalist. as they have them
selves advanced in consideration and authority.
If the press was once generally subject to the
molding hand of Senators and Governors, and
the newspaper editor was, to any extent, a
mere puppet to be played by that class of peo-
pie, rewarded with smiles only, or empty COM
plinents, and frowned upon for every nlanifesr
tation of independence, through accident or
in lucid interval of self respect, such is the !
case no longer That statesman commits a
great mistake who imperiously demands any
support of the press on the master and servant
basis. No public journal commands any pop |
llar conFdence which does not keep itself in
dependent of such influences. The time has
come, in fact, when politicians are far more
strictly at the mercy of the press, than the
contrary p Cincinnati Gazette.