New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-29
A PsxCuoLOGrCAL FACT.

Different animals are moved, in times Of danger,
by different instincts, some fighting, some running,
some using such offensive means to keep oil an
enemy ns nature has endowed them WITH Instinct
certainly is great matter, and is as unmstahable
in its workings in men as in beasts, for among men,
also, some, when In danger, fight; some run; some
lie and cozen, and resort to other disreputabe and
offensive methods of wardiDg of or escaping from
the apprehended peril. And, as it would not be
difficult to classify the men who, under certain
circumstances would resort to certain crimes, SO 1t
would be equally easy TO show that a common IN
stinct would prompt them all, the moment penalty
seemed imminent, to take at once to some common
defense.
The times present us case in point. Could
there have been predicted, for intsance. to
skllful psychologist, last Winter, the events Of
the ensuing Spring and Summer, and he bad
been asked to designate what weIl-known jour-
mails in this city and State would prove treach-
erous to The cause Of constitutional liberty, and
faithful, with moro or less cunning and earnest
ness, to tie man-selling oligarchy that has ruled
us so long, and is now in arms to continue that
rule, he would have had little difficulty in naming
them one by one. Certain attributes of charac-
ter, of temperament, of bluntness Of moral sense,
of lively though blind devotion to selfinterest, of
patural proclivlty to submit to the rule OF
master--qualites by which certain journals had
always been Dlustrated-would have pointed
them out as certain to be distinguished by tLeir de-
yoliOn to treason, and their sympathy with tral'
tors, whom hitherto they had always served WIN
answering and unqueston'ng faith. However
that devotion might be rendered; whether Wild
an uudisguised yiudctiveness, or as sly ana
hypocritical service, the end would be the same
to serve with pat fidelity which Slavery is apt
to epgender, that which they bad always looked
to as the governing class, in spite of any appeal
to the love of law and of liberty which the cir
cumstances of the time might make. They could
not comprehend the duty Of uphOldiDg what
seems to them O rebellion against their rightiul
masters.
At last the class is beset with a common
danger which threatens them more or less init
mately according to the frankness or the cunning
with which they have aided the work of treason.
But the peril, remote or near, impels them, with
q common Instinct, to common defense. IL IS
curious to observe how here, at Albany, IN
Coh;ectcut, at the West, in Maine, the moment
the Government proposes to take some notice OF
the mischieyous influence of the most malicious
of these journals, they oil cry with one voice.
" Not us. not US but those other newspapers !"
The most tlmid of oil creatures, and tue, proven
b,aly. most dishonest Of all the lower aDimHs VIII
double, when pursued on their own track, to
throw off the pursuers. So, also, with these Jour-
mails. Their object is TO cover up their own
conduct by finding fault with others, and en-
deayoring TO show that their opposition TO the
as they are careful not to
state, that they may aid its enemies in tbeir
efforts to undermine and overthrow its harm
less and mild while the mischief has been done
BIZ men who have criticised now and then the
policy or some single act, or some single officer |
Of the Government, not from enmity thereto, but |
from the fear that it needed to be more vigorous |
in its own defense.
SO remarkable is this instructive unanimity in |
all these journals which are openly or secretly |
in sympathy with the insurrectoDists, aud some |
times in their pay, it may be taken as an in-
Ialilble rule that a newspaper that attempts to
Justify itself by efforts to prove that it is not so
,ad as well-known loyal journals, or news
paper which the coercion of public opinion alone
las kept decent, that strives to turn public at
ert on away from Itself by directing it toward |
ournals against which is eonceiyes there may be
'ome prejudice. temporary or otherwise, are |
themselves conscious Of the imminence Of peril |
md of how certainly. if they had their deserts,
he penalty would fall on them