The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-05
TAe New.pspers Of New YerL


SATURDAY MORNING.. JAN. S Isw1
The Newspapers Of New York
Thirty years ago the newspaper press O.
New York compared favorahiy in dignity and
AGILITY with that Of any city in the world L
was fat: representative of the New Yorl
OF that 'ime-solid, anpretending, moral, and
patriotic. Tae class OF sensation papers had
not then arisen. The prolific ,sms of the day
were then known only in New England. and
were only noticed now and then in a shor,
paragraph in the New York papers as curious
exhibitions OF human eccentricity. The New
York An,e,iean, The New York Spectator, the
Post. the CeErts,, &C. of that day, were emf
nentiy able. disnIfed and patriotic journals
The editors. Kine, Srosg, NOAH, LkeeKrT.
and Others, were gentlemen OF education aid
- high social position, and the influence OF jour
naiism In their hands was not only to enlght-
en-, bat TO improve, elevate and fenne AT
that time. the press had none of those power
fai auxiliariss Of steam aud electricity which
now give wings to Intelligence, but with The
resources and appliances at its command, IL
met as promptly and faithfully all the req aire.
ments of the public upon II as the modern
newspaper 1t was welcome visitor at every
no stag or stain behind it. or course, at that
period, such a thing AS abolitonism was an q.
known. In the city of New York at tha. day,
an aboiitionist was as great a curiosity as a
rh,noceros. The New England element had
thu n bat a limited representation in New York
society, and the tone Of The whole pres. of the
Empire Ciy was eminently patriotic and
conservative. Indeed, In ali Christendom
bar t,.a
public-spirited city than the New York OF
thirty or forty years ago no city whose pro-
fsssional, business and working classes stood
higher in intelligence and efficiency, and none
whose press was a wortnier and more faithful
representative Of public elevation and senti-
ment
We know that the New York of the present
day turns up its nose at the New York OF
fifty years ago, but in nothing except mere
numbers does 1t deserve to be named in the
same century. Even that material wealth
and power which 1t SO exultiDgly contrasts
with the simplicity and plainness of n former
era, are but the products of the wisdom and
energy of the leading men Of that very era
which they so much despise. Where are the
De Witt CLINTON and DANIEL ID. ToMPKINs
among their statesmen Where is the Bishop
HoDxRT or DR.. JOHN MASON among their cler-
gymenl Where are the ALEXANDER HAMIL-
TONS, the ROBERT EMMEr.9, the AARON
BCRRs, the KENTs, the VAN NEssEs, VAN
RkhskELAKRs, GRosvsNoRs, LIvINGsToNs.
HoFFMANs, &c, at their BARS Where is their
ROBERT FULToNl These are the men who
once gave tone and character to New York
society, and who laid he foundation of that
Alps of greatness on which the pigmes of the
preseGi day stride with such q concei ted smiIk
and look down with So many lofty airs upon
better people than themselves.
The mammoth news paper of New York to-
day is Il wonderful contrast in size and pre-
tansion to the modest sheet of former years;
but, except In its purely commercial articles,
which owe their superior merit and value
only 10 the superior commercial enterprise
and business of the city, there is no single
respect in which they do not fa.i behind the
New York press of a quarter Of 4 century ago.
There was more Information, more scholar
ship, more OF every quail fieation necessary TO
the instruction and guidance of the public,
among the editors of that day than the present
Instead of the naaseating pedantry of the.
Tribune, there was the genuine scholarship OF
such paper as the New York American,
whose editor was afterwards elected cresideut
of that noble Institution, Columbian College;
Instead of the ella borate and dismal ficetious-
ness Of DoEsTICKs, The sparkle of NoAHs |
asIightfui humJr made bis Star ~ one OF the |
most attractive of newspaper luminarIes. II |
was about twenty fivs years ago, we think, |
that the "res pectab!e journals Of the city, as
they were called in derisIon by those OF an |
opposite Character, began to be endowed aside |
BY innovators of the latter class. As New
70 increased in wealth and population, the
siaid old residents were thrust TO The wall by |
ad venturers from every land under Heaven,
embracing among them many honest and good
people, BAT vast mum berot fanatics, reprobates
aud villains Of every hue and dye. the de-
PRAYED element of population produced de-
PRAYED press, Whicn took root in the moral de-
which is eDgen dered by TOO great
prosperity and was fertiliZ-d to over shadow
lag roportioGs by the increasing social cor
ruptions OF the times. Indeed, when We re-
fleet upon the commanding position of New
York in the American Confederacy, and think
of the effect which a corrupt and debauched
journalism in that central point must exert
upon the public tastes ana morals, we may
we'll question whether the freedom of the
press, far as our own country is concerned,
has not proved a curse ms lead of a blessing.
Such u paper as The N Y. Tribune, conducted
IN the principle Of making money out of the
A BOLTON fanaticism and sectional hatred of
he Northern people, could not have existed in
he better days of New York. No one expects ,
rom it common sense but to look for COM
non decancy and common humanity, in a
ournal which is the recognized leader of the |
argest party In the free States, ought not to | {
eem in this l9th century a very unreasona able ,
xpec ,ation. But 1t is an engine Of nothing ]
ut envy, malice, faisehood, hatred, aud all I
nchari'ableness. 1t is engaged every day in G
aiming the flames of civil aud serriIe war
descends TO the N iserable meanness of pub
shing letters written in its own office, from | :,
in the South who have no ex- | r
steuce, and it daily labors to excite the North
IN mind by stories of atrocities committed | b
pom Northern men in the Sou tn which it has :,
self cooked up, like its Southern correspond
nce la Its own witch's ci.uidron of detrac- | :
on, strife and deyilment. 1t gloats with |
endish delight over tales Of instruction, and | Y
dis every imaginable horror to both sexes y
nd all ages, which must follow that state of u
lings which 1t is laboring to produce, like :;
sweet morsel under its tongue Such jour
Ills as the Express and the Journal of
'mmsree present noble specimens of New s
Jrk journalism Of former days; but, alas '
ey have not the ear Of the Northern !,
y bic.
l
MIR. Stephens, of Georgia. II
MT I