The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-06

J0urnslfsm.
1t was the theory of the Inqui., and Of
other Institutions equally intolerant, tnat all
human thought must be brought to the .ntel-
lectual level of some one or two men, and that
for any individual to 60 beyond that level and
pretend to have opinions of his own was mis-
chievous and a crime. Under that system any
undue temerity in the use of ones reason
worked inevitable divorce between his head
and his shoulders, or involved the equally I'M
comfortable consequence Of expiating all little
plumbers at the stake. That was q simple
plan, and saved great deal Of argument and
disputation. 1t was so much easier, on the
average, to ind the joints in mans vertebpe
than the weak points in his argument, and even
so much easier to slash through bone and all
than to give him IN answer But that was the
plan of darker age than ours, and it has been
generally thought that we had done with it.
Quite another theory Is certainly supposed to
underlie our American system. 1t is the theory
Of this system that differences Of opinion
are not crimes, one way or the other; that men
may differ from one another honestly enough
in thought, and that such differences are
entitled to courteous hearing and reason
able answer. The tendency Of this more
moderate theory is humanizing. While it
makes discussion freer and gives the world a
better chance to know the truth on any given
topic, it also, by involving certain respect for
ones adversary, softens the acerbities Of dis
pute, and modifes, if no more, that rancor
and extravaganza Of expression which call
down on those who use it the contempt of all
thinking men.
1t is pity that this good modern and
American theory as to freedom of opinion Is
not generally received by the press. 1t is to
be regretted that there are those who set up
for censors of public opinion who still act in
the same spirit that made the Inquisition
atrocious, and lack only the power of that
ton of the extremities to which men
will carry the tyranny of intolerance.
But, deprived by the progress of knowledge
and civilization of all the old machinery
with which it tortured humanity, we
yet see that this same tyranny of opinion,
use the one contemplate weapon that the law
has left it-vituperation. We see this in the
recent course of the Tribune. That journal has
lately endeavored to break the force of GER
tain utterances Of ours by describing them
in disgracefll terms, of which, fortunately for
the American press, it has the monopoly. ODE
liberate, atrocious, scoundrelly falsehood."
"You lie." "Tbe writer does lie-means to lie."
'Wicked, deliberate, villanous le." "a gigan-
tic liza lie with circumstance and deliberate
intent" "Wilful, conscious liar" These terms
of Incorporate passion, these rawlings of in
sensate fury, are printed in paper Of reputed
decency. These lessons in blackguardism go
forth as part and parcel of American journal
ism. We know very well that they excite
mainly the contempt and Indignation Of the
public against The one guilty Of their utterance,
and they are far from reaching US; but in the
interest Of the simplest proprieties Of discus
sion, weregret that there are men on the press
so ready to take the ensy resort to this style of
language whenever matter Of fact happens to
be against their prcjudiccs.
Though we find these words in the Tribune
we readily acquit Mr.. Greeley Of all participa-
his experience would not descend to describe
in such phrases even the most obnoxious state
ments, or to reduce political discussion to the
billingsgate fortunately so nearly excluded
from public journals. Some time ago il pleased
a President of the United States to offer us n
70 eign ministry, and in the reference to that
event which we saw in the editorial columns OF
the Tribune we recognized and appreciated Mr..
Greeley's view of the courtesies and amenities
Of editorial life. We can see how impossible II
would be for the author of that article to stoop
to such words as we quote above. Therefore
we impute to the senior editor of the Tribune
no other harm in this than that Of not making
his influence moro felt on the paper; that o.
| not reducing the raw exuberance Of his junior.
to such line as his own experience would die
| tate TO be wise and proper. Let him compel
bis evidently very young and unrcasoninp
writer's to drop coarseness and personality, Of
| otherwise to carry personality "a far as theiI
| signatures. Any reference TO shoots" made
| from behind an editorial eve" will hardly draw
the admiration of the public, for it Is open tc
the imputation of being very safe indul
| gence.
| ACCOMPLISHMENT, both personal and political
is the motive of usurper. BY his vetoes Pre-
sidcnt Johnson has voluntarily deprived him.
self of the golden opportunities for such ag
grandizcmcnt placed within his reach by Con.
gress. If this be usurpation make the most
oft.