Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-04-13
CORRESPONDENTS

4
irqton-7he Civil Rights bill passed in the
Senate orer the Veto-Hon. james Brooks
unseated-General Grants Reception The
Presidents Peace Proclamation.
Mr.. EDITOR:
1t is interesting and not unfrequently
amusing, to observe the management and
conduct Of the newspapers Of the national
metropolis. We have three morning, and
two evening journals. and eaeh in its way
is striving to cater for all he different
shades of political opinion, bat with what
success these diverse effects are put forth
is not so certain. Political newspapers in
our great cities, and particularly in Wash
ington. are not near so influential as their
conductors and editors are wont to i'm
imagine. Your well conducted country
paper is ten times more potert in holding
public opinion. than these central journals,
for they neutralize each Others influence.
For instance who of all the numerous
readers of the New York Herald cares fig
for its editorialss They have no more in
nuence upon public opinion than last
years almanac; because those who read
the Herald, read also the Tribune. Times
and World. 1t is very much the same With
the bulk of the readers of our Washington
papers.
Government organs have no influence at
all. They are particularly state, fiat, and
Improbable Mr.. Lincoln had the good
sense to see this. and hence ignored all or
gans. and the wisdom Of his course in this
regard was potent to all. and contributed
much towards popularizing his administra-
ton. Mr.. johnson however seems to have
determined from the start to have an organ
and there has consequently been mighty
struggle going on here for months, among
the aspirants for the crumbs which fall
from the masters table.
Long time in even scale the battle hung"
And it was question for sometime wheth-
er Col. T. b. Florence. Of the Constitu-
tional Union. John F. Coyle Of the Old
National Intelligencer, or S. p. l1anscom
of the Evening Republican, would win
But the lot has fallen to the iatter, and on
Monday morning last, the Republican
came out with its FIRST morning issue. with
flags flying. and magnificent troupe
of grandiioquent plati.udes paraded in its
columns, all declaring in unmistakable
language 1--WE have won thebattlc." The
Republican. then, is the Presidents organ;
and some wicked people hereabouts. who
do not seem to have the fear of ar. John
sou before their eyes. cal! it1thc "Tailor's
Goose" The ostensiblc editor of the Re-
publican. is Mr.. s. P. Hanscom; but the
real editor is G. eneral John l.. Swift. an
old time Massachusetts, aboltionist. of the
most radical tyPc-a gentleman wha few
months since signalized his advent into
Washington, by delivering speech in one
Of our halls in favor Of universal negro
suffrage. Mr.. Swift addressed a johnson
nc citing held here on Thursday evening
last, in which he lSwift) made haste to re-
cant his lifelong principles, and to endorse
my policy" as the President calls it
The remarks Of Senator Cowan. and some
others against aboiitionists and radicals,
must have been very refreshing to this gen
tleman on that occasion.
General Swift is the clerk of the COM
mittce on Foreign Relations, Of which Mr.
Banks is chairman. and receives a salary
of $500 a year. He is man OF some
brains. considerable tact, and more than
an average modicum of political cunning
and if he were not hampered By Pre.iden-
tsl policies. he would make very reada.
bic paper but as it is, his words will be
Of no account, and when governmental
patronage ceases, the Republican will be,
to use the elegant simile of Mr.. johnson.
"a dead duck" Such has been the fate
OF all organs since time immemorial. Mr..
Hanscom. whose name appears rs editor,
"does the heavy business" of the concern
He is well adapted to that role. In the
meantime. we may congratulate the coun-
try that the President has at length an or
gan! 1t is not the stately conservative
an.idiluvian, National Intelligencer. not
the Copperhead Constitutional Union a,
the head of which stands the gallant Col.
Florence. but it is the once radical. and
now renegade National Republican. The
great statesman who is the reputed author
Of the contentious phrase. 'every man ha.
his price," was probably correct. or at
least, if he were living now he might af-
firm it. without fear Of successful contra
diction.
The Inteiiigeneer,the Star, the Constitu-
tional Union, and the Republican, all sur
port the Presidents policy as it is called
On the side of Congress and the people,
We have The morning Chronicle, an ably
conducted journal, which has the true ring
and the clarion tones Of which give no un-
certain sound. 1t is the sheet-anchor of
truth, freedom. loyalty, and good govern
ment. 1t belongs 20, and is conducted BY
Col J. w. Forney, one Of the most saga
cious. clear headed, and able journalists in
the country.
Daniel O'Connell the great Irish agita-
tor once said of himself that she was the
best abused man in the united kingdom -
Col. Forney's friends may truthfully say
that he is indeed, the best abused man in
the United States. For years as an inlu-