Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-07
THE PAPERS AND EDITORS OF GOTHAM
The New York News and the Tribune
Ben. Wood and Horace Greeley Bennett
and Raymond-The World and its Editor

Cor. Louisville Courier
New YoRK, April 27 AS little as we
may think it, there is no truer index to a
man character than the tone of his lit
erary productions. Character, it is true,
is expressed by everything pertaining to
the man-his voice, language, motions,
sentiments-jn word, everything, at
every moment, is perfect index to the
mental man Nature, in her own pecu-
liar way, writes all over every man his
natural history, and makes permanent
record of his individuality, but owing to
our imperfect natural education, we are
seldom able to interpret the language of
the psychical hieroglyphics of dame ma
ture on the human tablets, which we
daily meet.
Many fine disquisitions have been
written in illustration of this obscure
subject, but the writer's have generally
been mere theorists, and have hence
neglected those essential and practical
facts which are developed alone by ac-
tual observation. Nor can we determine
the precise mode by which we arrive at
our conclusions, even when WE have had
abundant opportunities for observation.
Our impressions come to us apparently
by intuition, and though there are some
trite sayings about " first impressions,
l feel convinced from long observation
and an excellent opportunity that as
every man tries to hide as much as pos
sible his natural character, We can only
get perfect knowledge of the man by
long, close and intelligent observation.
Qox xrtx nhrfn
mites to critically observe the great
newspaper men of New York, propose
to draw few pen and ink sketches of
prominent editors in the great CONNER
cial metropolis. And / begin with
JAMES GORDON BENNETT AND THE HERALD.
In regard to no man and no paper is
there greater popular misapprehension
than of Mr. Bennett and the Herald.
The common impression that Bennett is
a great and talented editor, and the Her
aid a leading and influential paper-in
fact, the paper of New York and the
United States, as judged by its power
and inhuence-is one of those curious
mistakes which our people are constantly
making.
In the first place, Mr. Bennett is an in
different editor, but good financier and
general manager of newspaper, where
conscience, consistency, principle-even
common honor-are made subservient to
mere money-getting. Mr. Bennett, when
he first set out to make a newspaper,
adopted policy eminently calculated to
secure success, and the justice must be
done him to say that his policy has been
successful Everybody in New York
reads his paper; everybody advertlses in
il; and yet there is no paper in this city
in which the public have less confidence.
He has good writers employed on his
paper. correspondents are energetic
and talented, and they are found in every
part of the world They are literally
paid, and whatever is matter of public
interest will generally be found in the
Herald, and, if possible, in advance of
all competitors. Itis this fact which has
led the public to read the Herald. Its
editorials are usually well written, but
never very reliable, because the Herald
does not lead or build public opinion,
but caters thereto and follows the pepu
lar tide; no single month can be shown
for fifteen years past wherein the Herald
has followed with any consistency a sim
gle principle save that of money getting. |
Mr. Bennett indicates TO his editors
the tone to be expressed in reference TO
public measures or local circumstances,
and these in every instance follow the |
bent Of public opinion. As political |
organ, the Herald is absolutely valueless. |
Unlike the Tribune or Neirs. it never
bold and defiant principles,
aud in defiance of the popular will, con-
stantly pursues the advocacy thereof. |
One day the Herald will have a bold and
article on some subject, |
but the elear-sighted proprietor of the
Herald, seeing that the popular voice is
he reverse Of the Herald article of the
lay before, orders silence thereon or a
reversal Of its sentiments In conse-
Iueuce Of this system the public seldom
read the editorials Of the Daily Herald, I
1ut they read the foreign and domestic
1ews, and its immense budget Of adver-
isemeuts, which are more perfectly
classified and arranged than in any
Dther paper in the city. Mr.. Bennett is
he most successful editor In America, OF