The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-30
vhe Progress OF ro1eratlon.


In lately looking over some out-of-the-way
annals of the American Revolution, we were
struck with the greater degree of partisan Bit
terness and animosity which prevailed then
than prevails now, between opposing leaders
and parties. True, there is enough now but
there was far more then. We are becoming,
with each successive generation, more tole-
rant people, both in politics and religion.
Not long ago, we had occasion to remark
that the Independent had not for several years
had a controversy with any other journal.
This statement, we are proud to say, is true of
the whole period of this journals existing edi-
torial administration. Controversies between
editors with rare exceptions) are improbable
pastimes for readers. There was a period
happily now past-when the religious press
of the country abounded with gladiatorial
wrestlings in the arena of theological debate.
But, although the indomitable Mr.. Graves, of
the Tennessee Baptist, still keeps up the
old-fashioned tournaments, we do not call
to mind any other religious journal that
do controversies between secular journals rage
as briskly now as in former years. Still Git
must be confessed) many daily duels are
fought with editorial quills. 1t is not our
business to say how other people should con-
duct their journals; but, since we are profes-
presses of America, we cannot forbear suggest
ing that there is no one point in which the
secular newspapers of our great cities could be
more strikipgly improved than by cessation
of their daily habit of chopping each other
into mince meat. The best service which an
editor can render to his editorial opinions is,
generally, to state them in strong, impressive,
and eloquent words, without stopping to contro-
vert his opponents counter -views-and, above
all things, without descending into any dis
paragement of his opponents honesty and
candor. Nevertheless, a prevalent mode of
setting forth editorial opinions Is to quote some
other journals opposite opinions, and answer
them. But the Tribune is always more i'm
pre- ssive when it argues for the negro's enfran-
chisement without making illusions to Demo-
cratic organs, than when, for the sake of
pointing the same moral, it makes too frequent
and too wretched quotations from the ErpresS.
The New Testament never stops to reply
to Jew or Greek. Argument, at the best
is second rate kind of reasoning; and con-
troversy between newspapers is, generally, a
second-Tate kind of argument. An intellectual
man has reached an enviable point in intellec-
tual discipline when he can see his most
cherished convictions fatty contradicted, and
yet make no reply. And, in nine cases out OF
ten, if such a man conducts public journal,
his best reply is to make no reply at all; but
simply to restate his own views more clearly
than ever, and omit all reference to any jour
nal by which he has been contradicted, misre-
presented, or slandered.
"Stop my paper !" used to be the cry of
almost every subscriber who found his oonvic-
tions crossed by his favorite sheet. But now
Ito Judge from our own eXperienoe) very few
subscribers part company with an editor be-
cause he frankly speaks his mind. No editor
in this country Oftener runs directly counter
to the views of his readers than Horace Gree
ley; and yet the great mass of the readers of
the Tribune never think of stopping their
paper on account of any sudden philOsophic
alteration of its grand old editor. In the year
1850, when the Independent was edited by three
able and eminent clergymen, who won for
themselves great honor by manfully opposing
the Fugitive Slave law, this journal, on account
of its courageous fidelity to justice, lost many
subscribers. But, since that intolerant period,
we do not believe that ten copies a year--out
of all our immense subscription lst-have
ever been discontinued on account of the edi-
torial position Of this journal on any question,
financial, political, or religious. And this is
saying great deal for the Independent holds
and speaks very positive opinions, and differs
always from its foes, and often from its
friends.
The habit too, of kissing public speakers is
| dying away. In fact, those orators who were
born and brought up in the midst of mobbed
anti-slavery meetings, and to whom every hiss
was golden spur to speech, find now, in the
loss OF opposition from the audience, loss o
opportunity to the speaker. Mr.. Emerson
USED 10 say that eloquenoe was dog-cheaT
among the abolitionists. Stll, with all the
precious advantages of divlnely- inspiring
MODS, let Heaven be praised that the days o.
MODS seem at last, like the winter of the tur
tle,doVe, to be 'OYer and gone 20
The Congress OF the United States has MOI
guisheP past years, prominently distin