The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-26
improvements in J0urna.ism-The Round
Table and the Nation.

improvements in Journa,ism-The Round
Table and the Nation.
We give elsewhere some articles extracted
from the Round Table and the Mutton, weekly
journals of this city, in which some of
the issues Of the campaign are discussed
in tone and style not common with
the political press. Readers must rejoice
with us to find that the example of the
daily partisan press has not demoralized all
political writer's, and that while the conduct
of these papers is such as to suggest misgiv-
ing in regard to the freedom Of the press-such
as almost to force the conviction that there isl
point at which other restraint than that of pub
lie opinion is necessary-there is also coming
up, side by side with that diseased and prema-
turey rotten literary growth, press on
another character, in which topics Of great
public interest are discussed with a view to
getting at the truth, and in which the writer's
indicate the spirit of scholars, philosophers
and gentlemen. Apparently we may reason
ably hope that it is to be in the history of the
press-that great instrument for good or for
evil-as it is in much else of human effort, that
the development of good tendency will at
give virtue fair field against vice, in which
case the result cannot be doubtful.
In the articles we quote there are ideas.
This is not common, at least in the press that
is political Of set purpose. The great staples
of the party press are round abuse, party cant,
atafia in, fha
are 30 manipulated as to give any result for
which the situation, as viewed from partisan
standpoint, seems to call. On the strength Of
the old deusion that figures never lie it ia
assumed that tabular arithmetcal statements
have great effect; and there is one journal that
regularlypla on this notion and can prove any
thing it wants from any given numbers. Atten-
ton will by and by be called more urgently
to one of the questions examined in the arti-
cles we quote-that namely, of the validity of
the Legal Tender act. In the possibility that
the Supreme Court may pronounce that act
unconstitutional lies the germ of tremendous
financial revolution for the American people
lies, indeed, their whole financial future. Men
will do better to weigh that topic than waste
thought on the ribald inquiry whether Mr..
Seymour is ga liar" Another thought peril
nent to the time is that the men who are to
decide this Presidential contest have not yet
determined how they will vote. This is no
doubt true, and may stimulate the legitimate
| exertions of party drummers and leaders. 1t
may even be generally true that the men who
decide never make up their minds till they go
to the polls but the fact has an almost special
application now. There are, say, five million
votes to be cast; two millions are republican,
two millions are democratic. Douglas and
Breckenridge together received vote little
in excess of two millions in 1860 and Lincoln
about the same excess in 1864. There is, then,
an odd million, and this million will, perhaps,
incline neither way until the very day it polls
its vote but it is made up of intelligent citi-
zens-men who care for no party, acting on
they deem best for the country. Before these
men the fight is yet to be won, and these men
want reasons. Here is something for partisan
writer's to reflect upon.
In contrasting these favorable specimens OF
the weekly press with daily party journals we
make no general distinction in favor of weekly
sheets. Indeed, part Of the weekly press is,
beyond all comparison, indecent; but we do
duty towards society and assist, we hope, in
the cultivation of good literary taste in direct
ing attention to two papers that are what
they ought to be.