New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-21
GEN GRANT AND THE PRESS.

The Ne,r- York Times calls attention to what
it calls Gen. Grants ostentatious neglect
"of the public press" "No editor Of an
influential newspaper" il says. "has been
appointed to public Office, with one excep-
"tion, and in that case it was promptly de-
"clined. Whatever may have been the motive
of this exclusion, the fact is eminently ser
viceable to the profession which it somewhat
CONTEMPORARY ignores"
The press IS q profession, although some OF
our legal and theological friends may regard 1t
as nondescript profession Its rewards arelim-
tied. 1t has no code Of ethics. Men frequently
use it ms O stepping-stOne to power and place.
Henry Ward Beecher is reported as saying that
in journalism men of moderate capacity may
do well, while men of talent Will achieve
great renown. The Press will find in
its Alumni many distinguished disciples.
Mr.. Disraeli was "a member of the press"
Mr.. Gladstone has no doubt coquetted with
newspapers, and Mr.. Lowe is known as one of
the leading writers for The London Times.
Mr.. Dickens arose from the dignity of re-
porter, with "frayed cuffs and ravenous pen,
to be the first writer of English fiction, while
Lord Campbell began with the same calling a
career which ended with the woolsack. Many
of our prominent American statespen COM
menced as journalists. We presume not so
many as in England The reason for this is that
there are few men in public life, in this
country, who by education or instincts are
fitted for duty upon good newspaper. A
man may gain reputation with only flfth-rato
ability as lawyer. He cannot do this upon
the press. -.
There are grades in journalism. We have
our Bohemians-men who cling to the news
papers in an idle, thriftless way, and who
will write an ode, or narrative, or libel for
a small sum of money. There was time
when men of this class were plenty in New
York. They have passed away. Conduc-
tors of newspapers find it as comfortable and
easy to employ an editor who is gentleman
to employ doctor who will not disgrace
his profession. The press has grown in
latter years, and can afford to do as well
by its servants as the Government. A good
editor can do better in his profession than he
can in public employment. He will make q
larger income. He will have moro independ-
ence, and he knows that his work will not end
with Congress or an Administration. The
men who control our best newspapers are in
most cases men who controlled them twenty
years ago. Where are those who were leaders
in our politics twenty years ago
the Presidents, Cabinet Officers, Sena-
tors Governors, Ministers-the budding
and ripened statesmen All long since gone to
flower and seed-their fame, ashes; their power
vanished into the mists. Gen. Grant is the
tenth President THE TRIBUNE has known Ten
Presidents-seven full Administrations, and two
wars, apd greet reDown aud pageantry, and
endless companies Of great statesmen All so
many ghosts to-day-and occasionally rusty
ex-President, or forgotten Senator, or neglected
Minister (no longer extraordinary or plenipo-
tentiary), elbows his way up Broadway I'M
known even TO the policeman. Yet such in
fuence rs THE TRIBUNE may possess--its
power for good or evil-remaips with it
greater, we think. than it was under Polk or
Pierce or Johnson-still to be with it,
we trust, when this Administration joins
the ghosts Of its predecessors, and
Gen. Grant is crowded from hs seat
by some indispensable" warrior or statesman.
We sometimes feel like Hamlet when be
walked among the graves and the bones Of
the dead men. We find the skulls Of lawyers,
and no more quiddts and outlets, and buyers
of land with their pates full Of fine dirt and