The Portland daily press., 1869-04-29
Edi.ers at the metropolis.

The common impression is that the identity
Of an editor should be sunk in his paper. But
that is not the way in New York There the
identity of the paper is lost in the editors
vast personality, SO that in inquiring for one of
the metropolitan journals person is quite as
likely to ask "Have you got Greeley there?"
or 'Have you seen Dana this morningY' or
"Do you take Bennett now?' or GLOW is Ray
mond n6w-a-days?" as to ask simply for the
Tribune, Sun, Herald and Times. One gem
tleman we wot OF carries this conceit so far as
to inquire habitually at this Office for ''For-
ney," meaning thereby to demand one of that
gentleman's "two papers, both daily in pur-
suance of morbid desire for the perusal of the
Occasional" letters, which in exciting times
are dictated by Mr. Forney to a slave,
who writes down the glowing periods of his
master, the latter pacing up and down mean
while with frantic gestures and blazing eyes.
This singular habit of looking through the
paper to the editor is unquestionably account
ed for in part by the fact that the managers
of the leading New York journals are really
'sbig fellows" Those we have mentioned, in
cluding the Philadelphian, are gentlemen OF
wide reputation and considerable political in
fuence But there is further explanation,
and one not quite so creditable to thems. Ives
Their inordinate vanity leads them to keep
their names before the public in variety of
ingenious ways to an extent that becomes in
time a little tiresome may, absolutely nause-
ating. Awaiting themselves of their peculiar
means of constant communication with the
public, they deluge the public with them
selves
Singular methods, too, they have Of doing it
sometimes. For instance, though they are by
nature and habit at deadly enmity with each
other, they sometimes suddenly form mutual
admiration society. Mr. Bennett gravely an
nounces that if there is one man in the world
who is better than all others fitted to grace the
United States Senate or to hold aloft the flag
of his country at the court of st. James that
man is his distinguished contemporary, Horace
Greeley of the New York Tribune. Mr. Gree
ley thereupon softly repudiates the fiattering
suggestion and with much equiv ocation and
infinite coyness diselaims any wish for official
preferment incidentally alluding to the i'm
mense influence and irresistible power he
wields as the head man of the Tribune-estab-
lshment Mr.. Bennett stoutly reiterates his
former declaration and refuses to be comforted
unless ''H. G." is instantly sent off to Wash
ington or Paris. The Tribune rejoins. Other
papers join in the discussion. Some of them
plainly insinuate that Mr.. Greeley is an in
veterate ofice-seeker and is dying for an. ap-
pointment The Tribune RACES nightly for
weeks after in dsprecatory paragraphs. The
Times pours oil on the flames. The CONNER
cial Advertiser follows suit, especially if Thur
low Weed is at home and feels vigorous. The
Herald supports it's candidate obstinately.
Counter-charges are filed against the editors of
the other leading papers in New York. So the
names of these gentlemen are hurled about in
squibs, eulogies, epigrams and puns to an un-
bearable extent. Finally "H. G." gets an ap-
pointment, we will suppose. Mr.. Dana says
he will take it. The rest say he will decline.
He says himself that he has received no Off
cial notice of it and adds that he snever de-
clines an Office that has not been offered to
him. that principle being dearer and more sa-
cred to him than protection, his white hat or a
vegetable diet. He hints that Dana warts an
office. The latter responds satirically ''H.
d. gets official notice of his appointment.
More coniectures by his neighbors and mys-
terious intimations in the Tribune. He de-
ellnes and writes an editorial about it with
h. u. signed at the bottom. All the rest
howl: 1T wasn't what he wanted" "The sal
airy wasn't large enough" Mr.. Dana gets an
appointment. He declines after much cor
respondence. The public has the whole
story over and over again. So each takes his
turn. We have not the time to make an ac-
curate mathematical computation, but there
is no doubt whatever but these fellows average
10000 personal paragraphs a week all about
themselves. Their qaarrels are as suspicious
as their occasional friendships. 1t looks as if
they had entered into an unholy alliance and
were determined that the world should hear of
nothing but themselves.