Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-09-10

We hear great deal slid, every day, about
free thought and free speech, and yet witness
some odd contradictions Of both. Thi. country.
for instance, is, or claims to be, the very head
and front Of humanity for the assertion Of in
dependent doctrines, and our press loudly de-
clares that il leads the country vet. strange To
say, we bow to foreign fancies more than any
other people on earth, and the press aforesaid Is
the really and often most subservient mouth
piece Of this influence
Now, to this habit, and habit We believe it 70
be more than anything else, we would respect
fully beg leave 10 demur "a decent respect
for the opinions Of mankind is one thing in
tellectual toadyism IS another For Us to be
pleased with the commentator 0t the most ac-
tive and intelligent minds Of other uat0nalites
is proper enough, and involves no diminution Of
dignity but for our Associltel Pres 20 an
nounce to a delighted Continent, over the trans
Atlantic wires, that the London Tiurs approves
Of this, and the London Mars dssents from
that, in the action Of our National OF State au-
th0rities, looks to Us very much ike taking the
famous step from the sublime 90 the riiiculous
To an individual, or even % a mass OF iudi-
viiual- the opinions Of an able journal, which
has been distinguished for accuracy and r0- Il
judgment, has acquired wide circulation, and
therefore wields considerable influence, are de
ciieily noteworthy and important Hence, the
d" lhunierer' bas acquired throughout the
British Isles, and in many parts Of the Euro
peau Continent, an immense degree Of credit,
amounting, in some places, almost 20 supersti-
tious reverence This position, won wAie Che
home press WIS less independent. and couti-
mental journalism was decidedly inferior, has
been adroitly maintained by "a combination Of
industry, and what is vulgarly termed. in
America, " cheek" At the same tine, the
talent, enterprise, and activity OF the Tines
cannot be denied, and for an author, artist or
British statesman to receive It's praise Is To- him
IN unquestioua5le triumph, But even the
Times Is mortal and, uotorousiy, during our
late war, and upon many other m0mcu-lu- oc-
cIsions, IL has shown that il could h.undsr as
badly as the Eat1HsriH Gg-Gis.
These remarks will apply with equal force to
the London .Ness, and all the rest Of them.
American affairs still enjoy the odi distinction
Of continually appearing 20 De an impenetrhe
mystery 90 all foreign publcists, whose lucubIa-
tions regarding them wolli be excessively anus
ing were they not SO d0gmatically uttered as 70
become irritating But il is not with reference
90 foreign opinion alone that we find room 90 ob-
iect to this mental fetchsm. ie see an i'm
meuse amount Of 70 exhibited toward our i0mes-
tic press. The Morning Bagis sound, such and
such q blast, aut the Ers1iHg Cigri0a agakeus
the echoes with such and such another note.
AImiriuc muitltuIes f,.l fat ou their iutcilectu-
al-0r iati,rctn4i-aces, and 'ae iieum is
hen-efarth law 20 them The oracle has
spoken let a listening Eori obey
To all this we decidedly Object Tie time has
come TO change It. The American pe'ple ueels
q .f.