The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-31
LOG-CABIN JOURNALISM.
From the N. Y. World.

f.,
When American journalism was very young
and very verdant, or, as the laureate puts 1t,
"In such time as goes before the leaf,
When all the wood stands in mist of green
And nothing perfect
political newspapers had an absurd notion
that elections were materially affected by their
spasmodc utterances on the two or three
days which preceded the actual voting. In
stead of devoting themselves to steady and
sound arguments all the year round addressed
to the political reason Of their readers, they
prepared to kindle, so far as a lavish use of
superlative adjectives and large type could
do it, their political passions. That was the
time when they chose to precipitate upon the
community the most outrageous ISLANDERS
which scurrility could collect or malice in
vent against the candidates of the other party.
The nomenclature of zoology and of entomo-
logy was raked to find epithets suitable to the
champions of the other side, while the martyr
ology and the lives of the saints furnished
but faint shadows of the glories of ones own.
Typography scared into ornithology to ex-
press jubilation over victory or to add a sting
to defeat. Voters were assured that the fate
of their country and mankind was to be de-
cided by the choice Of the pound-master of
Podunk. On the day of election, and for a
day or two before, what spells, what conjura-
tions, and what mighty magic editors in
voked ''Vote for Stiggins. ''Beware of
Roorbacks" Another Lie Nailed" SIS
Podsnap Pickpocket ?" GLOW About that
Two Dollars ?" orally! Rally" 'Freemen,
to the Polls. Such were the taking titles
which the journalists of that era pretixed to
their discourse of reason.
But, when men of more sense and higher
culture began to enter the business of jour
nalsm, it came to be seen how utterly futile
as well as how offensive such a style of con-
troversy was. 1t was seen that the votes of
men were influenced, not by howls and hur-
rahs uttered upon the eve of an election, but
by their own reflections upon facts and argu-
ments submitted to them fairly and dispas-
sionately. Most journals have conducted
themselves accordingly, and, but for one ex-
ception in the press, the voters of New York
would only recall the hortatory shrieks we
have been describing as a dim memory of
their boyhood.
That exception of course is the IitbURe
The political revivalist who conducts it is still
true to the traditions of his youth, and per-
sists in regarding his readers as pack of i'm
beetles. AS when the uncertain bees wander
homeless in the air: the maid-servant issuing
from the kitchen soothes their souls and
invites them to repose with wild demoniac
dances and frantic percussion of the trite tin
| pan. Not otherwise does Horace Greeley toss
his hoary locks and pound his Gathering
Ir6Uae when the lax radical hesitates to rush
to the poll. Without prejudice to the normal
inventiveness Of the Irduac, it is safe to say
that just before every election, and particu-
larly just now, it outdoes even its usual self
in the recklessness Of its statements, the gross
absurdity of its aspersions, and the chaotic
| riot of its rhetoric
Part of this is perhaps due to the fact that
the thus bowling Horace is himself a candi
date for Office. Having accepted nomina
tion for comparatively small Office Just after
declining the shadow of nomination for q
larger one, and begging everybody not to
think of nominating him for anything, it il
natural that the ridiculous figure he would en-
in case of defeat should force itself upon tn,
blunt perceptions of Greeley and maddel
him. But man whom the prospect of defea
excites to such absurd demonstrations has NJ
right to enter contest. And the loathsom
spectacle which the 7iIb,,Be at the presen
time exhibits to mankind is an excellent rea
son, if any more reasons We're needed, VIII
journalists should not be ofiice-seekers. N
editor who contemplates the attitude of Ho
race Greeley but will pray to be forever de
liyered from like one.