Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-09
The American Press ON the War.

From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
Some of the German papers in this
country complain that many American
journals do not espouse the cause of
Germany in the war The French
American press is also unhappy because
American papers are so excessively
Prussian. The American editor who
conscientiously strives to be just and
impartial between the combatants is sure
to provoke the dislike of both his Ger
man and French contemporaries = for
they all proceed upon the maxim that
whoever is not Tor their side is against
it, We really excuse the warmth of
feeling which the German and French
gentlemen conducting papers here dis
play in this matter They are patriotic
and excited, as well they may be, and
we do not marvel at the want of toer-
ance which they exhibit towards all
Americans who look at the war calmly
and without prejudice.
But, appealing to them in their more
rational moments, we ask if they are
not unreasonable in expecting the indie
pendent native press of the United
States to enlist in the quarrel on either
side? 1t is not our affair. We were in
no wise concerned in the origin of the
war, nor are we affected by its develop
ments except in the indirect manner
that all neutral nations are. If Re-
publican form of government were the
stake clearly fought for, our sympathies
would then naturally go with the con-
testant struggling to establish it. But
M oh, tC
To us who look upon the war as deeply
interested but impartial spectators, It
has now assumed the shape of fight to
the death between two great peoples,
both proud and ambitious, both having |
burning revenges TO crafty, and each |
claiming to be the champion of civiliza-
ton and liberty
1t would be presumptuous in us to un-
dertake to strike balance between Ger
many and France, and say whether the
future freedom and happiness of man
kind are to be promoted by the triumph
of the one or the other And should we
try to do so, that manifestation of our
sympathy either way would not satisfy
either German-American or French
American journals. Nothing would
please them but going as far as they
go, praising or apologizing for every
thing that Germany or France may do,
denying or CLOSING over defeats, and
with lawyer-like fidelity sticking to the
one side or the other through thick and
thin. We beg to say to the French and
German press that independent Amer-
,an newspapers understand their posi-
ion and their duty, and do not wish to
De lectured upon it by outsiders. Our :
business is to collect and give the news
If the war from all sources-and we are
loing it-but not to warp it and twist it,
ind print prejudioed and impertinent
upon it, as foreign critics
would have US do.
Such o course would be a gross injus- |
ice and q breach of good faith to our
eaders, who are American and German
nd French, and representatives of all I
ivilized nations. The dispatches which
re receive, giving impartially, as they
10, facts and opinions from Germany, {
rance, England, Belgium, Italy, and {
he whole continent of Europe, are nee d
ssarily conflicting at times; but we
hould only make the confusion worse
by essaying to explain away I
if we we're committed to
he German or to the French interest. :
10 readers are so hopelessly muddled
bout the war news, and 40 misled lseri-
usly sometimes, as when they make
usiness ventures on the strength of it)
S those who take their ideas from
ne highly-colored editorials of the Ger Q
ian or the French press. We fully un- y
erstand and appreciate our responsible
y to the public, and shall not betray 7
lie trust which it reposes in us to suit 1
he wishes of either French or German 10
iitors.