New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-20
JOURNALISM.
Decline Of Partisan Newspapers In the
limited States.


Time was when newspapers were pub
lished in the United States only as the
ORGANS of political parties. They were then
in the main controlled by small politicians
and convention manipulators, and of course
had to derive their sustenance from the
bounty of such. The editors and publishers
became the servile creatures Of the wire
pullcrs, and their journals went down. Ot
late it is encouraging to know that the
best newspapers OF the country are free
from this impeachment, and that only
the worst and feeble continue in this
partisan slavery. Doubtless the increased
expense Of publishing has had mich to do
with this change i'll journalism. The cost
of issuing Il iirst-class daily newspaper is
now beyond the reach Of the small souls
who manage State and county conventions.
ana such organs as they can secure are
without influence. Something Of the change
springs from the increase of general lnteill-
gence and enlightened discussion, whereby
the conduct Of such newspapers has been
forced to a higher tone morally ana intel-
lectually than the old class of political
hacks possessed. These reflections are sug-
geSted by what has just been done with the
Chicago Republican,. Some four CT i've
years ago that paper was started upon "a
round m0neyed capital. which was then
thought quite sufficient to secure its success
was man of much ability, well posted
upon affairs of State, slrcwd observer
and an memorable hater of the opposite
party, then i'll the depth of appropriately.
Strange enough with all these advantages
in its favor the Republcan did not succeed
under such management. The leading edl-
ter abandoned the enterprise upon winch
his heart was set and betook hiinsei1 TO
another field. The Bcbtbtjcan dragged
al fin n
port A few months ago, Nicolay, formerly
Lincolns private secretary, II gentleman OF
much ability and knowledge, became its
chief With able and industrious assistants,
the paper was continued, but still not pay
ing expenses, according to popular belief
In style. matter, size, 1t presented hrst-
class appearance; only it seemed little be-
hind its competitors i'll news at times ana
was, in fact, a good deal behind the moro
independent of them III editorial recognition
of the changes which have taken place
during the last four years i'll pubic opinion
touching political questions. In short, the
Rcpublicdn never for an instant forgot thar,
having been started as Il party organ, It's
highest duty was the property OF the party,
right or wrong; and that whatever the
party leaders were pleased to say or do was
not to be questioned or criticised IN its col
umns The Tribune, its neighbor and inev-
table rival ia business and popularity. its
more than equal in ability and news enter
prise, had the shrewdness to detect the
errors of the party which it did SO much to
make triumphant when victory was de
manded to save the country, and also the
independence to oppose them and urge re
medal measures.
This course colnmends itselftO the popular
mind and heart of all parties; for the people
are intelligent enough to know that, let
alone, the managers of partisan machinery,
whatever its name may be, are equally prone
to corruption and abuses after long contilu-
ance in power, and that the sole check upon
those is an honest, independent and collr-
ageous press, looking to the country, ana
not TO any party. for its patronage.
The Republican has, under these con
ditions. found it necessary to make another
change in its management. Nlcolay gives
way to Mccullough, the Mack OF the
Cincinnati CommerciGl and the partisan
dress of the paper falls off, limp and thread
bare. 1t is no longer latter Monday next
a party journal. but. like the Chicago,
Tribune, the New York Herald, Post. Sun,
the Missouri Democrat San Francisco Batlle-
IT,, ami the Union, an independent mouth
peace of enlightened public opinion, with
the duty of criticising all public men and
political parties alike when they run coun-
fer to the interests of the country and the
people. Under such conditions. with less
ability than the RcpubIicGf, has shown as :.
partisan paper, its chances OF success will
he greatly increased.