The New York herald., 1871-12-29

in Journallsm-Tho Herald or the Future.
The attention excited by the journalistic
successes of the New YORK HERALD Is leading
to discussions that will have good effect upon
the future of the press. In America we see
what has long been seen in England-that
with free laws and a proper public spirit the
press becomes as much an institution of the
country as the constitution itself. A great
newspaper grows up like State OF Uni
versity. Men may come and men may go, but
it goes on forever. 1t becomes part of our
daily life. The HERALD, for instance, is not
luxury, but necessity. No man with any
concerns in the world can begin the day with
out knowing what yesterday did and what
to-day may do. This be can only find in the
HERALD. The deliberations in Parlia-
ment the anxious sittings at Versailles,
the sad midnight watches at Sandring-
ham, the gradually unfolding civilization
of Japan, the plots and counterplots Of
Washington, are all written with fulness and
truth, and illuminated to the mind by the pens
of trained and able men. So down to the
smaller things of history, which are frequently
the greater things of life-what caused the
fire around the corner; who robbed neghbor
Stebbins barn; who won the prize for prime
turkeys at the fair; who danced with the
Grand Dake Alexis; what ships are on the
sea and what are going to sea--the whole
world is brought, as it were, into the focus Of
picture like what we see in the quaint de-
corations of country seats, where space no
larger than the hand mirrors forth in beauty
and fidelity of detail the far-extending heavens
and the earth.
Of course We have phenomena In journal
ism which now and then leap into prominence
and attract attention. Nothing is easier, for
instance, than for an ambitious citizen to take
cart into Broadway, and, mounting upon the
tailboard, "make sensation" He may sing
song, or cry ballads and sweetmeats, or
dance hornpips. The crowd will swarm
around him until some other citizen comes
with cart and introduces a monkey or
fiddle. Thus, we have no doubt, there are
many parts of London where the Punch and
Judy show makes more profound sensation
than the London Times. So in New York this
Cheap Jack journalism is always appearing
and reappearing. Sometimes two or three
Cheap Jacks arrive at the same time, and the
air rings with their controversies, and the
crowd hangs about vastly amused, now and
then throwing sixbence to keep them in
humor. Sometimes one comes along with q
Collector of the Port as his theme, and
the poor Collector is turned over and
trounced with bitterness and compassion.
Then another finds bundle Of papers which
have been stolen from the Comptroller's Office,
and asks all men to witness that he has saved
the country. Then we have the Catacazy
matter, and tariff Ronsense, and woman's
rights, Grant and anti-Grant, each particular
Jack with his notions calling upon the world
to come and hearken and buy
Well, there is no harm in all this. It is
enough for the Cheap Jacks and their carts
but it is not Journalism. Bad times come to
Jack. His novelty loses its bloom. He has
made all his speeches and jokes over and over
again but the crowd has gone into another
street after on attracting drum, and nothing
true journal-such journal as the HERALD
continues on from day to day as immutable
and steady as the sun. It represents
necessity. The atmosphere of it's existence
is far above the murky and discomfting mists
of to-day. What are Tammany and Grant,
at this port, compared with the real work of
the HERALD? For years and years it has
seen these phenomena pass before 1t, come to
life, breathe, shout, strut few years and
die. Presidents come and go; parties dis
solve and combine; rings are broken and
united; the great man Of to-day is the dust Of
tomorrow. New faces, new ideas, new duties,
new responsibilities are forever advancing.
The HERALD meets them, does its duty by
them, awards praise or blame, and when they
pass away writes their end and waits for
what will come with the next revolving day.
Here is its greatness and its strength. The
American knows that he will find all that is
written in the HERALD.
Nor does this come by chance or accident.
We saw how Mrs. O'Leary's cow set fire to
Chicago, and we have seen now and then
Cheap Jack newspaper gain fortnight's
renown by similar agency. What the
HERALD represents is careful, logical plan
ning, supported by industry, enterprise and
capital. To print to-day the history Of yester-
day has been its aim. To that end the whole
world has been its dominion and science its
minister. Lightning and steam have done its
bidding. Wherever the sons Of men dwelt
thither was sent a HERALD m Messenger to abide
with them, charged to convey instantly all
that befell them-their griefs, their joys, their
sorrows. If the story was worthy Of hear
ing it was printed; if not, 1t gave way to
some more important message. When war
came the HERALD followed the armies. When