New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-21

his old rebellioUs habit Of attacking THE
TRIBUNE, by way OF revengins himself for
having adopted its principles. He shows that
Che original Adam is still strong within him,
and beirays how powerful O reserve of libel Is
still left in him even at the moment he is de-
rouncing the old devil of calumny and all his
works. "The cardinal vice of our Press
ouoth Mr. Phillips dis the theory it assumes
"and processes that it is not held TO tie report
"of facts but only TO gather up 'cddt is reported
"No matter whether its statement is true
This doctrine Mr.. Phillips condemns. and then
slraigltway puts it in practice. He adopts as
his own vulgar libel against THE TRIBUNE
and asserts il as positive fact. He charges
it with having bribcd some one TO betray his
trust. and calls it, correspondents, who are Ill
every respect rs gentlemen and men OF
honor the peers OF Mr.. Phillips, indecent
names, on charge which is the creation OF
his own unhealthy imagination. He cannot
possibly know what he is talking about. He
charges honest men with dishonest acts in
petty moment of spite, and, to use his own
language, "llings about assertions careless OF
athcir truth, and too Indifferent to inquire"
His pettness does not end here. He applauds
n
THE TRIBUNE, and having accused Senators
Morton and Fcnton Of breach of trust IN
this matter, when, if he had taken the trouble
to inquire, he could have known that peithcr
Ct these gentlemen had the slightest intima-
ton of our possession of the Treaty until
they saw it i'll print. The world has,
besides the sworn testimony before the SEN
ate, our word that no Senator OF officer broke
his official oath or violated his obligations IN
furnishing us with q document which the
country wanted to sec, and had right to
sec; and our word in this matter is better
and stronger than that OF Mr.. Phillip3, or any
other such reckless libcler. This ayOwal 10
wrups from him in this very CbUlhtiOn of
spite and unconscious confession. The Press
is more powerful, he admits At last, what he
has often tried 70 deny, than thc stump or
the lyccum. The reputable journals oil the
county, bound by their solemn responsibility,
have, as they deserve to have, ten
fold tho influence upon tho intcli-
gent thought of tho people. possessed
10y the most gifted and most electric of
rhetoroians. Mr. Phillips may sway an audi
ence ut his Will as long as they are kept
within the sound OF his silver-snarIing
"trunpct" lie may diStOlt facts, di3color
science, and bowitch The grave face Of history
into absurd grimaccs-for he is unlike the
scholar he cTiticiscs, &" who would DO ashamed
" 10 misquotc Plato" and has no hesitation
whatever in making an historical event face all
ways FOR his metaphors. But when the en-
chantcd audience has dispersed and The power
Of his magic is spent, tho Press resumes, by
common sense and common honesty, lis loSiu-
mate influence and leadership.
1t VIII be a difficult task for Mr. Phillips TO
struggle slowly back to the ways to winch
THE TEBuEE has long been wooiDg him
Tho contest by which he is 10 conquer his
tendency to evil speech and uncharitablc judS-
mcnt is to b. long and ardGous. Most of the
PRINCIPLES av0wcd in his recent manifesto arc
correct and laudablc But will The time ever
come when the eloquent doctor viii swallow
his own prescription2 VIII BIO ever
cease TO carp and SANDER and rail
WIN ho ever consent TO subordinate
his own fantastic suspicious and distrusts
to that confidence in God and his fellow-men
which is the sole basis OF political ac;iCn
lie is, we repeat it, in a promising way He
recognizes the alterations Of others, though
he cannot form just judgment on them
The earliest symptom of tho maniac's cure is
his recognition Of the insanity around him.
1t is much for Mr.. Philips to lc,rn that he
is not the general oyerscer of the XlXth
century. "Let me make the newspa-
"pers," says he, land | care not vino
"makcs tho religion or the laws"
The newspapers are already better
made than he can do it--vitness bis sorry,
weekly attempt at onc--and it would DO
droll world if no made its religion and its
laws Can it be that gimmcring fancy OF
this has already assaulted him. lie says there
is tyranny in party cruel tyranny in cap
ital, and is not sure that the tyranny Of labor,
which he is now scolding his finest to cstab-
lish, will not be more cruel still. "We are
"near waking" said Novais, when we dream
"that we dream" May we not hope that our
magnificent talking-man is coming, angrily
and reluctantly it may be, to knowledge of
his true relation TO the univeTscf
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