Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-02
"rndepcndep Journalism, ;,

"Eadependep journalism"
The movement in favor Of a mass meeting at
Cincinnati, was accompanied By great zeal of
rirtuous talk about independent journalism"
1t was to be the great reform movement of the
age, and its Journalism was TO become grandly
independent We sought diligently TO under
stand what this meant; bat nothing was clear
beyond a purpose to assail the republican party,
and condition OF mind which indicated indie
pendcnce Of all positive convictions. We are
not yet able 20 see that it means anything more.
Independent journalism" was q pleasant APP
pellation. 1t sounded well, and seemed to prom
ise some brilliant development of exalted wis
dom and, virtueJsome rare disenthrallment of
mind and heart, some new and very luminous
illustration of the lofty possibilities of human
nature. We have waited patiently for the purer
light that was to shine around us, at the open
ing of this new chapter in the history of human
virtue, but it does not come.
We are now constrained to regard these pro-
LESSONS as fraudulent. They appear 10 have
been nothing more than a form of words de-
vsed for those who could be persuaded to be,
come assistant democrats" useful as q part
Of the initiation ceremony appointed for such
people, but really meaning no more than good
words in a hypocrite's PRAYER. Nearly all the
journals which were to become the highest
possible specimens of journalistic wisdom and
righteousness, are just now among the notable
illustrations of the most disingenuous, I'M
scrupulous, false, and demoralzing journalism
that has been heard Of in our time. The New
York Tribune, which was to be newspaper"
and not an "organ." was never befo. ; quite so
base or so mean, in its treatment Of political
opponents, as it is now. The Chicago Tribune,
which led the way and outdid all oth-
ers in this talk about independent
journalism" now takes the lead in spit
ting in the face Of consistency and deceucy.
1t is one Of the most untiring supporters of
Horace Greeley, and one Of the most unscrupu-
lous defamers of the republican party and those
who represent it. One might as well go back
into the middle ages and try TO get true de-
scription of Professionalism from some old tamil
lar of the Spanish Inquisition, as attempt to
get from the Chicago Tribune true, or even
decent account of Gen. Grant and the republi-
can party. 1t supports Greeley now with Ger
tain madness Of zeal. Nevertheless, not very
long before he was nominated at Cincinnati, the
Chicago Tribune spoke its honest, unbiased
thought of Horace Greeley, as follows
"Horace Greeley is not now, and never has
been, man who ought TO be trusted with an
official position requiring practical wisdom,
ordinary craftsmanship, or firm, consistent ac-
ton. For twenty-five years he has been mar.
plot in council; an unreliable commander in dc-
ton; misauthrope in victory, and a riotous
dsorgapizeT in defeat he has always been
fanatical in his demands for the EXTREMIST meas
ures, and when the party has reached the eve of
triumph, invariably thrusts himself forward as
a negotiItor Of terms q Surrender to the enemy.
His course during the war was but repetition
OF his course in politics. In 1851 he was an
open defender OF secession; he changed TO a Wig
orouS champion of the war, and thereafter was
forever recklessly making proposals for peace
and as reckleSSly Withdrawing them-making
war in spite OF Mars, and negotiating in spite Of
Minerva"
Mr.. Greeley has net changed one of the
natural or acquired peculiarites of his charac.
ter; nor has the Chicago Tribune changed its
opinion Of him. But, it now suppresses that
opinion, and encourages another view of him
which it knows to be false, Is this what you
mean by independent journalism" Do you
regard this as a hopeful method of securing civil
service reform? We have no faith whatever in
professions of zeal for reform, which come from
men and journals, that deal in this
way by their actual convictions in
order to serve an unscrupulous purpose;
nor can we believe thst they comprehend what
civil service reform means, when we see them
eagerly using lies and calumnies of every sort
against their political opponents, for this old,
rascally method in politics, as they know very
well, tends Only to prevent honest and sensitive
men from accepting Office, and 70 keep the po-
litical field clear for shysters, Adventures, and
GINNING intriguers for place. We say it tends to
. this, so far as its influence can do anything
h, fortunately, it cannot do all it would.
Those WHO really desire civil service reform or
anything else that will elevate the character of
our politics, should begin the work of reform
by trying TO become incapable of using unwar-
ranted calumny against political opponents;
and then do all they eau to make this style of
political warfare, infamous. The principles at
issue either directly or indirectly, and the fit
ness or unftnes5 Of men named for important
offices, are always in order for discussion; but
faisehood, Misrepresentation, and blackguard-
ism, arc never in order for any purpose what
ever, unless it be to expose and brand them as
they deserve. For men and journals that
use them constantly to talk of reform, insults
propriety and shows how reckless men can be
in the matter ofmaking professions. So far as we
have observed it, the Independent journalism
Of our Liberal" friends is fraud, confidence
game, special method of using freely the most
demoralizing style of political controversy; and
their professions of zeal for reform appear to be
very much like it. How is it possible for any
good work of reform to come from those who
demoralze their own convictions, and make 50
large use of falsehood and misrepresentation,
to secure political success?
If abuse and cleyerly simulated CONTEMPT