The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-13
JAMES GORDON BENNETT.
The American Press on the Founder Of
the New York Herald.
From the New York Bulletin. June a.

~ half their fateful Significance. But the founder
the HERALD Infused into II so much or his own pei
sonality and character that while 1t lives he cal
81 scarcely be regarded as dead. To few men is
%given to leave such monument Its immortait
affords striking Illustration or the power OF tn
press, and still moro OF the life work OF the mai
j. who, more than any other person, made the pres
T. the power that 1t Is In the world. All American
- feel that the mortal life that has gone out from
among them, after having infused the better ant
= deathess qualities Of his nature into medium
which will never die was greater than all thrones
4 and dynasties and higher than all Presidents ant
= legislatures Few men knew Mr.. Bennett outside
This own family and business relations yet all mer
feel sense OF personal deprivation and loss In his
Few men ever lived so entirely ana completely in
~ his work as Mr.. Bennett. He sacrificed everything
for this. After the inauguration OF Abraham Lin
coin, he was sent for to meet Secretary Seward al
j the Astor House; but Mr.. Bennett proudly replied
: so by calling at his Olice He subsequently de-
"a clined the appointment OF Ambassador to France,
because 1t would interfere with his duties to the
fnation for the Presidency. There was
scarcely any ONCE to which he could
cepted place. He lived IN constant intercourse
with oflce-hoders from the highest to the lowest,
a and he despised them all. He was power and q
terror to the whole tribe, and all the SO on
account Of his personal purity and incorruptbity.
U liz III.
an amazing intultve knowledge on everything re.
latng to his profession. He made news speciality
and the great feature of his Journal and held every
thing else subordinate to It, For years he was the
+ HERALD, and down to the very latest period of his
sole editor publisher reporter and even newsboy OF
the life he knew the various details and duties OF his
j great establishment better than the persons to
whom they were more directly entrusted. This con-
stltuted one element OF his success He never was
y harsh or exacting employer, but he tolerated no
& drOnes II an cmplOye performed his work faith
fully he was never discharged. There are men now
who have long ceased to perform any work, and
= who were not expe cted to do so. He would dis
charge pressman who wasted an extra paper or
two in "a token" but he never turned man adrit
\ who had worn himself out in his service.
AS an example, illustrating once for al the secret
I of Mr.. Benefits wonderful newspaper success we
coming civil war fell dark and black over our city
the newspapers were the first to experience the
results. There was falling of In patronage and
advertising that ruined scores OF weak concerns
and was felt to greater or less degree by oil.
Every surviving paper win single exception re-
World Tribune, Times and Sun took in sail and
discharged half their editors and reporters. Tho
HERALD alone maintained its usual front, though
its advertising columns were fearfully contracted
From the New York Christian Advocate-Metho.
dist-for June 1871
As journalist Mr.. Bennett stood at the very
head of his profession If success is taken as the
test OF priority. He re-created the American news
paper and made it largely what 1t is in both its ex-
cellences and its faults, each Of which are about
equally conspicuous. He united in very large de-
gree energy and industry, with quick discernment
of the public demands and wonderful facility In
responding to them. The HERALD is not
chargeable with certain faults which very largely
deform the newspaper press OF our times.
seeds Of pestllcnt infdclity in the name OF re.
forms and humanitarianisms, the HERALD always
stood by the Old landmarks, and spoke reverently
~ ~ IL al
dailes, 1t is probably the least exceptionable in
these particulars, and to none OF them would we
sooner look for fair and truthful presentation OF
any matter affecting any religious interest. There
are certain redeemIng traits In Roman Catholicism
over individual characters, especially of educated
men, and these crop out in the life and influence of
the wonderful man whose monument is seen in the
great newspaper that he founded. His history Is
full OF instruction, and Should be considered for
warning quite as much as for imitation.
From Our Preside Friend (Chcago) for June 1871
The history Of the HERALD Is q remarkable In
stance of success It's founder had very little capt.
tai, but his energy, tact and talent soon overcame
all obstacles. The HERALD was always q fresh,
racy, readable paper for the people. 1t was we'd
ded to no party nor trammeed by no given line OF
policy in any matter. 1t ever reflected the current
= drift Of society. 1t grew apace and soon became
power in the land. In It's entire features 1t soon
eXceled all its competitors In its early career and
long STOOD without rival IN American journalism
8 The energy displayed by Mr.. Bennett In collect
! exceed, and seldom equalled. To obtain
news he seized upon all the appliances which
could be employed. Carrier pigeons, pony
steam yachts were all made OF for this purpose
n IL was for long time the great newspaper OF the
country and has always II not In advance in this
@respect OF all Others kept abreast with the
times. Mr.. Benefits course In politics was often
open to severe criticisms but, bookings t political
n parties from his standpoint, much OF the censure
N aimed at him lost its force. To him politics was
4 the trade of olceseekers and place-huster rather
n than the embodiment of principles, and parties
"A the machinery employed by politicians to capture
y the spoils 1t is said Of him that needy artist
or STRUGGLING e,ute,asever found the portals Of his
"a heart closed against him. while his charities anC
II kindnesses were many and often munifcent.
from the New Orleans Picayune, June 81
q James Gordon Bennett has welded, perhaps a.
q much power in his day as half the princes OF TIL,
X world. The founder and manager of one Of tn,
IA greatest newspapers in the world, he has don,
more than any one man to develop the new style o
81 American journals, but he leaves son that Il
8 equally as full of energy and enterprise. Thu
= HERALD has spent more money In collecting new
y than any journal that ever existed. During tn
Il Abyssinian war it spent hundreds OF thousands Q
dollars, even furnishing to the British govern
4 ment concerning the operation OF its troops. Dur
= ing our civil war, and in the contest between
{ France and Germany, 1t expended fabulous sums o
money In collecting information, estimated at up
= wards OF $1,250,000. The representatives Of tn
HERALD are to be found everywhere on the face 0
"a the globe searching for news They at the elbow
OF every sovereign In Europe; they swarm In ever
- town and village In the United States. They All
found In India and China, in Australia, In Egyp
and In South America. The latest enterprise Q
the HERALD was the organization and equpmen
~ OF an expedition at its own expense to search 10
= DR.. Livingstone in the wilds of Africa. The Ben
netts have run the HERALD regardless Of ex
pense,, and every dollar spent on II has returned
81 with liberal profits. IL is related that when tn
y Southern States seeded the World, the Tribune
Il the sun and the Times becoming alarmed, dis
81 charged half their editors and reporters and Gu
81 down expenses generally. Mr.. Bennett went dow
a town and deposited 100000 TO the credit OF tn
H HERALD, Immediately employed on his paper til
q best of the discharged reporters and writer's, am
IA sent out army OF correspondents, with instruC
"a lions to spare no expense in obtaining news. Thi
= resulted in doubling the circulation Of his pape
q and wonderfully increasing its advertising bus
s1ness.
a From the Staten Island Leader June 81
n Full Of years and honor--the founder OF q grca
q fortune and great fame-the originator Of wba
y we may well call one of our American Institutions
H the NEW YORK HERALD-and the guide and prOphc