The New York herald., 1872-12-25

Miles O'Reflly Of the War OF 1872. He pertshed In
a snow storm near Freehold N. j., in 1882. The
Massachusetts, Mercury and NeU England Palladium
first developed the system OF gathering marine
intelligence which Is SO notable and unique fea-
ture OF the HERALD. It's marine reporter was
Harry Bake, lourneyman printer, who preferred
picking mp items to picking type. He made the de-
partment Indispensable. He knew all about the
mercantile marine OF Boston. and could give the
history OF every vessel belonging to that port from
her launch till she ceased to n0at. He put his own
news In type, and distanced all his competitors in
gathering intelligence. His fame became almost
as great as that Ofthe distinguished journalists Of
later day. After long service on the Palladium he
was induced to come to New York to arrange the
shipping news-Arst for the Journal or Commerce
and afterwards for the Express. Like many other
great men In their native villages, he failed
on both journals and went back to Boston to
die, disgusted with the metropolis. Noah Web
sters journalistic experience Is another interest
ing topic, his paper, the Minerva, founded In 1898,
becoming in the end the commercial Advertiser.
upon which Colonel Stone made his great success,
ana Thurlow Weed his last effort at political Jour-
nalisrn. Mr.. HUDSON also writes pleasantly OF the
Evening Post and the Courier ana Enquirer, which
lie classes as two remarkable newspapers, as they
certainly were in their day.
OFFICIAL ORGANS IN WASHINGTON.
"A chapter is devoted to the newspapers which
have been printed at Washington since 1900. Until
the HERALD revolutiOnfzed the whole system OF
newsgathering these national organs were OF the
utmost Importance. When that revolution was
effected the National hteui0encer ceased to exist
and the Daily Globe began to be read only by
congressman anxious to peruse their own speeches
in full, or victimized by other members into read
ing efforts OF learned length and laundering sound
fN1 In 81 vNAn
circulation and are without influence out OF the
District. Most people do not know their names
and fewer still their political bias. But the story
OF the Washington press would ma volume. 1t is
the history Of the intrigues OF many administers.
tons and what the papers did not tell In their day
is even more interesting than what they printed
Clay, Jackson, Calhoun Duff Green, Blair, Benton,
Rives, Gales, Seaton and many other names belong
to Its history and make 1t alive with the figures
which once stalked so constantly on the stage Of
politics. Mr. Hudson, however, does not appear
to have had very high opinion of the Journalism
OF any OF these men, rs is illustrated by an anec-
dote he tells OF the elder Blair. He says:-"With
the simplicity OF a tyro in journalism Blair one day
in 1866, during the Fremont campaign, asked,
How does Bennett manage the HERALD ?
1t is q really wonderful paper. He don't
seem to mix with the politicians, but he
appears to know everything that Is going
on around him. very easily, answered the
gentleman addressed. He knows the wants OF
the people. He understands the politicians by
experience and instinct. He does not want any
Office He attends to his business. He Is full Of
tact and enterprise, and knows how TO make
good newspaper Ah' exclaimed Blair Thus
the thunderer OF the Globe learned that 1t was not
as an organ alone that o newspaper became sue
cessful and influential" Yet these men were pow
erful in their day, and most Of them grew rich.
A paragraph which went the rounds of the press
twenty years ago was to this efect:-
Just look at the luck OF the Washington city
editors Gales has country seat; Seaton has
country seat; Blair has Silver Springs; Rives, the
Duelling Ground; Kendall has place near town;
Major Heiss owns a tine place; Mr.. Richie pur-
chased the splendid mansion fronting Lafayette
square and the White House; General Dur Green
has number OF places, including large interest
in the Cumberland coal mines
These men were great in the day when political
journalism was a power, and they will always be
regarded with interest as the hangers-0n OF the
republican c0urt-the members OF the Kitchen
cabinet-but nothing will be clearer evidence that
none like them will follow them than the rapid
decay and present insignidcance OF the Washington
press
A GLANCE AT MIR. HUDsON'S SPECIAL TOPICS
One Of the special topics to which MI. Hudson
devotes chapter Is the religious press. Beginning
with the Boston Recorder Of Nathaniel Willis, he
goes through the list, relating many interesting
facts OF many well known religious journals. Class
papers, such as the agricultural newspapers the
sporting papers, the commercial and 1nan-
cial press; the anti-slavery journals, the
journals advocating the rights or SUD-
posed rights OF women; indeed, organs OF
every creed and philosophy come In for
part OF his notice. Particular papers, as
the Hartford Times and the Providence Journal,
frao fah0 Inns fhaca
Prentice and the Louisville Journal Bowles and
the Springfield Republican, the Greens and the
Boston Post, James watson Webb and the Courier
ana Enquirer, Thurlow Weed and the Albany
Journal, Edwin Crosswel and the Albany Argus,
Hale and Hallock and the Journal or Commerce,
Nathan Hale and the Boston Advertiser, Forney
and his "two papers, both daily" and George w.
Childs, OF the Philadelphia Ledger. The journals OF
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Gin
cinnati, Chicago and other leading cities are all
reviewed. We can give scarcely more than q
glance at the scope OF Mr.. Hudson's work, but to
do more than this would be to do little less than
repeat what he has DONE
THE TRANSITION AND THE HERALD.
The penny press Of America dates from 1885, The
sun was among the nrst Of the cheap papers. Soon
afterward came the HERALD. After it followed the
Tribune, Times, and World, all beginning as one
cent papers On Wednesday morning, the 9Th of
May, 1886, the initial number OF the MORNING
HERALD was issued by James Gordon Bennett Co.
The second number did not appear till the nth OF
May. It was day OF struggle but we prefer to let
Mr. Hudson tell the story OF that ordeal Speaking
OF this second number, he follows 1t with some
things tnat all readers may care to look at now
saying:-
The editor then promised to "give q correct pic.
ture Of the word-in Wall street-in the Ex-
change-tn the police Off1ce-at the theatrc-in the
opera-in short, wherever human nature and real
lie best displays their freaks and vagaries" This
turn Cerro Gord0 In his Mexican campaign, has
been fully carried out
Thus originated the NEW YORK HERALD.
All the brain work OF the new paper was per.
formed by Its editor. The leading articles, the
police reports, the literary intelligence, the pun.
gent paragraphs, the news from abroad and from
home, the account books, the bills, the clerks
duties In the ofce, were all written, prepared ar.
rangei, made out and performed by Mr.. Bennett