The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-27

unfortunately, good sense and brains are not
votes; and, therefore, if the Bourbons can
carry only one county in State, we are in
cliped to think that their prospects of success
in national campaign are extremely dim.
The Partisan Press Exercised About tho
Herald-Is 1t for Grant or Gree leys
1t is very amusing to scan the columns OF
the partisan press and observe their comments
upon what they term the political position OF
the HERALD. One paper says we are out and
out for Greeley; another that, after boxing the
political compass, we have come out strongly in
favor of our first love, General Grant; another
that we are waiting to see which way the pop
ular wind blows, to spread our sails accord
ingly; in brief, our kind contemporaries seem
to be as much in the dark in regard to the
HERAIDs true position as the Swans lately
were concerning the whereabouts of Dr. Liv-
ingstone The Greeley papers declare that the
HERALD is for Greeley, for they have an interest
in doing SO; while the Grant papers aver that
It is for Grant, for similar reason. Which
ever way the spirit moves the partisan press
on that side the HERALD is declared to stand.
1t Is certainly a fortunate thing for great
newspaper to be thus able to please all parties,
and this very fact illustrates the power and in
fuence of an independent journal.
In former times a few politicians managed
all the chief newspapers in the country. The
Albany Regency was famous junta in that
connection It was composed of intelligent
but not over-scrupulous politicians, who would
make nominations, advocate the election of
candidates, secure fat offices and fat jobs, and
the columns of the papers under their control
would endorse everything they said or did
This junta welded immense political influence
during the times of Jackson, Van Buren,, Polk,
Buchanan and Pierce; and in becoming ex-
tinct only yielded to the natural results of
long-continued corruption and venality. The
party organs all over the country were, even
as late as 1886, nothing but the mouthpieces
of politicians and spoils gatherers. About
that time, however, new light began to show
itself upon the political horizon, and as that
light began to extend and expand like the adj
vancing day the old party hacks were struck
with awe and amazement. 1t was the birth
day Of independent journalism. Gradually
the influence of the party press began to
weaken, then to crumble, and finally to
disappear. Of course there are still party
organs; but they are not, as general thing,
controlled, as they once were, by political job
bers, and are conducted in an enlightened and
independent manner. They are not welded,
as formerly, to party associations and dis
cipline nor obliged to yield every principle Of
honor and honesty to the edicts of party man.
ayers and wire-pullers. As striking example
of this we need only refer to the course of
such papers as the Chicago Tribune and
the Chicago 1smes-the former the most
influential republican organ as the lat
ter is among the most important democratic
organs in the West. The Tribune boldly casts
off its party trammels and repudiates the nomi-
nation Of Grant, while the latter takes bold
and heroic stand in opposition to the over
whelming tide that is impelling the democratic
hosts to the support of Greeley. The same is
the case with many other papers on both
sides-all going to show that the spirit of indie
pendence is gradually becoming infused into
the system of party journalism.
In the meantime only to truly Independent
journals like the Herald is the field open for
broad and comprehensive movements, includ-
ing alike politics, diplomacy, criticisms upon
governmental measures and political economy
generally. In this field the work Of the
HERALD, for some time past, in regard to the
Alabama claims and the Geneva arbitration, has
been particularly marked and successful. The
prepriety of taking high, noble and national
Sand in support of the American view Of the
question, instead Of the narrow and cowardly
one suggested by some papers and supported
by government officials at Washington, has
been amply indicated by subsequent events.
And now, whether the HERALD be classified
for Grant or Greeley, Greeley or Grant, or
anybody else, one thing is certain-it will
always be found battling on the side Of the
rights of the American people, and maintain
ing the honor, dignity and prosperity of the
American nation.