New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-01
PRINCIPIES IND ORGANS.

| Certain journals speculate on the probability
| that The TRIBUNE would support this or that
| candidate if nominated at Cincinnati. They
| have no data and no warrant for saying that
we should object to any of the persons named.
| We have said that, if the Convention should
| see fit to place its candidates on platform
hostile to the Protection of Home Industry, it
would thereby preclude our supporting them ;
| and yet we have not said that they might not
wisely do what would constrain us to oppose
their candidates. If majority of the Ameri-
| san People want Free Trade, they ought to
have it, no matter though this or that indi-
vidual be displeased thereat. In that case,
candidates who respond to the general aspira-
ton can do without the support of this or
| that newspaper. We have only urged the
Convention to use language that unequivOcally
expresses its meaning; if that meaning be
Free Trade, let there be no mistake and
no dispute about it.
We shall in no case diSsemble or qualify our
conviction that Protection has strengthened
and enriched our cOuntry-that it has saved
us from a commercial collapse and crash con-
sequent on the close of our Civil War-and
that ii now gives work at good prices to humid
would be wandering in quest of employment,
glad to accept half the wages they now earn.
But whether the Cincinnati Convention shall
enable us to approve or oblige us to condemn
its action, our resolve nevermore to deserve
the name of a party organ will stand.
We tried to indicate this in a speech on our
return last Summer from q visit to Texas. In
that speech, we offered to pass receipts with
the Republican party, offsetting debt against
credit and considering the account balanced.
We annoyed many Republicans by exposing
and denOuncing the carpet-bag villainies which
have heaped mountains of debt and taxation
upon the PROSTATE, devastated South; we at
the same time offended the Democrats by justi-
flying the anti-KuKlux legislation of Congress
as essential to the protection and security of
thousands of the inoffensive and industrious
Southern Blacks We praised the Northern
born teachers of Southern Blacks, well
knowing that they are unpopular with a
large majority of the Southern Whites; and
we declared that we had, in brief address
on a steamboat deck at Vicksburg chopped
" the time would come when Americans North,
Gas well as Americans South, would feel just
"pride in the soldierly achievements and mil
"itary character of Lee and StonewaIl Jack
"son.n All this, we knew then as well as we
know now, is inconsistent with the role of an
organist, which we were trying hard to repel
and throw off. Yet journalists and other re-
tail politicians, who have already read us out
of the party at least thrice, are from day to
day doing it again as gravely as though this
were a novelty. Is it not waste OF breath?
A party organ is regarded by its supporters
as hired and paid by them to whitewash their
leaders, legislators and functionaries, while
blackballing those of the opposite party. 1t
is not expected-in fact, is not allowed-to
have any conscience, nor to av0w convictions
which do not conduce to its partys success.
If the Organst should ever dare to have
mind of his own, he is promptly and cogently
reminded that he is Thought with price,"
and must demean himself accordingly. Party
file-leaders will write him that he is "going
Counter to public sentiment"-that is, to
their conception Of what the party interest
and ascendency demand In their view,
he is top to be whipped into spinning, spin
ming ever for their advantage and delectaton.
Whatever the future may have in store for us,
whoever may be nominated at Cincinnati,
Philadelphia, or elsewhere, we have resolved
that this journal at least so long as its pres
ent editor shall conduct il, will not be party
organ. We shall do our best TO make it
good newspaper, giving all that happens