Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-10
WORCssTKR
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 10, 1878.


TUESDAY. Two Of It's lessons are OBVIOUS TO the
dunest comprehension. They are that Horace
Greeley will not be the next president, and that
Gen. Grant will. So much is certainly assured.
No amount Of bowling about pretended frauds,
or juggling with figures and percentages, or Drag
and bluster, calumny and detraction, or angry
invective, in all of which the Greeley organs will
no doubt freely indulge for day or two at least,
according to their nature and habit, will make
seem for a moment doubtful. But, besides that
these, the October elections have other lessons
not quite so obvious, yet unmistakable, by
those who seek for them. One is, that the pow
er of the press has been, perhaps not overTated,
but misunderstood. 1t is not for us TO put
low estimate on the influence of newspapers. If
they were purveyors of news only, their power
would be enormous, and it cannot be denied
that earnest aud persistent, even if not particu
larry able, advocacy of any cause is sure to tell
in the long run; but the impression that seems
TO have prevailed with some people, including a
few editors, that the subscribers and readers of
newspaper constitute a sort of clientage who
take its opinions for their own, and may be eX-
pected to think and act as it advises, and be-
cause it SO advises, is altogether erroneous.
II al thAAoA uOals HOuGstlS WIN MS
and is himself a sensible, not to say an able man,
his readers will be likely to agree with him, for
he gives them the facts on which his own opin-
ions on public questions are founded with such
reflections and arguments as these facts suggest
TO his mind. He thus assists them in forming
their conclusions, and, if he is free from per-
sonal bias or prejudice, as the mass of his read
ers are sure to be, there is every reason to eX-
pect their views TO be generally in harmony
with his. But if he is influenced by motives
other than those which control the public al
large, or has some popularity of mind which
disturbs his judgment, his audience is sure to
find it out, and those not similarly affected will
form their own opinions, differing from his, on the
basis Of the facts which he furnishes. If he
deals disingenuousy, distorting or suppressing
facts, so as apparently to justify his conclusions,
he may retain his influence over portion of his
readers but the number is comparatively small
who are wholly dependent upon single news
paper, and the truth is pretty sure to reach them
sooner or later, TO his discontinue. A newspa.
per, therefore, which changes its principles, or
even its policy, expecting to carry its readers
with it, is preparing a disappointment for it,
eNlis Il tHC NAltuEN IL uOuNoli1 AhO blh
friends may in time be convinced, or new ones
acquired but if it is due 10 unworthy motives,
it involves a loss of influence which can hardly
be repaired.
Some striking illustrations of these truths are
supplied by the present canvass. Several Of the
most ably conducted and widely circulated re-
publican newspapers apparently entered into
conspiracy to break down the republican party,
having found, after some effort, little encourage
ment in attempting to prevent it from taking
the candidate Of its choice. They seemed TO
believe they were able to do this, and many peo-
pie who deplored their detection feared that they
might accomplish their object. A few other
newspapers, thinking that an attack so for
midabe must succeed, ana wishing to share
in the glory of it, Joined their com
pany. The republicans who hab.tually
read these newspapers numbered in the
closely balanced and most populous states
several times more than the republican MAORI
ties; and, if they could have controlled their
readers, or a considerable part of them, their
movement must have triumphed. We all know
now thatit was a signal failure. Not only that,
but it seems to have made absolutely no impress
as large as ever or larger. The editors who
embarked in this scheme may have been per-
fectly sincere in their prolessed belief that Gen
Grant was an unfit man for president and that
the republican party had outlived its usefulness,
but after full discussion the facts did not sus-
tain them, and they made no converts.
Another illustration of the same kind is
afforded by the course of the Philadelphia Press
in relation to Gen. Hartranft. The Press has
larger circulation than any other paper in that
city, and has been supposed to have influence in
proportion TO the number of Its readers. 1t has
given almost all its energies for many weeks to
the effort to defeat Hartranft. 1t has professed
to be sure of success and its allies in this war
fare, the democratic and liberal" papers, have
ridiculed the idea that failure was possible. The
voters of the state were pretty evenly divided
between the two parties, and seemed as if it
were only necessary 10 convince few thousand
of them, ten thousand most people would have
thought quite enough, that Hartranft was a
knaye, TO secure the election Of his competitor,
Several times as many republicans read the
Press every day, but they were not controlled by
it. The fact is, people in Pennsylvania, as well
as elsewhere, have minds Of their own, aud
form their own opinions just as editors form
theirs, and any calculations which ignore this
fact are sure to miscarry.
The same thing is true of eminent men,
political leaders" as they are called, as of
newspapers. The people put them in the front
because they believe them to represent the pre-
vaiing opinions and to have ability and character
enough 10 make those opinions respected. So
long as they have the people at their back they
are strong; but when, however honestly, they
cease to represent the people, their power is
gone. They cannot transfer their constitu.
ents from one party to another nor
do they carry any class of voters
in their breeches pockets. few friends or
dependents may prefer personal allegiance to
principle, but the people are not blind followers
of anybody. Mr.. Sumner, much as he has been
honored and trusted in Massachusetts, deserv.
ing all the honor and confidence he has received
had but an Insignificant following when he left
the republican party, and Governor Curtin's de-
fection has lett no trace in Pennsylvania politics