New-York tribune., 1872-09-13
THE PRESS ON THE TRIBUNE'S EXPOSURES
THE HIGHEST PROVINCE OF REPORTING.

from The SDrtaqfeH Republican, Spto
The primal object of the newspaper is 10
give the news. But differs in quality; there =
OF fact and OF opinion news Of incident ana
event. and news OF policies aud OF the Administration OF
public affairs OF and Of personal character,
OF society and OF social movements and me-
The development Of Journalism the decade In this
cOsntry has made this qualitative analysis OF news one
of the most rigid necessities OF the profession NOT 10 at
attempt nice definition, we might say that that was
the most successful journal which lays before its readers
the highest class OF news, most ntelgcnty discrlnl
mated and wisely set FORTH and which culuvates taste
II is in accordance with this principle and this destiny,
that the press becoug daily and more the voice
OF tue people their refuge In Distress and their most
expression. IL for many the theory and
practice OF newspaper enterprise to consider personal
and partisan support necessary the growth and pros
perty OF journal Happily that theory IL now ex-
ploded. The fools who are ready 70 shrek "stOp my
paper' az every word of dissent from their views
are growing and fewer and the lovers OF inde-
pendent opinion more and more numerous. Nothing
else will explain the success OF the independent
journals OF the country. NO sooner dees thls
fact OF the stability OF independent press become
tablished, than the glorious possibilities OF such
an Institution become evident and actual
The press OF the future will be the peo-
pe's cause still more than it has been In the past It
viii to be the first duty Of journalism TO be the
peoples attorney, and the highest privileges OF com
nunity to the client Of such Journal The tnvest-
CATION of the Boomiugdale Asylum by TgE TRIBUNE Is
a case IN point We do not share the holy horror ex-
pressed ia quarters this enterprise The TACT
is that the Asylum is public institution place where
whom hold most dear, or to submit ourselves to
treatment. The Is also peculiar from the utter
mpossibty OF procuring evidence OF the actual man
agement, except in tho manner adopted by IHE
TRIBUNE. III it were a prison where malefactors were
housed, we should have hesitation or accept
lug their testimony as their treatment but unac's
story has chance Of securing credence The oeers
the only sane persons in the institution, presumably
x parte and we NAV say that the officers of these asy
usually carry the exclusion of the public and the
secrecy or their own management TO an absurd anu
needless extreme, which in itself is sufficient 10 arouse
anxetles in the minds OF those whose friends they
have In charge Again., even sane man VINO mas Deen
placed in asylum by his relatives for venal purposes,
never appeal 70 the public without arousng doubt
as to sanity. The proverbal two sides always
trumped in such case, and the victims credbity
before public ruined by his prosecutors An nyest
CATION by State authority must of necessity be confined
the only persons in the ring, the ocers ana at
tendants In this case, then say that man OF un-
doubted sanity who willing to procure admission to an
asylum and pose it's management Is jused In SO DOING
and journal which viii engage IN sucn Work90es duty
TO the public which nobody else will do. No private
citizen has the time, the MEANS the neart OF lne psoe
enable him to carry out such phlanthropy put
journal has. Much as honor Ihe Herqkf tof nnung
think The TRIBUNE deserves equal
credit for penetrating tne mysteries Oh DiooIuguc.
To explore Africa magnificent but 1t is not Journalism
the contrary TO explore public abuses at home ana 70
lay bare matters IN winch the pubic Is deepy nereSleu
and from which it is absurdly excluded is the
highest province Of reporting We Dresuppose that the
enterprise entered upon and be carried out in this
spirit OF honest public service 1t is no impeachment OF
this purpose that the exposure makes anu becomes
sensation The very fact that it does make public
sensation is proof Of its importance. A
murder or a fire interests comparatively small
number, but a public Institution has an immense nmee
actual constituency and families and social
circles aud there all through the community TO say
nothing of its possible use eventually 10 every man. IL
the fault the managers OF the asylum themselves
that they have not admitted their patrons more CON-
petey into their confidence The exposure OF the man
agement results in the kind OF sensation as other
recent exploits OF JOurnaLsm-the exposure anu over
throw OF the Hartford and Erie and Ere and Tammany
Rings Looking back the history OF these niqutes
upon the present attitude OF the independent press
no one can fan to that journalism Is exercising new
taned and that the people far from regarding IL as an
resenting IL as an mpefinence are ds
posed accept the harnessng Of new and giant
force into the public service and the erection OF new
SAFE guard TO free institutions