The New York herald., 1872-12-31

ABSENCE had actually closed the Legation and
left Rome for Berlin. If this is not an open
rupture, it looks like one. Who is to blame
Is question which by different persons will
be differently answered. It is more pertinent
to ask which will suffer most, Rome or Ger
many, the Pope or Emperor William.
Journalism I'm tho United statcs-Thc
Lesson of Mr.. Hudson's Book.
The publication of Mr.. Frederic Hudson's-
book on journalism in the United States
ing as they are novel. No one had ever
before attempted systematic history Of the
American newspaper press, and few pub
fishers would have been bold enough to bring
out book dealing exclusively with o subject
upon which everybody thinks himself thor
oughiy well informed. Harper & Brothers,
almost as much as MI. Hudson, are entitled to
credit for occupying this fresh field and con-
tributing to the advance Of the newspaper
profession by the publication of work
which SO fully details both the history and the
theory Of American journalism. Regard it in
whatever way we may choose, Mr.. Hudson
book is Of great practical worth. As re-
pository Of facts it is invaluable. As the first
formal outgrowth of journalistic thinking it
cannot fail to have decided influence; In
many respects it must give new impetus
both to newsgathering and to the growth Of
the American newspaper.
People nowadays read the papers almost
exclusively for the news Opinions are not
valuable, even when they are free from the
bias of prejudice or self-interest, unless they
throw some additional light upon the topics
of the hour. That paper has the largest circu-
lation which most nearly supplies the public
want. Class papers are confined to the classes
for which they cater, and as q rule are unsat-
isfactory even to these. There are papers in
tended for the different naionalities in Amer
ica, but people look to the HERALD rather than
to them for the news from European countries.
Literature and art have their representative
journals but everybody looks to the HERALD
for the freshest criticism on books and actors
and singers, and expects to get it as crisp and
forcible rs any other matter of news. Politics
has its press, but the distinctively political
journal is becoming thing of the past There
was time when no editor attempted to print
q newspaper unless he sustained his party and
was in turn sustained by it. The decay of the
party paper began with the birth Of the inde-
pendent press. Mr.. Hudson asks, somewhat
mournfully, "Where is the Globe, the Thun-
derer of Jackson's administration Where
is the National I,aetigencer that controlled
the destinies Of the Wing party2 Where
is the Boston atlas /? the Courier and Enquirer !?
Where are hundreds of journals that made
their mark on the public mind within short
space of time? All gone. Where are the
power and influence of the Albany Argus and
Richmond Enquirer and Ohio Statesman to-
day?" The value Of his work is, to great
extent, in tracing the career Of these papers to
their downfall or decay; but it is even more
valuable in showing the progress Of the jour-
nails which fill o wider and better place.
To the independent press many political
journals owe the beginning Of their misfortunes.
The news columns of the HERALD have killed
more newspapers than anybody has any idea
of and besides competition with enterprising
newsgatherers the political press is constantly
menaced by dangers to which the independent
press is not exposed. Like man pursued by
disease which may strike him down when he
seems flushed with life and health, the political
paper is constantly in danger Of sudden and
unforeseen misfortune The downfall of q
party is followed by the dissolution Of the
party press National administrations, State
.o,x
support their hired organs for time, but
when the new administration or the new
''ring'' comes into power the hired organs die.
Sometimes we see papers turning from the
support of one party to the support of another
in the expectation Of coming "avalanche;"
but if the avalanche does not come as was
expected, it will certainly come for the paper
which looked for it. There is no hope for the
political organ which turns against &c party
and fails to carry the county with it. Mr..
Hudson's book is full of al, these misfortuncs
to the party press-so full, indeed, as to force
from him reflections on the instability of news
paper property. 1t is the adhesion to party
which contributes SO much to make newspaper
values uncertain and precarious-an adhesion
from which there is no final escape except by
extinguishment. No such fate impends over
the independent press. Journalism, when con-
fined to its legitimate channels, is as certain as
any other pursuit It's aim is to supply the
public want in the matter of news
II journal is not o newspaper it
has no mission and no future. Class
papers are too confined in their field
Of operations to offer any certain reward to
their projectors, and political papers are SUBJ
| ject to too many vicissitudes to make them
safe even as business investments. It is only
the newspaper-the paper which prints the
news-that can live; and, like a hotel or any