The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-10


times over Two New York journalists met to
consider the subject; they were David Hale of
the Journal of Commerce., and James Gordon
Bennett. of the HERALD, the leading represen-
tatives of the old school and the new. Thus
the successful revolutionist had won recogni-
ton from the head of the dynasty he had over
thrown. The sound sense Of Mr.. Hale and Mr..
Bennett cleared the way Of all obstacles, and
the Associated Press comprising seven New
York daily papers, and destined to become an
important branch of metropolitan journalism,
was established.
The journalistic triumphs achieved by the
HERALD stand like landmarks along far
stretching road of years. It is unnecessary to
allude to them here. They are within the
memory of our citizens, and our present object
is simply to'show by what means Mr.. Bennett
achieved his great success, and to point out the
benefits his genius and enterprise have CON-
ferred upon journalism as well as upon the
nation. It was natural that he should have
been earnest in his advocacy of the Atlantic
cable; that he should have persisted in pre-
dieting its success when many despaired that
he should have been the earliest and the most
liberal in its use when it became an
accomplished fact. In all this he was
only following out the policy he had
established for his guidance when
he started on his journalistic career, and
which he pursued steadily to the end The
ceaseless vigilance with which he watched for
opportunities to display the enterprise of his
paper, and the skill and energy with which his
conceptions were carried out regardless of
cost were peculiarities of Mr.. Benefits char
aoter, and furnish the key to his success.
Some superficial critics have pretended to dis
cover inconsistencies in the political conduct
Of the HERALD; but the careful observer will
find that what is thus regarded by minds
educated in the school Of faction is, in reality,
nothing more than q consistent adherence
to that independence of party announced
as one Of the cardinal principles of
the paper at its birth. Its guiding
star has been the constitution Of the country,
and its Independent position has enabled it to
praise or condemn without reference to par
ties or individuals. Mr. Benefits boast was
that he could support an administration so
long as Its acts were honorable to the nation
and beneficial to the people, and oppose it the
moment it gave evidence Of unfaithfulness or
incompetency. The world recognized this
fact, and hence the cause Of the HERALD in
fuence with the people. The politicians
knew II, and hence their anxiety for the
HERALDs friendship, their dread of its opposi-
ton. Prior to the civil war Mr.. Bennett re-
sorted to all plans and modes Of settlement and
exhausted all his efforts to turn back the tide
Of rebellion. But when the first gun was
fred on Fort Sumter he took his stand for the
Union, and aided the government literally out
Of his private means, as well as through the
power and influence Of his paper. During the
war his correspondents we're with every army
and on nearly every battle field. Their ability
has been acknowledged by the world; their
gallantry and devotion were written in char
acters Of blood and tested by imprisonment,
sufferings and death. An incident character
ishc of Mr.. Bennett occurred just prior to the
Southern gentlemen Of wealth and posi-
ton called upon him, and strove !
by eloquent appeals, to enlist his
sympathies in behalf of the South. Among
other things, they mentioned the liberal sup
port that section had always given the HERALD.
''The South has given the HERALD no more
support than has any other portion Of the
country" was Mr.. Benefits reply, sand
North and South have received their moneys
worth whenever they have bought that paper.
Why, gentlemen, the chambermaids Of New
York pay me more money in q month than
all the Southern States pay me in year, and
yet the HERALD is as independent of the cham
bermaids as it is of the South, and goes
for the government and the Union"
Mr.. Bennett was the especial advocate of
general and local improvements, and his far
reaching views looked beyond the present in
the value and importance Of q new
project. When the Pacific Railroad scheme
was preached, while many saw in it only o
means Of reaching San Francisco in week, he
discovered the great high road between Europe
and Eastern ASIA making New York the centre
Of the world. He united with Aaron Clark
years ago, in demanding the improvement
Of the docks and piers of New York, be-
cause he was convinced that commerce
then undreamed Of was destined ere
long to crowd our bays and rivers. He was
the earliest protector Of the Central Park, and
marked out and christened the great Boule-
wards, because he knew that the population of
the metropolis must swell to millions,
and that future generations swarming the
upper part Of the island would be grateful to
those whose forethought had secured breath
ing room and health to their children. In
more recent years we find in the continued en-
terprise and wonderful triumphs Of the HERALD
the fruit Of the seed he had planted and
the results Of the lessons he had
taught. The enlargement Of the European