New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-01
ORGANS AND THEIR MUSIC.

We have noticed some discussion in other
| Journals as to the merits, or rather the stanch-
| ness. of THE TRIBUNE as O party organ
whether it has been, or may confidently be
expected to be, "reiable," to use a word of
dubious prOpriety. We desire to help the
negative in this controversy.
THE TRIBUNE was designed to be something
quite different from q party organ, as organs
20 in this country. 1t was meant to discuss
political as well as other questions of general
interest with entire freedom and frankneSs-
to commend whatever its Editor should be-
lieve to be right and condemn whatever ap-
peared to him wrong, without regard to the
party affiliations of the doer. 1t WAS intended
to be as independent of Office-hOldng and of
Ofice-seeking control as The Times UOndon)
or any of the great European journals, none of
which ever subserved a party with the docilty
mot to say servility) often exhibited on this
side of the Atlantic.
But, soon after the establishment of this
journal, the country was plunged into con-
trOversy respecting the cOntrasted merits of
Protection and Free Trade; and the Editor
an ardent, devoted PrOtectionist from boy
hOod-rushed instinctively into the thickest of
the fight 1t was not in bis nature to do 9TH
erwise.
When Henry Clay was superseded by Gen.
Taylor in 1848 in Convention which laid
Free Soil on the table, THE TRIBUNE did not
behave like good party organ. 1t told truths
that the party did not relish, and did not hurry
itself in taking ground for Gen. Taylor. A
good many people liked it less for this; but
we believe they respected it more.
Again in 1852, when Gen. Scott was nominated
for President on q Slavery Compromise plat
form, it accepted the candidate, but emphatically
spurned the platform. A good party organ
would have swallowed the platform at the first
gulp, and pretended to like 1t.
III 1854, there was New Departure. A start
ling and temporarily successful effort was made
to open to Slavery territory which had been
solemDly cOnsecrated to Free Labor. Again
The TRIBUNE stepped to the front, and did its
best in opposition to what it deemed perfidi-
Gus crime till that issue was forever settled.
Still, it did not earn the reputation Of
stanch, reliable" party organ. When tho
Republicans of Illinois undertook to turn
Stephen A. Douglas out of the Senate In 1868,
just after his magnificent and successful fight
against binding Kansas over to Slavery under
the fraudulent LecOmpton Constitution, The
TRIBUNE thought they were wrong, and, think
ing, said so. A genuine party organ would
not have thought at all, or, thinking so,
would have said the opposite.
Again in 1862 the Republican Legislature of
our State passed several bills for Horse Rail.
roads in our City, collectively known ~ tbe
"Gridiron." THE TRIBUNE was not content
with opposing those bills to the utmost. II
paraded The names Of those whose votes
passed the lot, and ezhorted its readers to
beat any OF them who should presume to
stand for reelection. Several Of them ,oero
beaten in consequence, and the party ma
chiucTy considerably dcranged That Is not
the sort OF music expected from party organs.
Enough for this time. IL is plain that they
are right who insist that The TRIBUNE is not