New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-27

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fifth thus established, still less the value higher
than money. 1t is edited with rare sagacity. ut
speaks out" says Emerson, bluff and bold and
sticks to what il says. 1t draws from any number
of learned and skillful contributors; but more
learned and skiful person supervses, corrects and
co0rdinates." There wasa mystery then ABOUT the
editorship, for Mr.. Emerson remarks that OF TINS
closet the secret does not transpire; he saw every
thing else Ill the establishments but the edltors
room and who was in it l did not see' All the
world knows now who edits the great paper The
same hand has been the helm for more than
thirty years 1t was IN 1859 that its then
editor, Mr.. Barnes, picked out young lei
low of % who seemed 10 have the
stuff in him for a good assistant Two
wears later Mr. Barnes died, and Mr.. Delane, after
only two years training in journalism, and at Just
the age when Pitt became Prime Minister Of En-
gland was made editor of The Times. Few men
during the so years that have since passed have had
heavier responsibilities laid on them. few have
horne their burden more steadily. The steadiness
Of its course has contributed much anything to
the power of The Times. / don't mean that IL has
been consistent it has not nor always wise; nor
great many other things il might have been with
honor to itself No has England ITSELF nor the
Government of England. The limitations of the one
have been the limitations of the other but so nave
the forces. The Tines has governing tone, and
would be far more accurately described as govern
ing than leading journal. Its sense of RESPONSE
bitv is as grave and as sure as that OF the CABINET
Nothing venturesome eccentric finds favor with
IT, no rash experiments are advocated no policy
which has not a broad bottom of common sense and
n statesmanlike reason TO support 1t. The nation
turns to it with a sense of security Selfish 1t some
times is Just as England is selfish in its dealings
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which. when we take it as rule for our OVID coun-
try we call patriotism.
It's, in fact. representative journal; no other,
nor all others together. much so. IL does not rep
resent by any means all the classes into which the
English people are divided No one journal could
do that But il represents the England which the
world knows the uppermost classes and forces those
which are strongest and have known how to take
the lead of other classes. This, believe II always
did. When England was ruled by her aristocracy,
the tone of The Times was aristocrauc III is ruleu
today by combination of the aristocratc, the
wealthy and the upper middle classes; Is so ruled
in snite of the last Reform BILL and will continue to
he for some time after the next. Between them and
the working classes struggle is going on, and the
most powerful ally of the former Is The lines Wbat
they think and feel and wish, you find every morn
inc mirrored with wonderful clearness IN the col
umns of this journal. And much more, may add'
than mirrored stated and enforced with an ability
sufficient to persuade its readers that 1t does their
thinking for them In fact it does not. Its great
aim is to put their average thought nj the most
forcible way It's penetration, its capacity for dis
covering opinion which it desires to express, is adj
mirable. and is the result of long experience and
continued effort directed to this end. Its failures
and mistakes are due largely to one cause 1t al
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opinion. =, ,. :. 80. 7 .,onho
told the highest kind of journalism. 1t certainly
isnot If Is too conservative and too timid, but the
ouestion is not whether The Times has the highest
possible standard. Such as it was it is, and the
question am considering is whether it has fallen
off in the position and career it long since chose for
itself and has steadily pursued. Mr.. Greeley be-
lieyed that newspaper ought to have MISSION or
several missions. For 80 years he led several great
parties and was suppose, as far IN the van OF the
great movements of his time as 1t was possible for
fine editor of q great newspaper to be. People who
complained that he did not further or faster for
cot that if leader is far ahead of his followers
they lose sight of each other and that the most
powerful journal in the world would soon cease to
he the most powerful if its readers ceased TO read
it. The most remarkable fact in the history Of
journalism is the radicahsm of THE TRIBUNE, and
its growth and success in spite of its being really
leading journal really keeping ahead of the opinion
OF the day. But it went to the verge. 1t was anti
Slavery and sacrificed much in order 10 be anti
Slavery. But suppose Mr.. Greeley had been Gar
rsonian Abolitionist instead of Wing in 1914, OF
had even supported Birney instead of Clay, aud so
on. THE TRIBUNE would have been impossible.
If then. The Times seems less influential than for
mery il is not because il is less able than formerly
It's literary power is perhaps greater than ever
certainly is not less, is its political sagacity at
fault. But the country is in period of transition
the seat of political power is changing, and chang
ing with greater Tapidity than ever before. The
under classes are becoming politically, the upper
and as The Times ressts this change and cannot re-
sst it successfully and has not yet taken the lead
of the classes parties in the State who are rising
its influence seems less. Its attitude is defensive.
But with the upper and middle classes its authority
was never greater OF its position more secure.
Its course during the Rebellion has made it I'M
popular in America. hardly know whether shall
get hearing for anything that sounds like defense
of that course. 1t is not defense, however, but
theory and will state it. The Times, dixie the
Emperor Napoleon and Europe generally, believed
the Rebellion must succeed 1t believed it to be for
the interest of Englandtha is of the ruling classes
Of EnQland-that it should succeed and, for CON-
mercial reasons, as speedily possible. 1t did what
it could to promote that success 1t attacked us
unscrupulously, violently, and bitterly. l do not
mean TO use these words Extensively, but l apply
them to The Times just as l should apply them TO
Lord Russels dispatches aud Lord PalmerstOns
speeches. 1t may sound paradoxical but The Times
advocated the disruption of the Union and The Daily
Ne,os opposed it for exactly the reason, each
UNFOLDING what each thought most desirable for
4 tbara fax IN niah af1r
nations foreign policy has any nobler basis than
that France GOES to war for an idea and We find in