Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-03-26
The Great American Journalists
Greeley, Raymond, Bennett.

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The Great American Journalists
Greeley, Raymond, Bennett.
The names most widely known in
the annals Of American journalism as
those Of the founders Of great news
papers, arc James Gordon Bennett,
Horace Greeley aud Henry j. Ray.
mond, each Of whom strongly impress.
cd his own individuality on the jour
nal under bis control, and exerted a
widespread influence on the charac.
ter Of the American press At large
All have passed away within q recent
period the youngest Of the three dy-
ing FIRST, less than four years ago, the
other two at ripper age, while the
book which records the struggles and
triumphs Of all was passing through
the press. For tho history, In all Its
most interesting details, Of the three
great newspaper enterprises with
which their names arc connected, we
must refer our readers TO the pages of
Mr.. Hudson's most important and fas-
cinating book, in which ample justice
is done TO the character, aims and
achievements Of each of these distin.
suished men. To Mr.. Bennett belongs
the credit Of FIRST discerning the ne
cessities and possibilities Of the mod.
ern American newspaper in it's func-
tion as the disseminator Of news. He
led the way in the establishment of
the grand system Of agencies by which,
at the present day, all the news of the
world appears every morning in the
columns OF our daily journals, and
which place them, as newspapers, far
10 advance of their European contem-
poraries. A single copy of New
York journal gives more news than
will be found In q weeks file of the
London Times. At tho time Of the
English expedition to Abyssinia the
London papers were indebted to the
courtesy Of the Herald correspondent
for the latest and fullest intelligence
from the field; and during the Fran
co German war the most interesting
and accurate accou nts OF the grand
achievements Of the German armies
published in the English papers were
given in the dispatches to the Tribune,
but for which the English public would
have been compelled to wait the arri.
val of letters by post for more than
the meagre telegraphic announcement
Of victories which involved the fate Of
an empire. The English have scarce
ly begun to learn the use Of the tele
graph for transmitting news. They
affect contempt for the American
system, and plume themselves on the
more solid and scholarly character Of
their newspapers; but while this view
may have been once correct, an i'm
partial comparison Of American and
English journals Of the present day
would show that in addition to az
amount OF news, which would supply
London newspapers for week, th,
leading articles, literary reviews, ant
correspondence in every issue of one
Of our first class papers are as thought
full and as carefully considered as tht
articles which appear in the columns
Of the London Times.
The Herald was, perhaps, more rig
idly organized than either the Time,
or the Tribune, not only with respect
to the news department, but as 10 il
editorial crops. Both Mr.. Ray mont
and Mr.. Greeley permitted great FREQ
dom in their writers, and encouraged
individuality of thought and opinion
Tho former, indeed, rarely interfereC
with his associates, suggested topics
or dictated line Of policy. Eacl
editorial writer selected his own sub
ject, treated il in his own way, |,
keeping, Of course, with the tone ant
character of tho paper; and Mr.. Ray
mond, even when in town, rarely saw
the articles except in proof Thi
system had, undoubtedly, its disad
vantages slight varianccs of opinion
were sometimes detected in the paper
which, Of course, were laid to hi
charge; but this was balanced by oh
vious advantages. Mr.. Bennett pur
sued very different system. He es
tablished the daily council of editors
which Is still feature in the manage
ment Of the Herald. 1t is held q
noon, and every editor is required /
: be present. The topics of the da,
are fully discussed at these meetingl
aud each writer has his subject q,
signed to him, and its treatment pre-
scribed. While the influence an
views Of the other writer's besides MI
Greeley and Mr.. Raymond were fre
! quently apparent in the Tribune an
tho Times, the Herald, under this sys
tenn, always faithfully reflected Ii
ideas and purposes of its founder an
/, editor.
Mr.. Bennett kept the public at
distance. Few outsiders found acces
10 his private room ut tho Herald Of
fee. Mr.. Raymond and Mr.. Greeley
on the contrary, rarely refused to 60
visitors in the editorial sanctum.
gentleman onco entered Mr.. Ray
!, nond's private office with the inquiry
! ! "Aro you at leisure 7" "No, Sir,
was the courteous reply, rs the quic
pen was stayed in it's progress owe
. the page, "but | am at your service.
For fow years previous to his deaf
Mr.. Greeley had private room in ID
Tribune building, to which no coul
: retreat whom the pressure of visitor
became too great even for his patience
I but his old room was open TO all, an
!, he might be seen ongrossed in worl
. IL he heard stop on the floor, h
would ask, without looking "What
I. wanted ?" and would keep on writin
while the visitor stated his errant
: unless his attention was arrested b
y something Of Importance. Both M
!, Greeley and Mr.. Raymond could Iii
ten and wHto OF the same ,imo--
! rare faculty, even among ncwspaps
!. men.
Tho maddost woman in tho Unite
ytatoa of America is tho one who live