Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-28
(From the Germantown Telegraph.


metropolitan parties and the provincial
press of the genuine republican stamp
have recently been engaged in vigorous
controversy as to their respective influence,
and we must candidly say that the metro
politans have come off second best. The
provincials carry too many guns for them
by long odds. Setting aside for !, moment
the vast number of the provincials, and
the fact that they appeal to their several
communities with force tha, no distant
press, however great, can counterfeit, we
must express our surprise at the DISPOSE
ton OF the metropolitan liberals to over
look the very superior editorial ability of
many Of these provincials. The editor
and proprietor OF the Providence Journal,
for example, is one of the ablest and most
experienced members of the national Sem
ate. The editor of the South Bend Ind).
Register was lately Vice President of the
United States. The editor of the Wash
ington Chronicle was one of the leaders of
the republican party in the United States
Senate. The editor of the Pittsburg Com
mercidt was chairman of the Pennsylva-
mia Republican State Committee i'm the late
successful campaign. And so we might
go over a long list Of journals conducted
by men Of high talents, great experience
in public affairs, and vast deal more pru-
dence, circumspection, and judgment than
the men who conduct the metropolitan
press. t.
If we take the democratic side of the
press, no one would think Of taking the
Judgment Of the New York World for that
party. In forming any conclusion as to
the democratic sentiment it would be
necessary to consult the Albany Argus,
Harrisburg Patriot. Pittsburg Post, Cincin-
natl Enquirer, and other journals entirely
beyond the range of managing metropoli-
tan cliques. In the same way precisely.
republicans who wish to test the sentiment
OF their party throughout the country take
the provincial press. For. whatever the
Philadelphia papers might say, for in
stance, upon a given question, the ultimate
decision would rest with the able journals
Of the interior Of Pennsylvania, FOR the
good and sufficient reason that they all
have a strong influence with their sections
and deserve it on account of their past
good sense and sound judgment. Persons
in other States who fancied General Hart
ranft would be defeated because of certain
. newspaper detectives, were amazed at the
final result. But they would not have
been, had they seen as we did the reliable
republican provincial press all mustered
in full ranks for Hartranft. Against the
array of such journals as the Lebanon
Courier, Harrisburg Telegraph Erie Dis
patch, Greensburg 1rgas. Buck County
Intelligencer, Norristown Herald. Beaver
Radical, Crawford Journal, Somerset Her.
aid, Chester County Record, American
Republican, Delaware County american,
Reading Times and Disputed and a host of
others in every county in the Common
wealth, the influence of few liberal
journals in the great cities was hopeless
from the start These journals can mus
ter twenty readers for every one that the
liberals could boast.
1t will surprise many persons TO learn
that the most unfailng induces of New
England sentiment are the Kennebec
Journal, Hartford Courant, Providence
Journal. Newburyport Herald, Salem
Register, New Bedford Mercury, and
Springfield Union. 1t will be still more
extraordinary to many to hear that the
most unquestionable republican reflex in
New York-is the Albany Ereniag Journal.
The Newark .4drertiser is more closely
read than the New York Tribune by those
in search of political bearings. because 1t
speaks the undisputable republical senti-
ment OF New Jersey. We select these
organs as specimens of the principal press,
10 show how great is the error Of the met |
ropolitans. in 'exaggerating their own in
huence They were undoubtedly self-de-
iuded In the last political canvas. They
supposed the provincial press would fol. |
low In the lead Of certain METROPOLITAN |
journals and were amazed to find that they
did not. II is just Us. well that the true
state of the ease should be understood
nexs since we can See in advance that the
abs1itionJ of The free circulation of ex-
changes viii increase the independence of
the provincial press by diminishing its re-
lance upon the tone of the metropolitans
1t viii be a grave disadvantage to the