The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-27
the HERALD COMMISSIONER TO CUBA.
Tho Independent Press the Governins
Power.

The Independent Press tho Governine
Power.
From the Shreveport la, Times, Feb. 10I
Recently the NEW YORK HERALD sent Mr.. James
j. OKely to Cuba to ascertain the real stua a
affairs In that island the extent, character and re-
Of the insurgents ana the prospects OF ther
success or failure. The HERALD's Commissioner On
applying to General Morales commanding tho
Spanish army, for permission to pass the Spanish
lines was told by that Official that he might pass
but II subsequently found among the insurgents or
II he again appeared within the Spanish lines. he
would be treated as spy and shot immediately.
To this threat OF Morales the HERALD replies :'Tf
the HERALD Commissioner receives any injury ae
your hands without violating the laws OF your
country you will be held to strict accountability,
and will be made to suffer the penalty OF the out
rage. not ia the island OF Cuba alone, but every
inch OF soil that owes allegiance to the Spanish
nag"
The HERALD, after explaining the object OF Mr..
OKely's mission and showing that 1t is entirely
just and proper, assumes that the American peo-
pie VIII sustain it in its response to Morales and
says:-"The American press Is stronger than the
American government; 1t is the representative
and mouthpece Of the American people," With
out entering into the merits OF the tiopaJ
issue between the HERALD and Spain, we hold that
there is an absolute truth embodied in the words
just quoteda truth which Is applicable to all truly
representative governments in this enlightened
age. The legislative power has become dwarfed
by new and greater power; 1t is no longer
the master. 1t Is the slave. Twenty years
ago Mr.. Herbert Spencer-all Of whose theories,
though carried to impracticabe extremes, are
based upon practical truths-said lit bids lair
to become a trite remark that the lawInaker
IS but the servant OF the thinker Daily is states-
craft held in less repute." Whether Mr.. Spencer
at that time OWNED the power which was operat.
ing the remarkable change in governmental agcu-
cies then so clear, and which has since become
still evident, he does not say; but certainly
that power cannot now be mistaken, standing
FORTH as it does in its herculean proportions and
speaking trumpet-tongued In every city, village
and hamlet-the press.
Those who have studied history as something
and dynastes and who will contrast the legislation
OF the past era with that OF the present. cannot fall
to observe that then legislation organized and con-
troled, retarded or advanced society and all its
manifold interests, while now social changes and the
stages OF progress are controlled and
and not by the policies OF kings and presidents,
nor by the enactments OF Parliaments and Sen
ates. But those workings which seem to be spon-
taneous are prompted, organized and guided by
an intelligent, vigilant and untring agency-tney
shapes the destinies Of peoples, and which is the
creature of "the press"-pubc opinion.
Whatever OF evil and whatever OF good there are
in the political workings OF England and Americs
to-day are due to the press, and as that institution
IN na tne 81 ana
those of Germany, France and Spain. Its in1u-
ence organized the vast railroad rings which re.
Gently threatened to subvert every other interest
In the country Its sagacity discovered the Cr6dtt
MObilier swindle the Senatorial system Of bribery
and jobbery; and its power forced an expose and
brought the railroad rings and such corruptonista
as Harlan, Pomer0y, Colfax and their eompeers 60
Company the HERALD, Tribune and World are
greater Great as all the railroad combinations Of
America the press Of America Is greater and more
intelligent and 1t now actually rests with thd
press whether these railroad combinations shall be
kept within legitimate bounds or permitted, In
conjunction with Senators and Representatives. to
plumber and Cypress the country.
the influence OF the press, has the hustings lost
its potency and oratOry and become less political
force than method of literary entertainment. Zach
morning the press speaks to Its Millions and every
Journal has its regular daily congregation who are
its people; who look to it for news and nfOrmat0n
vino learn to think and feel with 1t, and who are
fully posted by it every issue long the stump
speaker appears among them.
That there are venal journals, shame and
curse to the land Is certainly true; yet every Gem.
munity that builds up in Its midst, by liberal
patronage, bold and independent paper, soon
nnds itself moving forward under the Influences OF
q well organized, vigorous and progressive public
opinion. Such communities ind themselves en-
rapport with the spirit Of the age; they ind rail.
terious influence their trade Increasing; new peO-
pie settling among them; new buildings arising I'm
their midst; their town and parish everywhere
talked of as growing city or productive region,
and, finally, they find their Legislature consulting
their interests, and shaping legislation according
to their views And this Is all because they have
an independent press to talk for them.