The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-14
An Organ Wanted.

10 me EQ1tOF " Ue ITeSS'
The great necessity of the time in which we
are living is an organ. 1t is of paramount i'm
partance that the acts of the administration
should be represented to the public accurately.
At present there is no journal in the country
which may be relied upon as authority on all
matters of government policy, speaking in SYM
pathy with and knowledge of the views of the
leaders of the Republican party This is un-
fortunate, because it gives occasion for so much
misconception of the motives and purposes of
the men who direct public affairs. In these
days especially, when journals. protesting to
abjure partizanship are the most intensely
partizan of all, and when to be independent is
to simply denounce every thing and every body
with vehemence, it would be refreshing to
receive a daily paper, printed at or near the
capital, rejecting the opinions of tie members
of the administration, reviewing calmly and
candidly the current events of political history,
and correcting the multitudinous errors of fact
that sometimes through transformation or
want of information, and too often through
wilful perversity, are scattered abroad and
grossly deceive the people as to the character
and conduct of their servants.
The Republican, which is mistakenly sup
posed by many to be the Washington organ of
the party, really enjoys no such distinction.
The President and his Cabinet have nothing to
do with It and are in no sense responsible for
what it says or leaves unsaid. Occasionally
when it contains an article offensive to good
morals or to good taste-an infrmity from
which it is by no means exempt-it is osten-
tatiously quoted by opposition prints as the
mouth-piece of those in authority-which is a
bad thing for the administration but not a
serious misfortune to the paper in financial
point of view as it gets extensively advertised
by that means. The Republican is altogethe
TOO low toned to bo ored,tahln usafnl organ
of any party.
Besides, the true place for an organ is not in
Washington but in New York. The telegraph
has brought the capital and the metropolis near
enough together to warrant the printing of the
leading newspaper of the country where the
most readers are to be found. New York is
the centre of vast population amidst which
there is abundant room for as many papers as
have intrinsic merit enough to command sub
scribers
When I speak of an organ I do not mean a
superservceable sheet, which puffs indiscrm
inately every thing said or done by its patrons.
That sort of newspaper commands no respect,
confers no benefit on the cause it champions;
and is by general consent Of infinitessimal in-
terest or utility. What we want is journal
that treats of public questions, from knowledge
rather than from hearsay-that has such rela-
lions to, aud intimaces with the official heads
of +l,o Cd ,;,;c hot ~
their actions and their motives with some show
of intelligence and fairness; that takes especial
pains to keep itself advised constantly and
fully of all that is transporting from day to day
in the various departments of government in
order that it may impart that much needed in
formation to the whole public
AT present there is no newspaper in the coun-
try, which can be accepted as conclusive and
unquestioned authority as to the doings and
purposes of the Executive and Legislative
branches of the government.
The New York Times comes nearer to filling
this re1uisition than any of its contemporaries.
But it does not seem to be near enough to the
administration in fellowship and association to
be able to define its policy or represent its
views. 1t is heartily Republican, and supports
the party with all the fidelity of assured con-
vction that its continued ascendency is vital
to the welfare of the country But a great
party can only be kept compact and strong by
the frequent and friendly interchange of opin-
ions among the leading minds which direct and
control it, Harmony is essential to it's success
and this is to be secured, not by any surrender
or compromise of the right of private iudg-
ment, but by such NATURAL concessions as shall
tend to promote concert of action, and unity of
purpose. Political organizations cannot be
made effective without leaders, any more than
armies can be without generals
President Grant is the leader and head of the
Republican party. He holds that position by
prescriptive right, and has established his
claim to it by unparalleled services Recooniz-
ed as such by enemies as well as friends, he has
been the great central figure at: which have
been aimed the envenomed arrows of misrepre-
sentatlon and caiumny, which disappointed and
evil minded men have carried in their quivers
Self respect and personal dignity have enabled
him to bear these malignant shafts in silence
if not with indifference. Now and then. some
great occasion has come to him to demonstrate
by single act the rectitnde of his intentions
the largeness of his capacity, and the nexlbility
of his will. No doubt he stands to-day more
firmly enshrined in the hearts of the American
people than any other living man, but no wilt
tie he is indebted for this just appreciation to
he newspaper press. His assailants have been
and voluble, his defenders few and
reticent. If the people had not been more dis
and more magnanimous than the
journalists, whose office it is to instruct them,
they would have been more generally deluded
and ensnared by the ingenuity and persstency
of the fabrications with which it has been sedu-
lousy sought to weaken their faith in their
eminent chief magistrate
There is one newspaper in New York which
has constituted itself metropolitan laboratory
for the manufacture of every conceivable va.
riety of detracton and abuse of the President
and the dominant party. 1t is neat in typo
graphy, deft in appearance, and skilfu in
dressing up the baldest fiction in such way as
to give it sembance OF truth. Its conductors
committed the fatal error some time ago. of
Identifying themselves with faction which
sought the overthrow of President Grant be-
cause he would not give them their share of
p"uonase' Ahelr leader was a Senator They
could have been placated at any moment Inv
the tossing to them of a crumb of natronage
here and there, and a few post Offices. Rnt
the President, either because he had SINAI, f,;,h
in such kind of supporters, or a perfect ind;f.
ference to their hostility, treated their
demands with contempt They would |
have amounted to nothing without the help of |
.he;Tribune-the counted for very little with |
t. The whole concern tumbled like card |