New-York tribune., 1874-10-26
IMITdTIHE JOURNALISM.

There is no form in which approval can ex-
press itself more agreeably than in that OF imi-
tatiOn. 1t is not only the most genuine and
grateful expression of praise, but it conveys
the still higher qualification of assuring us
that our labOrs are not only appreciated, but
also beneficent and fruitful. 1t takes nothing
from the acceptableness of such fattery that
it is often unconscious and perhaps invOlun-
tary. To be initiated by our enemies and
slanderers cOnfers probably a purer joy than
openly to lead our friends. This is a pleasure
which we now enjoy every day. and there
is great satisfaction in it. One by one
we see the papers which have not yet emanci-
pated themselves from the vices and imprO'
prieties of old-fashioned partisan journal
ism, adopting as well as they know how
various important features introduced by The
TRIBUNE. and striving, even while they revi'e
us, TO be as much like us as they can in
Typography, arrangement, and other particulars.
There is something in this mute appeal which
cannot fail to touch us, and which permits us
to hope that in time we shall make something
worth while out of these dOcile enemies.
As soon as the Evangelical Alliance was
over, one newspaper which had failed to re-
port it, suddenly became seized with a
paroxysm of enterprise and filed several
pages with verbatim report Of the proceed
ngs of local Health Convention. 1t was an
effort in the right direction, and We could not
share in the merriment which it occasioned.
So also, when other newspapers began to
recognize the fact that The TRIBUNE in fur
nishing full reports of the progress of science
in the world was satisfying a real and
legitimate popular taste, which it educated
while satisfying it, we were glad to see
them endeavoring to minister to the same
praiseworthy demand however imperfect or
injudiciOus their earlier efforts might be.
After We had engaged some of the first
scientific men in the country to lend us their
cooperation in setting forth in this paper
every step of progress made in applying
science to art and industry, some of our
neighbors also started department de-
voted to the same subject, step at
which we could only rejoice because in
the first place their readers gained some
information by it, and in the second place they
were relieved of column or so of bad political
doctrine and morality. So also with our edu-
catonal notes the very form and makeup of
this valuable feature have been copied by
papers which lie awake nights cOntriving new
forms of reviling for the journal which
they instinctively initiate because it is success
full, and instinctively hate for the same reason.
This is as it should be. The leading
American newspaper" must expect to set
the fashions, whether it will or not, and cam
not expect immunity from those attacks by
which imitators revenge themselves for their
want of originality. But we would be false
to our duty as public teachers if we neg
lected to say to those newspapers which are
striving to improve by diligently copying us,
that no amount of mere mechanical imitation
will make them truly good and great. They can
never be the journals they strive to be unless
they experience change of heart-cease evil
speaking, snarling and fighting, rid themselves
of their currish habit of defending their master
and swapping at all Others emancipate them
selves from the superstition of party, and
learn to know the truth when they see it, and
to speak it as they know it, BY that time, if
they also watch and take pattern by our
tasteful Typography, they will be like THE
TRIBUNE "inside and outside, soul and souls
"demesne alike" and will present very
pretty picture on the morning of the millen-
mum,