The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-11-20
BARyysAY JOURNALESJL


PARTISAN yOURNALES.H
We think the following extract from
the pen of Hon. Joseph Medill, in again
taking charge of the editorial depart
ment of the Chicago Tribune, one of the
most sensible things ever written upon
the subject Of journalism:
The readers Of The Tribune viii natu-
rally desire to be informed, at the out
set. of the probable line of conduct of
The Tribune under the change Of man
agement 4 full explanation cannot be
given on the instant. Mems opinions
and actions are more or less Influenced
or controlled by the circumstances which
surround them, and always by unforeseen
causes But this much may now be
safely promised. The Tribune hereafter
will be, as it formerly was, when under
my direction. an Independent Republi-
can journal IL viii be the organ of no
man, however high; 40 Clique or ring,
however influential; or faction, however
fanatical or demonstrative. While Civ
ing TO the Republican party and its prin-
ciples, "A ho arty and generous support, it
viii criticise the actions and records of
Republican leaders as freely and fear
lessly as in days of yore. But it has
seemed to me unwise for great repre-
sentative journal, for the purpose of
correcting some alleged abuses of ad-
ministration, to desert its party organi-
Zation and turn its guns on It's old friends,
or help into power and place the leaders
of the organization whose political rec
ords and whose official conduct show
that they are insincere in their profes-
sions of desire for administrative purifi-
cation. As a general rule man can
exercise more influence for good among
his friends by remaining en rapport with
than by assailing and traducing them.
The same rule holds true ia regard to
newspapers. The Government OF the
Nation must be conducted through the
instrumentality of parties l know of
no other agency which has succeeded in |
free countries The party in the major |
ity must assume the responsibility of |
governing. a party is simply a volun-
tary organization of citizens united to |
carry into effect certain principles and |
purposes. 1t must employ and intrust |
individuals to collect and disburse taxes.
10 perform executive and police duties |
for protection and security of person and |
property; men must be engaged to con |
struct public works, carry the mails, ad- |
minister Justice, and make and execute
laws, and do a thousand other things
which the public well-being requires;
and these individuals viii often prove |
careless. inefficient, or corrupt. But a |
party whose aims and purposes are good |
and patriotic, and whose record is grand |
and glorious, should not be condemned |
and thrown out Of power on account OF |
the detective work or misconduct Of
few of its employees, in order to make
place for an antagonistic organization
whose record cannot be defended, but is
regarded with sorrow and shame by It's
hest members, and whose conduct when
in power never fails To show that its re-
fOrmatory professions when out of power
are delusion and snare.
Such being the case IN regard to the
and machinery of parties in
free countries, the Press, TO be useful.
cannot avoid being partisan in greater
or less degree. If AN editor undertakes
the TOte Of supporting both sides, his po-
sition is equivalent to a double afiirlna-
tive, which amounts TO a negative If |
he habirually censures and condemns
both, he is soon regarded as a common
scold ana "a nuisance. To be entirely
bipartisan leaves him in the condition
Of cipher: and when Il newspaper un-
dertakes to be wholly independent" of
its party and vet discuss politics, it il on
the high road to the camp OF its political
opponents, whether its conductor so i'll
tended at the outset or not-unleSs. in
deed he takes refuge in the towards
larbor of neutrality and abdicates his
duties altogether, which Is a most con
aud deSpicable position. But
[ is not essential TO the prosperity or
of party paper that it should
yillfully Inisrepresent its opponents. and
lehold nothing but evil and depravity
n all their actions, or discover only
reasonable designs in all they propose
o do. Candor ana fairness in the treat
nent of political opponents viii detract
Iotiing from the influence of paper.
or will it iniure the prospects Of its own
arty.
Such. in brief are the views have
ing entertained of parties, and the re- ]
ltions which the Press should bear To-
ards them \ political newspaper, 10
e of service to the public, must give I
ne party or the other the preference. !
nd, while the Democratic party EN- !
races many excellent and worthy mem
ers, who would be an honor to any i
yet sincerely believe the +
epublican party comprises a much |
lrger proportion of the intelligent and I
iucated classes, of the moral worth 81
I'D business enterprise, as well as OF the f
atriotic elements, of the nation; aud {
lerefore the Government of the coun- q
y and the civil rights of the poor and Il
eak can be more safely and prudenhy l.
'mmitted TO It's keeping than TO that Of Z
: antagonist, whose past history and Il
ltecedents furnish so much cause for n
and dread of its future be- II
avior Il
Looking, then, at the individual com al
Osition of the two great parties.-aU II
.her parties being mere fragments. II
,hemeral in duration and narrow in m
oject,-and at their respective records ~
I'D underlying principles, l cannot hes m
ate TO give the decided preference to
he Republican party. Hence, The Tri.
ene will be conducted as d Republican Is
1urnal it