The New York herald., 1874-09-12
MarsAal Bassine's Letter.

cence which that distinguished soldier has
made since his conviction at Versailles. 1t is
also his first fall explanation of his course
during the trial and his first direct accusation
of Marshal MacMahon as one of the cher
authors of the overthrow of France. Ihus IL
is valuable contribution to the history Oh
the war with Germany, for the determination
of Marshal Bazaine's position In that great
contest will be one of the principal duties the
Just historian must hereafter perform
That the first public act of Marshal Bazaine
after his escape from the Isle of Ste. Marguerite
should be to thank the HERALD for the i'm
partiality with which it has treated him, and
to give through its agency definite state
ment of the position he claims to hold, is but
one proof among many of the value of really
! independent journalism. We have done no
more for this soldier than we should
do for his foes were they similarly
placed, and have had but one object
the discovery of the truth. This GER
tainly entities the HERALD to no personal
gratitude, and it is, doubtless, the conscious
ness that he would be treated without preju-
dice for or against him that induced Marshal
Bazaine to appeal to the world through our
columns Neither partisan nor enemy, the
HERALD has become court of appeal from
courts which wrongly condemn or acquit
The Caesar at Washington, and the
black Caesar of the South (called
after conqueror, as Cooper said in
one of his novels, as if in derision of his de-
Ia 20 oll ;p6i
and equally sacred. 1t is because this abso-
Lutte independence is understood that such
men as Marshal Bazaine seek the HERALD as
a medium of communication with the world
Don Carlos did so when he gave to our repre-
sentative at Biarritz his manifesto to the
European nations. This mark Of confidence
the contestant for the Spanish throne repeated,
when he first published in our columns of
yesterday his definition OF the policy he in
tends to pursue if he wins the crown by the
sword and his intentions in regard to Cuba
The latter announcement is of extreme interest
to the people of this country, no matter what
effect it may have upon the policy of their
government. The King of Denmark is
another monarch who has expressed his
policy through the HERALD, and this
was also the case with the King Of Swe-
den and Norway, who, about q year ago,
frankly discussed with our correspondent at
Stockholm the proposed reforms in those
countries. Gambetta, the leader of the French
republicans, and Guizot, the Nestor of France,
are among the distinguished European
statesmen who have fully declared their
views through the agency of this journal.
After he had lost his throne Louis Napoleon.
and subsequently the Prince Napoleon, gave
their views upon the future Of France to our
correspondents. The Gar expressed his
opinions upon Russia in similar way, and
Won Beust and even Bismarck, one Of the
most reticent of statesmen, spoke freely of the
condition of Austria and the purposes of Ger
many. 1t is notable that these eminent men
should choose an American Journal for the
publication Of their opinions, passing by all the
European papers, but it is not altogether
strange, for it is in this country that Journalism
has reached its highest development, both in
enterprise and independence. Nor does the
HERALD hold less important place in the esti-
nation of the public in America 1t will be
remembered that when Utah and the United
States were involved in dispute which
threatened very serious results Brigham Young
officially explained his position as the Mormon
ruler in a letter to us, while the two Gov
ernors of Arkansas, Baxter and Brooks,
submitted their rival claims to our
decision, which anticipated, in every i'm
portant particular, the action of the general
government. In fact, the thorough revelation
of affairs in Arkansas given by the HERALD,
made it impossible for the President to take
any other course. But it is unnecessary to
further recapitulate the evidences Of the
power of Independent journalism. The news
paper now supersedes the old system of
diplomacy. Official gazettes and administra-
ton ''organs'' have passed away as mediums
of communication with the people, and cor
respondents fulfil the trusts which were once
imposed only on ambassadors. Newspaper
watchfulness and energy do more for the
public good than parliamentary or Congress
sional Investigations and the London Times
has more than once of late years destroyed
national evils which the government had
afterwards only to bury. But this power of
journalism is not derived from enterprise and
popularity only; it must rest upon the worlds
confidence in the accuracy with which great
newspaper reports facts, and the absolute i'm
partiality with which it does justice to all men.
Marshal Bazaine comes to us in the frank,
blunt spirit of soldier with the story Of his
wrongs. he is unquestionably right In claim
ing that he was made the scapegoat for the
sins of others, and is offered up as an atone
ment to the indignation of France. That he
was not judged by his peers 49, naturally, to
him sufficient to justify his escape, and he
arraigns the Due d Aunale as, in q military
point of view, his inferior, and therefore an
incompetent Judge. Though the Duke