New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-10

1
Salary Grabbers pronouncng it lcentious and
brutal Mr.. Carpenter calling it degraded, and
| the Ring newspapers in the District agreeing
| that it is venal, and with Boss Shepherd and
District Attorney Harrington clapping the
! wings of an avenging angel on the venerable
Luke p. Poland to pursue and I" get even
with it, it does not seem to offer rosy pros
| pect to new corners.
And yet recruits come in. There are more
! independent newspapers in the country to-day
by several than before Congress met last De-
cember. They speak out much more freely
they are, if not less tolerant of the faults and
shortcomings of their opponents, certainly less
disposed to cover up and apologize for the
bunders and crimes of their party friends.
Indeed, with all the wholesale abuse which
such journalism receives from men IN high
places, the distinction of being independent
and Of being recognized as independent,
is coming to be eagerly sought after. only
one or two newspapers outside OF WASH
ingtOn, and those very much OF the
character of the Washington organs
though the statement may be hbelous-
venture to proclaim their dependent rela-
tions. though many of them continue to
sheer at the so-called independent press"
The title of independent journalist" Is get
ting to be quite honorable. Several new per-
sons are coming forward most unexpectedly to
claim it. The last claimant is Mr.. Thomas Mast
of Harper's journal of Civilization In cOnnec-
ton with, and we presume as an explanation
in some sort, of the full page cartoon on the
first page of the current issue of that journal,
A Mr. Noet hpIDu
"the Independent press" The cartoon represents
Columbia at the door of the Senate Chamber
turning half round and pointing angrily at
President Grant, who sits crouching in his
chair with a look such as Nast's pencil has never
given him before; on the table Is packet
marked Richardson as Judge of Claims
on the floor another inscribed shepherd re-
Elected by the Senate by an overwhelming
majority, new District Gov, Washing
Z" ton, ID. G.. :" the legend runs: "Don't let us
8" hear any more of this nonsense. 1t is a
good trait to stand by ones friends, but"
The cartoon itself will be no less a surprise
to the readers of The journal than the accom-
panying statement that Mr.. Mast belongs to
" the Independent press"
Mr.. Mast has adhered to Grant tena-
ciously through thick and thin, making him
appear always heroic and great, in spite of
his blunders and his obstinate persistency in
weak and bad appointments, that the public
had begun to suspect the artist of a toadying
disposition, and to believe that it was as i'm
possible for HIM to see anything wrong in the
object of his admiration, as for the aver
age postmaster to comprehend the idea OF
! fallibility in the appointing power. Bat 1t
.,.,N... ,,O al ha
Shepherd appointment were the last feather;
they broke the back of the most faithful
and devoted camel and so to-day, under
the artists pencil, Grant is no hero, but
very maudln person covering before
an angry Columbia. 1t might be I'M
gracious to recall the fact that the Gin
dependent journalists" of whom Mr.. Mast
now claims to be one, were made the subjects
of his bitterest carlcature two years ago Tor
declaring President Grant to be just the
neraon the present cartoon represents him.
we do so not so much to vindcate their
s,pacitv "a TO congratulate the artist upon his
capacity for learning az well as forgetting.
He may have been somewhat slow in discOv
erng the real character of his hero; but now
that he has learned it. he does not hesitate to
confess his error and step over to the side OF
independent journalism and impartial crit
| iciSm.
The journal Of Civilization has been distin
guished for its conservative habits. 1t did not
come into the support of the war for the
Union till quite late but when it did take
the popular side it did good service for the
cause 1t has been somewhat slow coming
into the ranks of the Independent Press. Its
editorial page has had the smack of indie
pendence since Mr.. Curtis discovered
some months ago that the Presidents Civil
Service Reform promises were empty and
false, but the pictorial department
has been servile to the Administration up
TO the present issue. The thorough change it
has now undergone is significant not only of
change in public sentiment toward the
Administration, but of the increasing favor
| with which Independent journalism is begin
ming to be regarded. In an article published
some weeks since on the Uses of Caricature,
TIE TRIBUNE took occasion to predict that
the pencil of Mr.. Mast would before long cast
off its allegiance to the personal fortunes of
President Grant, and be found doing good
| work in the service of honest administration
and independent journalism. 1t has come
| only a little sooner than we anticipated
| BROTHERLY LOVES.
| :, N VOW, old definition of frian1 n