The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-09

press, his story of "Martin Chuzzlewit
In this. his probable first impressions of
the American press are given in the &C
count of Martins reception by the New
York newsboys ere the boat had touched
the shore, in this STRAIN Here's this
mornings New York Sta5beri" Heres the
New York Family Spy'" "1Iere's the New
York Prioatc Listeaeyt Here's the New
York Keyloie Reporteri' Here's all the
New York papers !" "Hercs lull partcu-
lars of the patriotic loco-foco movement
yesterday, in which the wings was so
cbawcd up, the last Alabama gouging case,
and the interesting Arkansas dooel with
bowie knives, etc, etc And then voice
in Martins car tells him that at is by such
enlightened means the bubblipg passions of
our country find VENT!
We hayc no space for the patriotic cbul-
litions of that model American journalist
described rs Mr.. jefferson Brick. nor for
the lamentablc collapse of the great South
western "Watertoast Association" nor in
view Of the apology of Mr.. Dickens at a
New York dinner, at recent visit here,
for these observations, do we repeat them
now in judgment against him. Our object
press of this country in 1912, as Dickens
portrays it, and the American press as we
find il to-day.
The caricatures of Dickens, despite the
pride which we feel in speaking of the in
situations of our own country, were not SO
very wide Of the mark as they may at first
appear to the reader of to-day. In 1S42
the population of the United States was
about eighteen millions we had very few
railroads, and no telcgraphs. The institu-
ton of Southern slavery was the supreme
power bchiGd the throne, the southern
chivalry ruled the party journalism of the
Union and the Independent press was then
but just struggling into the foreground.
All the elements were gathering their forces
for the impending crisis which came in
our great civil war. When this passed
away our people found themselves in a
new world. And this crcntful period had
occurred in the interval between the first
and second visits of Dickens to this ,oun-
try. In the general advancement which
had been made during his absence he found
the independent press had reformed the
then existing abuses and he acknowledged
and recognized the great revolution which
was still doing its work.
In the last presidential campaign wher
the gross and reckless personal denunca
tons of our party press were SO bitter ant
SO general the question REQUIRED. ha.
there been in roaii|y any marked improve
ment i'll the tone of oCs party press anC
party politicians since the time of Mr.. JEFF
fcrson Brick and the famous Watcr-Toas
association? 1t was thea humiialing It
acknowledge that our party journalists hat
much to learn.
But within the past two years Il create
improvement has been made than ever be
fore in the standard taken by the news
papers of our country, with Il few eXccp
tions. Take for instance three of the lead
ing daiies of New York, the Times. Tyfb
me and Hcrd'd, nearly all of the Boston
papers, the Springfield Republicdn, tn
Chicago Tyibune and the st. Louis daiics
and we find them outspoken in defense o
the right and bold in their denunciations o
fraud and wrong-doing Of every kin
wherever it shows itself. American jouI
nalsm is therefore taking higher ground
7 while few miserable exceptions "neve
: learn anything and meyer forget anything.