National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-11

JBLICAN. WEDNESDl
DEFENCE OF ii. JENNINGS.
FAIR PLAI CONES TO TEE REsCU1
OF THE EDITOR 0FTHE /" TIHEs.w
MR.. JENNINGS Hof WHOLLY RxsPoxsIBLH
FOR THE CONDUCT or THE s'1IiaEs,,-THE
PAPf1 UNDER RAYNOxD cOXThAsTHD
WITH rHB yHNNNGe-JOKI9s MANAGE.
MENr-AN APoLOGY ZOE Nh. jIExlNes'
|. VOLUME ON AMERICA. = =
70 the Editor arths National Rspublfeax:
Sir: For some time past have observed in
your paper disposition to prejudice the peo-
pie, and especially the leading men Of the Re
publican party, against the editor-in-chief of
the New York 1smes, ''Mr. Jennings, Of Lon
don,", as you ARE pleased to call him. With
out any desire to inquire into the motive of
these personal attacks, have some curiosity
to see whether you are willing to allow few
words on the other side to be said in the same
columns, where % much that IL unfair, If not
absolutely false, has been printed in reference
to the person in question. And am very
willing to believe that your own too-evident
dislike of the man has grown out Of q common
misapprehension Of his character, and of the
facts connected with his career in this country.
I: You hold Mr.. Jennings personally response
BILE for those articles in the Times which give
%. ~ fho 1oa NJ h. De-
publican party, as well a. for the general con-
duct Of the paper. Perhaps this is just, and,
dare say, he does not shrink from the load;
but yet that responsibility should not be placed
upon him alone. They make but cipher Of
Mr.. Jones, the publisher and controller Of the
Times, who convey the idea that Mr.. Jennings,
the editor, is solely responsible for Its general
conduct and political opinions. Now, Mr..
Jones ia not that sort of man. As the founder
of the Times, and its business manager from
the start, he has naturally acquired the utmost
degree of confidence in his own ability to shape
the course of the great journal which is his
most cherished material possession. It will
not do to ignore Mr.. Jones, whether you
award praise or blame 10 the Times. From O
friendly acquaintance with both men of some
years. duration, and . practical familiarity
with the methods of journalism in general, a.
well as with the FMS and outs of the Tin'es
office in particular, I have become convinced
that the publisher, Mr.. Jones, has at least as
much to do with the political conduct of the
paper as has the editor, Mr.. Jennings.
In this opinion I am not alone. A CORE
spondent of mine, an eminent newspaper
writer, and intimately acquainted with New
York journals and journalists, reminded, As he
said, in recent letter to pay . just tribute of
praise to George Jones, of the New York
Times" His theme was the efforts for reform,
social and political, now being made in the
metropolis and may premise that my CORE
spondent is rather severe in his judgment Of
men and things, and by no means inclined to
praise the Times Unfortunately. He fire.
quently disagrees with It. On this occasion,
however, he said:
az don't mean to call 1t . pious psper, but
it is the pluckiest thing ever known in the
shape of q newspaper-as different from Henry
j. Raymond's Times as any paper ever was
from another; not suited, of course, to the
same tastes as its predecessor, but on the whole
q vastly more valuable and successful public
journal than all the ability of Raymond could
ever make it. The secret Is liou-lke courage
and passion 1t takes the offensive against
public wrongs with an impetuous force that
challenges the special admiration Of men in
these temporizing days. Its style of fight
ing differs from our more customary modes Of
opposition to public enemies, exactly as per-
cussion differs from pressure. Its words are
blows, meant to hurt, not persuade. And
generally, It must be owned, they are put
right where they will do the most good. 1t is
easy for any man Of passion and force to use
strong language from q comparatively ire
in person, for little execution excites little
anger. But it takes brave man to stand in
George Jones' place, with million Of dollars
and a great newspaper at stake, and the power
to make the most formidable men gnash their
teeth with mortal pain and rage by an article,
and then do 1t every day, and 60 on doing It,
deliberately, persistently, year after year, amid
the hail Of threats and curses and all manner
of legal or illegal processes"
This is impartial testimony. It accurately
represents the joint labor and responsibility of
the publisher and Of the editor, the courageous
generalship of Mr.. Jones and the effective exc
cution of Mr.. Jennings. Buts great deal has
been said about the lattcr's influence ovs4 the
former. Undoubtedly the relations between
them are cordially confidential. The fact Il
creditable to both men. But the publisher IL Q
shrewd man OF business, OF excellent judg-
ment, proyerbially quiet, clear-headed and de.
liberate, firm in his convictions; In short, the
very last man to peril the valuable property
which he controls by placing the most import
ant part of its management unrestrtctedly In
the hands Of a rash, hl-judging editor, inexpe-
rienced in our public affairs and unacquainted
with our public men-such as you describe
Mr.. Jennings to be. The truth Is, you are
utterly mistaken in your Judgment Of both
men. Neither of them is fnfallible. Who Is
But each is peculiarly fitted for his own part
in the management of the Times, and together
they form strong journalistic team, which It
would be hard to match in this or any other
country. -
And speaking of their fallibility reminds me
of your remarks about the first editor Of the
I