The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-13

Sun, has thigh appreciation of the enter
prise" Of our correspondent in Africa. One
of the things for which a man might well
labor in this world-for which he might en-
counter daily with good will the many
dangers of such journey as Stanley has
undertaken-ist the approval of that journal
journal whose praises are not cheapened
by too liberal distribution; but one that,
on the contrary, might well be supposed to
hold that creed of superior persons-that
Not to admire Is all the art know;
To make men happy or to keep them So
Every one of its many readers will we
doubt not, rejoice with us that the SIN takes
an interest in African geography, and will be
glad to hear, from itself, that it is thoroughly
acquainted with the subject. 1t has over
come with dash and gallantry nearly all the
difficulties of local journalism. It's war
upon thieves in Office even though it some
times assumes the aspect of mania, will
forever be an honor to it, and, as it seems
now to find that these are not enough to fill
the circle of the activities of q great news
paper, we welcome it to the higher
sphere of journalism, and do not
take unkindly its exuberant notion of
its own excellencies as exhibited in its criti-
oism of some fancies thrown out by u.s.
Criticism from such a source is in itself
always welcome, because it implies that the
judicious deem our achievements worthy
their attention and if the criticism is
against us we may reflect perhaps, upon the
physical impossibility Of all the journals in
the world securing the services of the one or
two critics who are always right. But if the
Suns assault on our theories could disturb
us how would our souls be soothed with the
balm of its reference to our style! 1t ap-
pears to say that we write in a style with
which it finds no fault-in fact elegantly"
This is certainly very handsome. More
over, if we consider the drift of public
opinion on the subject of HERALD articles it
must be admitted that it required very great
moral courage to say that we write elegantly
and we recognize this higher sort of courage
as the great attribute of our contemporary.
But it seems to us that the Sun might
gracefully have been more just, even if not
generous, to Stanley and we regret that it
did not choose to deal with him on the legiti-
mate ground of his deeds or misdeeds as
an explorer rather than from purely liter
airy standpoint. There are, in fact, some
good reasons why successful explorer could
not be possessed Of special literary merit
and nearly all the explorers of Africa have
their books practically rewritten in London.
-Stanley's qualifications are that he is a
robust, hardy and brave gentleman, full Of
daring and manhood F; enthusiastic, impul-
sive; inspired with what might fairly be
called the chivalry Of enterprise. But this
combination of qualities seems Of little con-
sequence to the Sun because he writes ''vul-
CARLY" This is to put mere dilettante
vanity above all good standards of excel
lence. If we had sought for man capable
of writing admirably an interview with Liv-
ingstone rather than man fitted to find
him our journalistic cap would have lacked
feather. 1t seems to US very regrettable
that a brave fellow struggling in the wilder
ness in an honorable ambition, perhaps to
leave his bones there, victim to fever or to
the savages who massacred Debelleford,
should, in the little he hears from home,
hear with the rest that he is of little ac-
count because he writes svulgarly"
AS for the geographical problem proper,
it is amusing to see the degree to which pas
sion enters into the support of theory. Our
contemporary declaims against rs for our
Ignorance Of a subject of which no civil
lied man has any positive knowledge. We
are rated for our presumed support of
A. 4 10 90 II,
whom we are rated must necessarily be an
other theory Our guilt-our 'ignorance'-
is that we do not accept his theory. 1t is a
battle Of theories. Once upon a time-the
time Of Ben Franklin--there was a war of
this sort about lightning rods, and particu-
larly as to whether they were more effective
with knobs at the end or without Franklin
was against knobs, and on the day when the
subject was to come before the Royal Society
it was thought his authority would carry the
vote But significant intimation was given
that this was regarded as the opinion of
man unsound in electricity as well as poll
tics and that His Sacred Majesty George Ill
would not hear Of such thing as a lightning
rod without knob. SO the knobs carried
the day. 1t seems to be again question of
authority, and while we are waiting for the
demonstration we incline somewhat to the
philosopher of the occasion. Livingstone
believed that the Lualaba went to the Nile,
and we are Of opinion that he may have been
right But if anybody else is in favor Of
knobs and the Congo we shall not deal with
him any more harshly than our uncle Toby
did with the fy.
QUARANTINE MANAGEMENT was the subject
Of investigation by the Assembly Committee
on Crime yesterday, but the witnesses re-
ported the officers as honest and the conduct
of the department excellent. This testimony