The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-02
GhtGatelIigett
THE LONDON TIMES.
Ifs independence. Ability IN"
Ircadth OF View.

Bfcnuln Oh NAC"
,p,,o the New York Spirit Of the Timesl
Al A keen.sichted American gathers con.
.,an, material for reflection in this vast
,i,w world, Not day passes without a
new fact in science, government, anu So
r ", The London Tines has been u1u-
.naily independent. and interesting Tor
,SS lat three months, especially on Amer
;cSn and French affairs. Some OF its
~isw. have been unusually fresh and
bold and, as the Times is in a large de-
yree the leader and reflector OF public
Spinion, these utteranccs must be accepted
~ iar beyond individual opinions. For
instance, il has fearlessly asserted, in re;
gard to Cuba, that Great Britain wou .,
never allow constant and bloody lns SaI
rection like that inCuba so near It's Dof I'M:
without prompt and stern protest IN, nnn
declaration fell like thunaerOolt %P o,,
the English newspapers, which H. ''I Ifn Gec
S,s,o" sov"1nment in regard to Cuba rs
srOSS y2olation Of international law. Inc
ssiF SSI oISo rpon Spanish and Continental
s sn his already been most salu-
,orv The IYmejhas spoken, in language
mi Iess decided, in favor OF the Centen-
niaI Exhibition at Philadelphia, and the
nrticlc after the action Of the American
House Of Representatives appropriating
81 500 900, was noble specimen Of edito-
rial eioQuence. On the subject Of uni
yersal amnesty, it has taken very high
and fearless grounds. Earnestly advis-
inp tllat our Congress should exercise
the largest liberality to the ex-Conteder-
a,cs still under the ban, it does not hesi-
tate to pay tribute to the extraordinary
clemency Of the United States govern
mcnt 10 the leader OF the rebellion. The
steady reduction Of our national debt,
and the dissolution Of our vast armies at
the close OF our civil war, have repeated
" received its warm commentator.
Within few days, beginning last Mon.
day, January 81, the Times has discussed
the late French elections in spirit not
previously noted in It's columns. II re-
cards the triumph OF the Moderate Re-
publicans as the sign OF permanent
French government. 1t applauds the
discretion Of Gambetta and the wisdom
Of Theirs, while it denounces the arro-
ganCe Of NJ. Buffet and the extravaganza
Of Victor Hugo. These are altogether
memorable indications. 1t is unneces-
sary 10 speculate upon the effect Of such
arguments in such an organ. The Eng
li.h people are for the first time told, in
tones OF authoritative conviction, that
the republican example is not as vicious
as they have been taught to believe, and
the great concession is the more weighty,
made, rs il is, in style Of singular grace,
and fortified by the best examples, What
u contrast between the angry tolerance
which, not many years ago, pervaded the
English press in reference to republican,
and especially American ideas!
The first number OF the London Times
appeared January |, 1888. It's founder
was John Walter, grandfather Of the
present proprietor, John Walter, NJ. +.
Tor Berkshire. It's own history is the
record OF human progress; and its atti:
tude to-day is wonderful proof that, if
we are not wiser than our fathers, we are
certainly more advanced in the art OF
making good newspapers. The Times is
a model daily journal. The paper on
which it is printed, the ink, the types,
the whole arrangements, place 1t at the
head OF its contemporaries. Enormous
sums are expended to give it this pre-
eminencc, aud enormous revenues repay
the outlay. / do not write Of this paper
for the purpose Of praising it, although
an experience Of forty years, as printer
and editor, would justify my opinion. l
prefer it, after eighteen months daily
reading OF its pages, as pattern Of bust
ness management and editorial states-
manship. A well.known writer says:
There are many excellent newspapers
in the world, yet there is but one Times.
Frequent attempts have been made to
excel il; many time it has been said
that it would be easily beaten, but in the
struggle for journalistic influence and
position the Times is first, and the rest
are nowhere. Jupiter has several satel-
lites, and no equal"
The number Of metropolitan daily
morning papers, at the present time, is
thirteen. or these, five are published at
three pence, one at two pence half.penny,
one at two pence, five at one penny and one
at haIfpcnny. The Times, notwithstand.
Ing the formidable rivalry TO which it
has been exposed by the increase in the
number and circulation Of its cotempo.
rarics, has contrived to maintain its
place rs the most influential journal in
the United Kingdom, the liberality and
enterprise which mark its conduct being
unparalleled in the annals Of the news
paper press. 1t generally consists OF n
sheet and n half, forming IL pages, but
during the sitting OF Parliament when
the pressure on Its columns is unusually
heavy, each issue frequently consists Of a
double sheet, or 10 pages. Sometimes it
hos been found necessary to make up a
number consisting Of two and n half
sheets, or 90 pages, the price OF the paper
remaining the same. Advertisements
form conspicuous feature OF the Times,
the revenues from these being considera'
Div in excess OF that obtained by any
other paper in the United Kingdom from
n similar source, althOuSh no auNerl4se'
ment canvassers are employed, and all
advertisements OF an Objectionable char
acter are excluded. In fact, the censor
ship exercised by the Tines over its adj
vertising columns is Of the strictest pos
sible character; even the advertisements
Of professional Betting men, money lend
ers, dealers in duack medicines, and the
like, being refused insertion on any terms.
The conduct Of the Times in this respect
favorably contrasts with that Of tho gen.
erality OF newspapers.
But there is one feature in the Times
that l have more than once referred to,
iu inAexible impersonality. Such n
thing az q reply to personal antagonist
as rare us an attack. Only the names
Of public men are mentioned in its edito.
rial columns, and, though their votes and
measures are scrutinized, there is no
malignity in the criticism, and no passion
in tho Judgment. Nor is there any
slavish aduiation Of Parliament or the
crown. More than once the Times has
spoken Of the one with severe cchsure,
and NJ The other with resolute reproach.