New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-04
NEUTRILITY IN POLfTICS.

Neutrality in politics is the refuge OF the
soft-beadcd and the weak linecd. This re-
mark will serve to introduce the novel piece
of impertuence which we print below:
TO the EdftOr OF The Tri6uhe.
SIR: You promised your patrons neutral sheet eN
posing all corruption regardless OF party ma tue r
verse to be the case You have not only nsrcprsened
facts but have rcsorted to that political dodge-the out
rage game. DO send another copy Of your paper
e. Lon't Ike that kind Of neutrality l.. s. Root.
P0rsiora, oct rs, 1876.
Now we have never promised to furnish cur
patrons with "ncutral sheet" TIE TRIBUNE
has always spoken its mind freely on every
question of public concern. II has opinions OF
its own and it never fails to let its readers
know what they are. In politics, especially 1t
has always been outspoken. 1t has never as
sumeI to he a "neutral sheet" On the con-
trary, it has asserted again and again that it
can never be neutral in politics, although 1t
is bound to maintain its independence of par
tisan dictatiOn. The edge of its convictions
does not vibrate between, somewhere and
nowhere. 1t strikes and cuts somewhere every
time. A journal that aims to shape public
opinion need not he printed with oil Of vitriol,
but it must be printed with something besides
water. Colorless editorial writing is not our
ambition. Neutrality in journalism Is simply
waste of printers ink.
a neutral sheet exposing all corruption re-
"gar less of party" Our correspondent Is cyl
IDENTIFY attempting 10 define what he regards as
independent journalism. According to this
view m Independent journalist is u man VINO
makes a business of writing down men ana
institutions; who has the talent and energy OF
n private detective; VINO uncarlhs corruption
and dcuounccs scamps in public and private;
who pulls to pieces and blachrnl regulations,
and who hammers at one thing or another
every day in the year. The philosophy OF
such journalism is pessImism; its gospel IL
that of destruction; its method is that of cor
rosive sublmate. Now The TRIBUNE has as
sailed giant abuses in Washington, III Louis
lana, in Albany, in New York, and wherever
it has found them. The corrupt men whom 1t
has exposed and branded have worn the livery OF
both political parties. But THE TRIBUNE has
n noblcr mission than the wholesale and Sys-
tematic destruction of regulations, parties, ana
institutions. 1t aims to build MP what IS good
as well as To pull down what Is bad. The
development of national industry and wealth,
the diffusion Of culture, the promotion of
science and every useful art, the leaycning OF
public sentiment and the advancement OF
whatever is best in human government and
socicty-all these are comprehcndcd III the
scheme of progressive journalism OF which
THE TRIBUNE is type. Its highest work Is
constructive and not destructive.
"You promised your readers neutral sheet
Stop right there. Immediately after the
death Of Mr. Greeley the principles upon which
this journal would Ice conducted were clearly
set forth. What was the promiscl
We purpose continuing old battle against injus-
tee and ignorance under the Eamc Republican banner
which Horace Greeley upheld stouty and So long and
on sanc policy 81 candid independence when u was
one Of his latest acts to rcan over hi. own signature
In tle,o columns Naturally We shall prefer 10 support
a, ,ar possible administration which processes the
part name such an administration VIII receive from
~ frank and cordial approval Of every action per
formed IN accordance with It's and our prucllrs But
TIE TRIBUSE uObody's official advocate. IL has 10
excuses 10 offer for the Louisiana crime II denouncrs
the credit Mohcr scandal and ahhors the degradation
Of The civil service Whcn Republican leaders are guilty
Of oppression fraud, bribery. or any other species ~
wrong folly shall not spare them because tin" are
Republicans No party symp.tnes are strong enough TO
overcome irdcp nd,uCc muzlc our honest utter
ance-lTnE tribune November, ls72.
That promise has been kept We have de-
Tended from that day to this that pure Rcpub-
liranism which the Founder of TIE TRIBUNE
preached and which he never rccantcd. We
have not supported the Administration when
il did not live up to those principles. We have
not hcsitated to withhold support from IFS
conventions, its caucuses, Its candidates, ana
It's public policy, whenever unpnncipled trick
steers and corrupt Oilcc-hOldcrS have dragged
that party from it's high ground and plunged
il into the mire We have scraped the barna-
Giles from the bottom of the hull, but we have
not sought TO blow up, or burn, or scuttlc the
ship. In 1874, when a piIatical gang gained
possession of the decks and drove the regular
ships company into the hold. we joined the
cnemys boats and attacked, not the ship, but
those who had seized control OF her and east
her adrift. But when these men were driven
off and the old officers were in their places
we did not take refuge in the cnemy's vessel.
The pcnnant of Grantism has been torn down
and the old Republican cOlors are to-day flying
at the masthead.
But this is not Independent journalism
Well, it ii the journalism for which Mr.. Gree
ley labored in his later and ripper years. lie
followed the party when 1t was true To itself
and he rcyOltcd against it when 1t was false
to itself. He never submitted to party dlcta-
ton; he never allowed this journal To become
the organ of any Administration We are to-
day in hearty accord with the principles and
tendencies of the Republican party, and we
apprehcnd great danger from the success OF
the Democratic organization. 1t is time for
strong talk and stiff backbone, and not for
elastic neutrality. We are fighting for Gov.
Hayes and against Gov. Tilden with all our
might. We realize that it is the main function