The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-22
journalism the Master Profession.


journalism the Master Profession.
The Letters on Journalism which we have
lately been publishing have drawn with
much discrimination the varying charac-
tcrisiics of the journalism OF England,
France. and our own country. The "Old
Journalist has clearly pointed out the
circumstance that while in France the
editorial profession Is the avenue to lit
erary fame and political distinction, with
Us. and more notably In England, the case
is quite different In these latter countries
the editor Of great journal is IA separate
factor in politics and literature from the
legislator and the governor and the book
writer. He has a distinct function to per-
form, to which lac must devote himself
without other ambition. Though his
power has no superior IN the State, yet il
must he exerted through the columns of
his journal only. not on the stump nor in
the Senate. II leading editor here is
guilty of the folly OF leaving the vantage
ground OF his newspaper and accepting or
seeking to get political office, he Is certain
TO lose rather than gain influence.
The case OF HORACE GREELEY Ia q sad ex-
ample of this folly of discomfort with
place Of editorial power, and the eager de-
sire of strong editor to personally mix in
the management of party politics and to
hold political officc. As the editor OF the
Tribune, Mr. GREELEY exercscda wider in
ruence than rny Senator. Representative.
Cabinet Minister or Governor la the coun-
try. He was the teacher OF these men, the
builder of their regulations, and the ut
terer OF the IDEAS which furnished their
political stock in trade. But when he left
the post of instructor and took his place
among his pupils, he speedily tumbled from
his lofty elevation. Ieulrcady held n bet
ter office than any that the ballots of his
cOuntTymeu could give him lie welded
more power than any President or lecis-
lator; and ho was his own mastcr-some-
thing that no politician is. Buthe snatched
at the shadow OF a comparatively nominal
and transitory power, and gave up that
which was real and lasting. Tho result
we all know. lie failed OF his ambition,
was utterly crushed by dJfont, died, and
left the journal hc had founded to fall into
tho hands OF an INSCRIPTIONS sharper.
who set himself TO the task Of undong al
that Mr.. GREELEY had done. This man,
assisted by tool destitute Of conviction
and feeble in intellect, has unweary incly
lahored to cover up every trace OF Mr.
GREELEY, aud 10 cast rcproach on the very
purposes for which he labored. Think Of
HORACE GREELEY's Tribune turned into
the apologist Of social nrrogauce aud the
snobb.sh parasite of social pretence! JAY
aHt
versed the Tribune engines and driven the
ship backward.
MI. HENRY j. RAYMoND also had an uu-
happy political career. Though gifted
with rare power Of extcmporancous
speaking and a clear aud analytical mind,
though clover dobatcr and capable work
er, hc made a failure N Congress, aud lost
hope and interest in his proper profession.
That quality Of his character which com
PEELED him TO see a subject so invariably in
all its roundncss nnd prevented his hold
ing decided and consistent principles, en-
ahlcd HIM to make the Times "A newspaper
which allied u niche in journalism aud ap-
penled 10 a large class Of minds. 1t, how
eYcr, worked ms ruin ms a party legislator.
( THApuECs STEN ENs, with his iudomitable
Will nnd iron purposes and convictions,
hustled the brilliant RAYMOND side as II
he had been IL school boy.
II i, true that Mr.. rHUR-ow WEED,
though an editor, gained fame cnehy a. a
political MANAGER pure and sample. But
Mr.. WrFL, though skilled a. paragraph
writer, was never really journalist
in the large sense OF the term, lie was
not nttcd to be one. lie only used
| journalism Il, an indirect means Of work
ing out his political schemes. The Albany
ErcHiBg JouruOl. Of which he was the al
rector rather than tn editor, IS not now
and never was newspaper. II Is simply
avehlclo for party use ana a receptacle for
the drippirss OF party fat.
The experience Of editors really ntted
for their profession who have LEFT 1t or
gone outside Of it 10 gain political power.
il one of disaster 1t Ia well that it has
been So. journalism gains by the irdivid-
ual misfortune. The lesson is taught that
the true place for an editor is at his desk,
not in the rough and tumble OF the scram-
! bic fer Office; and the consequence will be
n better and more Independent press, since
the journalist, looking TO his profession
only for the exercise OF power and for his
advancement, will turn all his energies to
developing Its tremendous capacity for
moulding public opinion and shaping po-
litical policies.
When NJ. JOHN LEMoINNE, the leading
writer OF the Paris Journal DIES D6bdts,
was the other day installed ~ a
member OF the French Academy, in
the seat vacated by the death OF JULES
] JANIN, who also had been . vEitsAS