The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-05
We Salute the Newspaper Fraternity

1t becomes our duty at times 10 sound the
note of warning or to blow the blast of
encouragement to our brethren of the
newspaper press. The danger with editors
is that they are apt TO fall into n purely
perfunctory way OF doing their work.
This is fatal 70 vigorous and aggressive
journalism. The captain who leads a
column In this grand army OF assault on
ignorance, wickedness, and public indiffer-
ence, must always be at the front, and
always charging against the enemy. He
must never let his sword know its scab-
bard.
The beginning of the Centennial year is
fitting time 20 call ali the editorial chiees
to the front, and to address to them few
remarks touching the opening campaign,
and how best to perform their several
parts in it, As we run our eye along the
line, we feel a thrill of pride at the sight
OF such a fine-lookiug and intellectual body
OF men. We hope that we shall long serve
together, and test our mettle ON many a
well-fought field.
What makes this year 40 important In q
journalistic sense. Is the circumstance that
II Is the hundredth anniversary of our
Declaration of Independence, from which
dates the real foundation of an Amer lean
newspaper press, and also the year in
which our free citizens cast their votes for
President of the United States. These
are two great events to crowd into
the twelvemonth. To adequately treat
them and rightly to perform their du-
ties in view OF them, the editorial force
must needs employ all their talent and
all their vigilance. We look TO see an
unusual public interest in newspapers this
year. To meet that interest and to satisfy
it, our brethren of the press must spare no
effort. Weurge them TO seriously oontem-
plate the situation, and to 60 forth pre-
pared to treat 1t courageously aud SUCCESS
fully.
As a whole, the condition OF the metro
politan press is very encouraging. AT one
time it seemed as IL the deadly blight of
Jay Gouldism would blast several of
those city journals to whose columns we
have always looked with the assurance of
finding honest opinions ably expressed.
and earnest convictions vigorously urged.
But jay Gouldsm has been checked by
exposure. 1t is a noisome thing that lives
in the dark and corrupts the pillars OF
journalism far out of sight. The disas-
trous effect OF its baneful influence is
manifest in the condition Of the Tribune,
whose tall tower is an unsightly beacon,
warning against stock-jobbing journalism,
vainly covered by the shallow waters of
sentimentality and humbug. We see no
hope for the Tribune, and so dismiss 1t TO
bargain for the sale Of the shadow of
power II has left, ms JAY GOULD aud his
stool pigeon may think best. We cashier
it us a desc rter from the ranks of honora-
bic journalism and drum it out of camp.
The rest of the city press is so conducted
as IA whole that the country may well be
proud of 1t. III business depression has
lessened the profits and circulation of
some OF the journals, that is but tempo
rary matter, The loss Will soon be re-
| gained. We see by our own steady pro-
| gress that the prosperity of our neighbOrs
is secure If they make honest and able
papers, and rightly supply the public
needs. Just now, however, they are too
cut and dried. Some of the editorial
pages weary the eye, and the impatient
reader pities the poor fellows who grind
out all this stun, and wonders why they
DO II. we 40 not Dlame the Wflters
Writing when you have nothing to say i;
hard. Spreading out modieum of ideas
over a great space too often produces
thinness, The better way, II you fee
your ideas giving out, is to stop, even
if you haven't used up all your paper. To
sum 1t all up, the most desirable thing
about newspaper Office is brains. We
commend these thoughts to our brethren
generally.
The most encouraging manifestation OF
the newspaper power last year was the
disastrous defeat Of JoHS KELLY and
Tammany. 1t was splendid fight. ana II
did us good to see how CALAMITY our com
rades of the Herald Times, Stats
Zeitung, and Journal Of Commerce
charged on the enemy. Even II they haC
not conquered they would have won
victory for journalism. That showed wha
| We could do. Perhaps Va shall have al