The Portland daily press., 1876-04-28
A Sample of Independence.

Is it fact that certain class of journalists
claiming to be independent really demand
higher standard of public and private virtue
for leading Republicans than they require of
men equally conspicuous in the Democratic
party? If they are as honestly independent
as they profess all their acts go to prove that
such is the case. Such tacit admission is
certainly the highest compliment they can
pay the Republican party and its leaders.
The course pursued by two of the ablest
newspapers in New England which claim to
be independent of party, the Boston Herald
and Springfield Republican, toward ex-Speak-
er Blaine and Gov. Tilden will serve as an
Illustration. These gentlemen are conspicu-
GUS leaders in their respective parties, and
both are prominently mentioned as the can
didates of their political organizations for the
Presidency. 1t is matter of regret that
partisan journals have shown an eagerness to
make the most of any gossip or scandal
against the reputation of leading political
opponents. If these journals to which we
have referred are really independent and
their management is characterized by their
declared fairness and high-toned considera-
ton of pnblic men and questions, the ab-
sence of which they denounce in what they
are pleased to term "party organs" they
would he the last to multiply these damaging
scandals, and the first 10 give every man, re-
gardless of his party associations, that JUS
tice which partisans cannot. If their inde-
pendence is that of high minded men, they
will not devote their columns to the multi
plication of groundless rumors and coniec-
lures.
From the stand point of the independent
journalist, Mr.. Blaine is entitled to as much
consideration as Mr.. Tilden. Both have
been prominent in their party organizatio ms.
For years Mr.. Tilden was the director of the
party machinery in New York, and Mr..
Blaine has directed the party organization
in Maine. If Mr.. Blaine has been
guilty of conspring to give Maine Republi-
can majority by ballot-box stuffing and frauds
in canvassing, no Democrat in Maine has
made that charge against him as did Horace
Greeley against Samuel J. Tilden in the fall of
1OVCs IOl OLA yColo UlIs Dldlu0 LAS llll6u LU0
Office fpresiding officer of the National House
with conspicuous fidelity and ability. In short,
it may be said that Mr.. Blaine has filled every
public position to which he has been called as
honestly and ably as has Gov. Tilden. In his
business relations Mr.. Blaine has as high a
reputation as Gov. Tilden. He is, therefore,
entitled to the same treatment by journals
which are all the time setting forth their
superiority over the partisan press.
What is the policy pursued toward the men
named? Some time since, the beginning of a
suit against Mr.. Tilden and others to recover
certain stock and bonds which it was alleged
that he and his associates held as managers
of a western railroad, led to publication of
the details Of the transaction as seen by the
plaintiffs in the case. They alleged that as
committee to call in and exchange old bonds
for new, Mr.. Tilden and his associates had
issued $2S4,00O more of bonds than was
necessary to extinguish the old indebtedness
of the road, and that on this over issue they
were drawing interest. In other words MI.
Tilden and his associates in addition to fee
OF $4,000 for his services, had taken and
used for their own benefit $2S4,OOO for which
they had not given the company any sort of
an equivalent. In reply to this charge Mr..
Tilden and his associates say that they made
the purchase in their individual capacity, and
as individuals took the legal title to the road.
To this defense, Mr.. Griswold, a stockholder
retorts that Mr.. Tilden and his associates
acted throughout as the agents and trustees
of the parties in interest and in addition to
stating that Mr. Tilden was paid as an attor-
ney, quotes the official records of the compa-
| ny TO substantiate his assertion. The jour-
nails in question showed very little interest in
the matter, and one declared that the charge
! was groundless.