The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-27
THE POWER or THE PRESS.

THE POWER OF THE PRESS.
The Ptcavune and Times claim to be
very great newspapers they are more
or less venerable, and both are presump-
tuous; both have the largest circulation
In the Southwest both have great vigor
In suppressing their opinions, and both
would have the world believe that they
exercise great control over public
opinion In Louisiana and New Orleans.
We are panied TO cay that the facts do
not bear out the last assumption, unless
the assumption be that measures Of
public policy are popular and powerful
In proportion TO the degree OF opposi-
ton these two able journals make to
them Perhaps this Ia not the highest
quality Of force and influence Ia public
affairs, two papers, each with the largest
circulation In the southwest, are ambi-
tious OF exercising; yet 10 is probably
better to be influential in this manner,
than not to be influential at all, and SO
in justice to Our worthy neighbors we
shall show that their combined influ-
ence In this line Is as great as that OF
the DEMOCRAT In the opposite line.
No measure that the Pteay,tne and
Times have advocated in the last
eighteen months, to go no further back,
has been successful. In 1876 both vio-
lently opposed the impeachment OF
Kellogg, while the DEMOCRAT, then a
new and almost unknown journal, adj
vocated impeachment, and the House
impeached.
For months, and even up to the assem-
bling of the last State Convention, the
Picapune and Times advocated a third
party; the DEMOCRAT appealed to all
parties opposed to Radicalism to rally
under the Democratic-C Conservative
banner for the salvation Of Louisiana.
i The DEMOCRAT views were carried out
and the State has been saved.
Il The Times devoted Its columns and
,all It's energies to have gentleman OF
great personal popularity nominated
for Governor. We apprehend that the
support OF the Times destroyed any
chance for the nomination Gov. Penn
may have had. The DEMOCRAT had no
choice for the nomination within the
party, but opposed Gov. PENIS nomi-
nation because 1t differed widely with
him In politics, and in accordance with
its position a gentleman representing
the Democratic. Conservative policy
was nominated.
The Times and Picayune swore Justify
that il the parish convention did not
nominate unobjectionable candidates
for all offices they would bolt the nomi-
nations and run independent candi-
dates. The DEMOCRAT held that the
crisis was so grave one that 1t would
be safer to accept any action OF the
parish convention than to bolt and
create dissensions which might endan-
ger the State ticket and lose the cause,
and 1t appealed to the people to abide the
nominations. The parish convention
made some nominations we know were
Objectionable from the stand point from
which the Picayune and Times lad
threatened. But these ferocous and
independent journals never whimpered,
but followed the DEMOCRAT into asquare
fight.
The Picay,tne and Times wanted the
public printing given out to the lowest
bidder, and threatened and bullied the
Legislature to accomplish that end.
The DEMOCRAT said, let just prices be
established for that work, and then let
the authorities choose for printer man
in whose integrity and ability to do the
work they have confidence. The prop
osition of our neighbors did not get
twenty votes in both houses.
And finally, emitting many similar
, instances of the discontinue OF the
, Pic. and Times, they both furiously adj
, yocated the imposition Of the railroad
tax. The DEMOCRAT, an earnest friend
OF the road, held that the tax was
wrong and dangerous in principle, an
outrage upon property, and that it ought
} not to be voted, and the people came for
ward and defeated the proposition Of
I the Pic. and Times to tax by an over
$ whelming majority.
i We are sorry that our neighbors have
. manifested so much feeling about these
, little matters. They can do something
) now to advance the road probably by
j opposing it. At any rate, we commend
. them to accept the situation, and to
, temper their overgrown vanity by OBJ
) serving that the Bee represents the
, views of the French, and the DEMOCRAT
, 1.-THE opinions of the English speak.
> ling population of Louisiana and
a New Orleans. Nevertheless, oul
Y neighbors should not be disheart
r ened, In State and city like
\ ours, there are many special interests
to be advocated and defended; much
profitable putting to pc done, and a great
e deal Of judicious neutrality on delicate
8 questions to be preserved. These are
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