The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-21
Metropolitan Journalism.

The London correspondent of the New
York Tribune thus discourses of the visit of
Senator Conkling in the British: metropolis:
MI. Conkling has been here for a week, see
ing good deal of London, and from several
different sides. The Londoner regards him
with some astonishment and good deal of ad-
mratlon. He has already made reputation
as talker Ee employs his extraordinary con-
0erSateonat poooeTs IN defending the political sys-
eight gears and more. You may judge OF the
effect by the remark of an eminent English.
man, which take leave to quote, that he had
never heard so brilliant defense of thing in
ltself lndefensloie; But Mr.. Conkling will
take no denial; he is able to make himself
listened to for an hour at time in companies
where sustained conversation is usually voted
bore; his wit, his fund of stories, his large
manner, his force of personal character, not to
add his distinction of appearance, carry him
through everything. Few Americans have
been seen here of late years who have made so
distinct an impression in SO short time The
prolonged visits of Gen. Grant and the EN-
peror of Brazil have together almost exhausted
for the moment the Euglishman's power of re-
ceiving fresh sensations. Were it not for that
Mr.. ConkliDg would already be lion. He was
known here, it must be said, as politician of
a school which is heartily dlslked; but the
dislike for the school quite vanshes (for the
time) in admiration of its most accomplished
disciple and leader.
Here we have key to the secret of the
manufacture of what is called "public opin-
ion'' respecting American affairs in European
capitals. This correspondent represents a
newspaper that has madeit point for the last
six years wilfully, wickedly and grossly to
misrepresent public men and public affairs in
America-to convey the impression by insin-
uation and innuendo that pretty much all the
men Identified with the administration were
liars, thieves and scoundrels, and when a
statesman OF acknowledged probity, whose
statements, because he knows that whereof
he affirms, are irrefragably accurate, appears
upon the scene, and gives the exact and lit
eral truth, contradicting and putting to shame
the maligners of their country, his frank, in
genuous recitation of the events of history is
written of as defence" of political system
with which he has been identified. The word
"defence" would be quite as applicable to a
review OF the decalogue or the Sermon on the
Mount as 10 the acts of Gen. Grants admin
istration. That the New York Senator eu--
logized them we can readily believe. No man
could do it more capably and honestly, and
If he has done something in that way to
correct the erroneous notions of foreigners
respecting the moral status of the Western
Republic he has rendered noble service to
humanity and justice.
Ii the opprobrium cast by so many per-
sons of American birth soiourning abroad
upon their native land were warranted by
truth we should still be obliged to look upon
the disseminators of such stuff as species
of foul bird; but being in the main utterly
false and always extensively exaggerated, the
effect of it is to make our blood Jingle
with indignation every time we encounter a
paragraph like the above quoted. If the
people of the old world are not deluded with
the fancy that the United States is a reekine
mass of corruption and venality it is because
their intelligence issuperior to their credulty.
1t is quite possible that the government can
improve its diplomatic service, but the need
of reformation in the morals of newspaper
correspondents is much more palpable and
urgent.