The New York herald., 1879-08-05
The Herald and Political Parties.

same time an equal number of republican
organs mention it as a democratic paper.
OF course the HERALD is not a partisan
paper at all it has never been one SO far
as it is an organ it aims to represent the
opinions and to instruct the judgment of
that important and increasing number of
voters who act more or less independently
of party organizations, and whose purpose
is to take care of the great interests OF the
country rather than of the petty interests
of either of the two parties. The HERALD is
the bane of the lower order of politicians,
because it takes delight in exposing their
tricks and schemes; and we may, without
immodesty say that it is trusted by the
people, because it tries to publish the truth
on all subjects. and does not care rush
whom it hurts; because it is the truth
which the people want and need to know.
Mr.. Lincoln once said, "The people,
rightly instructed, enabled to know the
truth, will always vote right" Now, the
office of an independent journal like the
HERALD is to rightly instruct the people.
party organ necessarily gives its readers
only one-sided view of affairs. That is
its business. 1t exists, not to expose, but to
conceal the truth, and the more adroitly and
persistently it can do this the better it serves
it's purpose, which is to advance, not the
best interests Of the whole country, but the
selfish and one-sided interests of party.
We need not point to illustrations of this
fact-they abound on every side; and SO
universally is it recognized that when an
organ ventures rashly on q little inde-
pendent criticism of its party it is at once
threatened with being "read OUT the
politicians intrigue against it, and some
less scrupulous or more faithful organ is
substituted by them in its place as the re-
cipient Of their patronage. OF course the
politicians resent independent journalism.
Their ideal is an organ on each side to
speak the party views and to conceal what
ever would hurt the party. What the organ
of the other side may expose does not much
matter, for only the other party sees it and,
being an organ, nobody gives much credit
to it's assertions. Thus they can go on
plotting their little and big plots
until, to their surprise and dismay.
some independent journal like the
HERALD drags them to daylight and
shows them up to the people. These
though they do not believe what they read
in their own organs, know that the inde-
pendent journal may be credited, because
it has no reasons for bias and because also
it's business-its stock in trade--is to ascer-
tain and tell the truth. Then comes the
howl of the politicians. The HERALD
exposes democratic blunders and mis-
deeds, and straightway the democratic
organs speak Of it as republican
paper; but next week the HERALD
shows up republican incompetence or
wrong doing, and at once the republican
organs cry out that it is democratic paper.
.'What side is the HERALD on to-day ?" is
common question among the political tribe,
and in this question they disclose the rea-
son of the HER, ,LD's success. 81 know
what the republican papers are going to
say to-day, and I know, too, what
the democratic papers will say, but
never know what the HERALD
is going to say" said prominent politi-
clan in Washington. ''That is the reason
you always buy it," said the news vender,
shrewdly; and he was right.
And so was this politician right also. 1t
is impossible to foretell what the HERALD
will say on any given day; those who con-
duct it do not. know themselves, be-
cause they cannot know what new
event, what new development, tomorrow
may bring. For example, the HERALD Wig
orously and increasingly fought the move
ment to renominate General Grant in 1876,
and it defeated that movement by it's ex-
posures ''Ah p exclaimed the politicians,
s'the HERALD hates General Grant"
But the General began his tour
around the world, and the HERALD sent
with him an accomplished correspond
ent who detailed every incident of
the journey in it's columns. "Ah p ex-
claimed the politicians, ''look at the
HERALD it has changed, and now evidently
encourages C@sarism." But presently the
HERALD pointed out that it would be bad
Tor the country and bad for the republican
party to renominate General Grant, and
that he would only be disgraced by the
hippodroming reception which the leaders
of the Grant movement were preparing for
him. "Ah p cried the politicians again,
'vacilating and treacherous HERALD first
it magnifed Grant, now it opposes him."
Yet in all this the HERALD was, rs the
mass Of it's readers see, entirely consistent
It thinks a third term in the Presidency
grave mischief and dangerous violation of
tradition left by Washington. But also it
takes pride in the honors General Grant re-
ceives abroad; it does Justice to his ability
as a soldier and to his good intentions us a
President. 1t supports him when he is
right and it opposes him whom he is wrong.
In short, it aims to tell the truth to the peo-
pie. and it does this without fear, favor or
prejudice.
In like manner the HERALD takes an i'm