Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-04
JOURNALISM.
The Difference Between 'sOrgans,
aud Independent Newspapers.

Boston Herald.
The party organs cannot De expected to COM
prehend independent newspapers, though the
people understand and appreciate them. Ii Is
hardly worth while to complain OF what is lack
Ing In the organ" makeup, and we ought not
TO complain when 1t works 80 much to our al
vantage During the late campaign, IL we had
pursuing, we should have been daily assured
of the general correctness and effectiveness
OF our work by the abuse OF the organs On
both sides, who could scarcely express their
annoyance because we failed TO find one side
all good and the other all evil, and endeayored
to do justice to both. One OF the favorite ex-
pressions of the organs 10 that the independent
newspaper, or its editor, "haS no convictions"
OF what use are the convictions of an organ
editor, who never ventures to have mind or
express an opinion OF his own, but tamely fol-
and candidates and as regularly denouncing
everything that emanates from the other
side? An Independent newspaper might
be run without convictions, but we fail to
see bow man with strong convictions
could be the editor OF an organ and not occa-
sionally disagree with his party. The difference
The organ Is published in the interest of a
party. The Independent newspaper is pub
lished for all, and its first duty is to give the
news new fairly and candidly; Tue publishers OF
look forward to the time when they hope TO
do so. The Independent publishers so into
Journalism as legitimate business. and are
content with legitimate profits. Many Of
the organs are getting to have more or less
Independence in their news columns, and In
proportion to their independence In that de-
partment are they useful as newspapers. There
has been great progress In this respect in the
last twenty years. during which the indepen-
dent press has come into being and had re-
'spoils," the independent newspaper does not
fear to be In minority, but it can afford to
recognize the logic OF events without regard to
revulsion against "Grantism" and predict the
election OF Tilden. which would have been
fulfilled but for the Louisiana returning
board. 1t was free to see and praise the merits
OF the Hayes administration, and to recognize
that the bluDders OF the democrats in the extra
session would drive back the independent
voters to the republican party In 1880, If the re-
the evil and the blunder OF the ''thtrd-t term
movement, and hold the republican party up to
its best level 1t could also use It's influence to
secure s good democratic nominations, SO that
the people might have an opportunity to
choose between two good tickets, instead OF
two bad ones. 1t could correct the diStor-
TORS and extrayagances Of the organs and
stump speakers on both sides. In short, 1t
could interpret the logic OF events, with honest
and fearless criticism OF the men and measures
OF both parties. The organs are incapable of
this work, because they are trrevocably CON-
dependent newspaper, calmly deciding between
the Nv parties, eXertS o much greater influence
When 1t gives an opinion than the organ whose
decision Is known In advance, and known to be
reasons for believing that the people appreciate
an independent newspaper, and do not doubt
that such newspaper tends to encourage
and develop independent voters, who do not
follow their party blindly, but weigh the EVIL
dence and arguments, and think for themselves.
That may be bad for the parties and their
organs, but there can be no doubt that it is
good thing for the country. The independent
vote Is the balance wheel OF the republic. 1t
prevents any party from going far wrong. 1t
has rebuked "C3sar1Sm" and "BourbonisTnr in
these elections. 1t Overcame secession and
saved the Union. And we do not doubt that
In the future 1t will hold the balance between
extreme and dangerous tendencies and secure
to the public liberty under the law.