National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-30
a. 10 n. Me- Yorh aTrtbune.,,
! Editor of THE REPUBLICAN:

To the Editor OF THE REPUBLICAN.
The New York Tribune is fighting the
battles of the administration now. No one dis
putes its right to do so but what sekly, puerile
battle it is fighting if we look at it from journal
istic point of view Greeley was glorious fighter,
and he knew how to be consistent. But
If women ran the journal Greeley founded
they would conduct it as it is now being
conducted. I speak purely from a jour
nalistic standpoint The New York Tunes used TO
characterize some of the HIbutne's work as silly
Billy" but words can hardly be found that would
sufficiently tell of the pitiable exhibition that once
great journal is making of ITSELF First 1t hes
as shall show, either Intentionally, which IS
grievous journalistic crime, else uninentionaly,
which is blunder in journalism almost worse than
a crime. could give several illustrations OF tnlS
One will suffice. The Tribune took the Vice Presl-
dent severely TO task the other day for taxing part
in the senatorial canvass now going on az Albany.
1t said that the Vice President left washington
in company with the distinguished ex-Sena-
tors who had dragged him 10 New York on the
same train with them, to do their bidding, and
from this illustrative statement of the way MeSsrs.
Conkling and Platt dragged the Vice President
about, went on to condemn him in as severe terms
as it is capable of using. That was lie Mr. Plat
did not go to New York with Mr.. CCnkling, having
preceded the latter. General Arthur waited in
Washington until the Senate adjourned
sine die. The Senate so adjourned after
General Arthur. business here being then over,
went to New York some hours later than Mr..
COnEllng did. Horace Greeley would never nave
stopped to make point by an intentional lie; and
the Tribune Office would have been very uneon-
Portable place for any editorial writer had such
misStatenent beer made while he controlled the
Tribune. Again, the Tribune is childish
in its inconsistency. The editor allowed,
for instance, his Washington correspond
ent to say, on the day after the Senate
adjourned, that all the nominations were acted
upon by the Senate, except q few which
opposing Senators preferred to have lie
dormant until next winter. Think of that
Isn't this the very thing which the Presi-
Conkling for trying to do, as they alleged? So it
pointment that the Tribune objects to- else
these opposing Senators" should have
ceived the same attention that Mr.. Conkling did.
Once more. the Tribune, in recent editorial note,
took occasion to praise without reservation all of
Senator WOOdin's speech. That speech, according
to the Tribune, was mastery presentation Of the
case against COnkling. Turning to WOodin's
speech, reported in another column of the Tribune,
find Woodin quoted as saying that if the Legisla
ture sends Mr.. Conkling back it will by so doing
indOrse what Mr.. COnkling has DONE and
what he proposes to dO-in short will vim
dictate Mr. Conkling. Turning again to
another column of the Tribune 1 find editorial
note. That note informs the pnblic that, even
should Mr.. COnkling succeed in securing renOmi-
nation and reelection. he would be in no sense
indicated and Endorsed. But Mr.. WOodin says
without reserve that he would be- and the Tribune
in another editorial note Endorses the whole of
Mr.. Woodin's speech. 1 might go on with these
illustrations Of pueTile journalism. These are
enough. CORRESPONDENT.