Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-27
partisan. edicts, an

@sCta Oh mere party leaders,
is to surrender ones individuality, ones
real manhood, to become the servile tool
of mere machine politics.
But as the elections of the present year
have proved the people despise and re-
pudiate the collared henehmen of Boss
machine partizan leaders, and assert
at once their independence and
their manhood. The political
whirlwind that has swept over the country
is due in large measure to the manly
stand taken by Independent journals in
unfolding the corruption of party leaders,
and affording the public news and infor-
nation never to be given by servile, SUBJ
sidized press
Of all the vile trayesties on journalism,
a subsidized, truculent press is the
most to be despised and condemned, and
the most unworthy of public respect or
confidence.
A small country postofioe will subsidize
who conducts land receives the postmas-
tership, henceforth has no will but that of
his party-no motive, and no purpose
but to do his bidding.
An assistant postmaster generalship
will take more prominent man servils, like
Frank Hatton, and the subsidized press
goes grinding on in its machine work.
An Independent press is credit to the
party to which it gives its general sympa-
thy, and is an honor to the country and
blessing to its more particular field of
circulation. It hesitates not to criticise
what is wrong in the party to which it
gives more particularly its approval,
nor does : it hesitate to expose
and condemn the crookedness of party
leaders. It wears no mans collar, it
clanks no party chains. It is the cham
pion of the people, of all the people, and
is their truest friend, and the reliable in
terpreter of their will. Independent
journalism has been a plant of
slow growth in this country, but
it has at length reached position of COM
handing power, and is being as much
feared by the corrupt manipulators of par
tisan jobs, as 1t is heartily cherished and
conided in, by an intelligent people, and
Independent electors. The following from
Happe,'s Weekly, is commended to the
thoughtful perusal and consideration of
the candid reader:
But this kind of dependence has passed away.
Great Journals are now great properties which
are Independently managed. If, indeed, an edi-
tor wants office, he trims accordingly; but his
journal, of course, at once loses Its influence,
and its support of party men and measures,
however sincere, is understood to be paid for.
But the chief journals in the country are not
open to this suspicion, and there is a union of
! ability and independence in their conduct which
was heretofore unknown. The press of this
kind now represents the people as distinguished
| from the parties 1t is true that most citizns
incline to of the two great parties. But there
is always an assumption of ''the people, or
''the country'' as standing aloof from the
| parties and appealed to by them. This element
is what is called in French politics the Left Cen
ter. 1t is an intelligent, independent body of
citizens who are not ofhce-holders Offce-seek-
ers, but who have patriotic pride in the coun-
| try and shreHd perception of party dangers
| and htmbugs, and who give the majority now to
one side and now to the other, but upon whose
action the mere rub-a-dub of mere party adjura-
ton and abuse is absolutely ineffective. There
Is nothing more cOmical than to see Democrat
ic runner hawling at member of this body as
mainly Republican, or a Republican hummer
roaring at him as deputy Democrat.
tits Of this large and controlling constituency
of voters that the independent press is the voice
1t discusses public questions often with as
much ability as they are discussed in congress.
The particular journal may be of Republican or
Democratic sympathy and preference, but 1t
does not hesitate to censure, IS the case may be,
Democratic or Republican conduct. Thus dur
ing the last summer this press of both political
inclinations steadily and powerfully exposed the
wrongs and the certain mischief of Hubbell's
performances. 1t pointed out the extravaganza
| and tho inexpedieney of the river and harbor
bill. 1t sustained the presidents veto. 1t car
ned the country Overwhelmingly at the autumn
elections. 1t defeated members of congress
who had supported the extravaganza. 1t spoke
the opinion, OF which they had conception.
And it is not although it is painful
| spectacle-that such members now rsvile the
press corrupt 1t is well for members of
congress to reflect that the press is 'neaDsx to
the people" even than they, and that to speak of
"a storm in the newspapers if it were very
foolish clattsr is ludicrOusly to misconceive the
situation. Congress must no longer expect from
an independent press merely an echo of the opin-
ions of party leaders; but it will find that press
sure ally of patriotic, progressive and reason
able legislation. If congress wishes to know
the real movement of public opinion it should
not heed the tone Of the distinctively party
sides steadily reviles.
The Wratli with the press which is evidently
! felt by certain members of congress and which
they have plainly expressed, is very natural. The
press has silently changed its character, and is
now not only very great but very independ-
ent power. 1t is not many years since all the
chief journals in the country were party organs.
| They received their directions from congress,
they echoed the words Of the party leaders in
Washington, and they defended, like paid attor-
neys, the party measures. In return they re-
ceived the pap" of party in the form of place
for the writers or proprietors, the advertising
of the government. Itwas in this way that Henry
| Clay, when secretary Of state, was accused by
the jackson party of debauching the press
and one Of the worst forms of the spoils system,
which jackson did not, indeed, originate, for it
had been long known in New York and Pennsyl-
vania but which he introduced into the practice
of the national government, was that of subsi-
dizing able editors.
| A Grain Corner Decision.
| INV YOKK, Dec. 26.-The committee on
grain Of the produce exchange gave de-
cision to-day upon the points in contro-
versy between Lane & Son and Hustled
& Hazeltine in an issue arising out of the
late corner in grain. The decision states
that deliveries were made in accordance