The Portland daily press., 1890-08-29
THE PRESS.
FRIDAY MORNING, AUG. 20.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT.
His Life Before and After Founding
the Herald.
rCorresuondence of the Press.


Bennett had clearly genius for jour-
nalism. He was the founder of the
modern newspaper in America, which
in time influenced the newspapers of
Europe, notably those of Great Britain.
The Herald, which he established sixty
five years ago, had from the beginning,
and always has had, any number Of de-
fects; but its unvarying and redeeming
purpose has been to give the news. We
can hardly understand, unless we have
examined old files, how dull and dreary
were the blanket sheets over which
our grandfathers tried to keep awake
They contained almost everything that
their readers did not want, and nothing
akin to what is now considered news
Bennett is entitled to the enormous
credit of having been the pioneer in pub
fishing news, and of originating journal
istic ideas far in advance of his time.
He never fully performed his mission
he was constitutionally disqualified for
the task-but he achieved more than
enough to make him remembered.
Although he began his connection
with the publishing business at 90, and
afterward held divers journalistic posi-
tions, some Of them important, he did
not reveal his latent power-the power
that insures success-until he was near
40. Many men would have been dis
couraged by his unfortunate experience;
would have lost heart and hope. But
he believed in himself, and in himself
alone. He had been thwarted in his
projects; he had been prevented to a
great extent from carrying out his
theories by his associates, and these he
discarded, SO far as equality goes, in his
final and prosperous effort. His was
mind that must control, that must act
for itself, without embarrassment or
hindrance from others, as the career of
The Herald discloses.
Born in Scotland of Roman Catholic
parentage, he went to village school
at Keith until IA, and then to Catholic
seminary at Aberdeen, with a view to
studying for the priesthood. While
there he gained certain intelligence from
this country which caused him to relin-
quish all thought of a sacerdotal life
and to make resolution to emigrate at
his earliest opportunity. Arriving in
due time at Halifax with companion
of his own age--he was then past his
majority-and but a small supply of
money, he Sought position as teacher
as means of support. 1t did not suit
him, and after few months he jour
neyed to Portland, Me-, and then to
Boston, where he got a place as proof
reader in publishing house. A passion
for writing seized him there, and his
compositions in verse frequently adorned
the newspapers, to which he was stead
lily drifting.
Three years later he came here, but
he soon went to South Carolina to form
an editorial connection with The Charles
ton Courier, then an important and
prosperous journal. This did not please
him either, and he returned to New
York so dissatisfied with journalism that
he decided to set up commercial school.
The public did not respond to his wishes,
and he next delivered course of lect-
ures on political economy which were
very poorly attended. He seemed to be
much disheartened at his non-success,
and after several other experiments
which proved abortive likewise he went
back to his first love. After holding
three or four subordinate places on news
papers he bought The New York Courier,
Sunday weekly, and cherished high
hopes of its future. But these having
been blasted he again became salaried
man, changing from one paper to an
other until he was thought to be without
stability. There was good cause for
these changes, however, for he had def
mite ideas, and when they clashed with
those of the proprietors he betook him
self elsewhere. After 80 he evinced a
deep and active interest in politics, en-
blacing the Democratic cause and earn
estly opposing the tariff and the United
States bank. He even Joined Tammany
while acting as associate editor of The
Enquirer with the once noted NJ. NJ.
Noah, and as Washington correspondent
strongly urged the claims of jackson to
the presidency. He subsequently started
The Globe, which persisted in a month,
and owned an interest in The Philadel-
phia Pennsylvania and edited it without
profit.
Finally, with only $500 cash, he found
ed The Herald MAY G, 1885, issuing the
first number from the basement of 20
Wall street, corner Of Nassau. He had
then had fourteen years experience on
the press, and abundant opportunities to
study men and measures here, at Albany
and Washington. Then fifteen dailies
were published in the city, seven being
large morning sixpenny sheets OF all
those but three-The Sun, Evening Post
and Commercial Advertiser-survive,
and they are radically changed. The
population of New York at that time
was 270,069, and only one of the dailies
had 5000 circulation, the others being
far below 5000. What a hoary past this
seems! The Herald was one cent paper
until August, 1885, when it was sold for
two cents. Its novelty, aggressiveness
and enterprise brought it at once into
notice and demand, and 1. gained in
three months circulation of 10000. No
doubt it was conducted on a low plane
and in very bad taste; but Benefits
sole object was, and continued to his
death to be, notoriety for himself and
his paper. His constant thought was
what shall do to make The Herald
talked about?' He must have been guilty
of many utterly inexcusable otfenses,
and he naturally brought upon himself
the wrath of all the papers he had out
stripped and Of many private persons
whom he had abused He introduced
the era OF personal journalism which has
since become SO fragrant and SO obnox-
ious. lie was repeatedly assaulted,
among Others by James Watson Webb,
OF The Courier and Enquirer, and DR.. p.
8. Townsend, Of The Evening Star.
These rencounters created much excite
ment, to which Bennett added by giving
detailed versions Of his own, with start.
ling head lines and satiric comment
turning the assailants, Of course, into
ridicule. So determined was he to print
all the news that he never omitted news
that Immediately involved himself.
Thomas Hamblin, the favorite actor
and manager, and Bennett came into
collision in the autumn of 1886. Hamb
lin and his wife had separated, theil
quarrel making great scandal IN theat
ric and other circles, the public taking
sides. The journalist befriended her
When the Bowery theatre, Of which the
actor was manager, burned down, com
plimentary benefit was rendered him.
Bennett opposed it violently, and so pro-
ypked the anger ssthe. big and mnacnfar