The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-12

The Hon. CARROLL E. SMITH, editor OF the
Syracuse journal, delivers a spirited reply
to the Hon. JAMES JEHU BELDEN's circular
letter OF instructions directing the Repub-
lcan press to assume the attitude he de-
sires as to the Federal Elections bill. JEHU
Is Chairman OF the Republican Congress
sional Committee, but the whip which no
cracks does not drive the Hon. CARROLL E.
SMITH OF Syracuse.
"The Republican newspaper editors" re-
marks the Journal "are quite likely to tell
Congressman BEnDEN that he had better
attend to his own duties, and that they will
go on in their own way Of treating public
questions. including the Federal Elections
bill, without Instructions"
Many OF the statesmen temporarily at
Washington, in both parties, proceed under
O fundamentally erroneous idea Of their
rightfui place in the procession. They be-
lleve that they lead and tho newspapers fol-
low. They cherish the mistaken notion that
the initiative Is with them In selecting
issues, formulating arguments, and gen.
orally arranging the course OF party strate-
Retics. The consequence of this error Is that
once in q while Congressman strikes an at
titude like that which makes Mr.. BELDEN
both offensive and ridiculous.
Exactly the opposite Is true. In nine cases
out Of ten, II not in ninety-nine cases out OF
ahundred, the origin Of the political move
ments which produce results and count in
history is in the newspaper offices OF the
party, and not In the halls or committee
rooms OF Congress, or the private confer
ences and caucuses Of Representatives and
Senator's It Is the politicians that watch
the newspapers for inspiration and ideas,
not the editors the politicians; and this Is
rs true on one side OF the party line as on
the other.
In nine cases out OF ten, II not in ninety
nine cases out OF hundred. the first person
to perceive the Importance of a political OPP
portunity, the first person to enunciate
proposition which the whole country soon
will be discussing, the author Of the argu-
ment that will soon be heard In various
phraseology from the floor Of the Senate or
the floor OF the House. the man. in short,
who sets the ball a-rolling. is the editor and
not the Congressman. The statesman tenn
porarily in Washington Is himself, to GER
tain extent, a creation Of the newspaper
press. He watches and follows far more
than he is watched and followed. His voice
Is the echo rather than the original vibra-
ton. His speeches in the Congressional
Record, whether he recognizes thu fact or
not, are furnished to him ready made by
men who stand closer than he does to pub
lie opinion, and who exert double influence
In that they make public opinion and move
with it and in it when it is made. In the
commerce of politics the American editor is
the producer and the American Congress-
man the middleman.
These remarks are so true that they may
seem commonplace to those who understand
the philosophy Of initiative and know where
the handspring of political action is situate.
The Hon. JAMES JEHU BELDEN needed to
be reminded OF his proper place in the pro-
cession. The Hon. CARROLL E. SMITH has
given him notice. Mr. SMITH is Postmaster
of Syracuse, but evidently he Is not muZzled.