The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-07
WHICH Is THE BEST NEWSPAPER?

WHICH is THE BEST NEWSPAPER?
Z Mr. Frederick Greenwood in the
Nineteenth Century makes the rather
remarkable statement that: "The
greater London journals are still the
best not only in these islands, but in the
world The question naturally arises,
by what standard does Mr.. Greenwood
Judge? Is not that newspaper the best
Tor the people who read it, which gives
them the news in which they are most
interested and intelligent comment on
the things that most concern them? The
New York business man, for instance,
would not find the Boston Advertiser,
excellent newspaper though it may be,
the best reading for himself at his New
York breakfast table, and the man of
the Hub who should get the New York
Times with his coffee would feel that he
had started the day all wrong. The
Philadelphia banker would have little
use for the San Francisco Chronicle,
even were it blown into his house
through pneumatic tube on the morn
ing Of publication. And we will wager
B dollar to doughnut that if Helena
business man found The INDEPENDENT
and the London Times Of the same day
On his doorstep, he would read The IN
DEPENDENT first and declare it to be the
best newspaper--for his purpose. Mr..
Greenwood, were he in Helena, with the
strong insular bias which evidently
warps him, would doubtless reach for
the Times first, but that would not
prove the truth of his broad assertion,
that it was the best newspaper for all
mankind. Mr.. Depew, in his clever talk
before the Chicago Press club, showed
very clearly the proyincialism of the
London journals. 'The all-peryading
press" he said, with the completeness
OF its information and the majesty of its
power is unknown, as we understand it.
in all the countries of the globe. In the
journals of Great Britain the United
States are dismissed daily with para.
graph as to the markets, or longer
account of crime, or flood, or fire
and in the continental newspapers they
are rarely mentioned at ALL" Mr.. Green
wond cannot retort in kind that thu
American newspapers deal scantily with
European affairs, for the leading news
papers of this country print near
ly as much European news a
the London papers. Their correspondent
are at every capital in Europe, and the.
use the cable without stint or measure
An Englishman travelling in America ca
keep as we'll informed about the import
ant movements in European politics q
though he were at home with his favol
ite Thunderer spread out before hin
The question as to which is the bes
newspaper cannot be satisfactorily az
swered. The London journal certainl
is not the best for an American reade
nor is it in any sense model {
what newspaper should be. NJ
Greenwood, himself, frankly confess
IN another part of his article that tt
London journals fare not better wri
ten, not SO we'll written on the whole
some French and German journal
Judged by the literary standard alol
the liner qualities of political discu
sion are more constantly found in halt
dozen foreign newspapers than in al
other published at home, where we La
the terseness, the clearness, the br
iancy OF expression, the weight of i
tentlon, which frequently adorn and
vigorate the work OF continental jor
nalists. The difference is yet mo
clearly seen perhaps in some of their {
partments of criticism, dramatic cri
clsm Tor example. But when otl
qualities are taken into account, kno,
edge, independence, scope and variety
information, the London newspape
are unequaled." It seems to us IL
Mr.. Greenwood pretty effectually d
poses Of his own claim. For him q
other Londoners the London news
pers are undoubtedly the best. q
ray Partisan wonld unhesitatinely v
the same papers dreary bores. Th
news columns would interest him v
Gttls, their editorial comment still |,
md for their criticisms on art and Ii,
cNAAN -