The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-29
THE LONDON "rIMEs."

1t is not often that the world gets an in
side view of the working of the great journal
of this century, the London Times. Car
lye's Life of Sterling" gave a peep into
the mysterious sanetum where the thunder
bolts were forged. At the death of Delane
a number of magazine articles purported to
describe his methods and a set biography
were promised, but have never appeared.
The Times itself never lifts the veil which
shr0uds its operations Writers for the
great newspaper receive ample pay, but
their identity is merged in that of the news
PAPER, and it and not they get the glory and
honor of their work To one of these
James MaedOnnell-a biographer has now
undertaken to do posthumous Justice.
Mr. mcdonnell was for years an edi-
torial writer of the Times, first under
Delane and then under Chenery Perhaps
the chief value of his biography is the light
it sheds on the methods of these great
journalists John 7. Deiane was just n
years of age when Mr.. Walter appointed
him editor. 1t is safe to say it would be
difficult to find a young man of that age
competent to conduct a leading journal in
this country without making himself rideu-
lous. Mr. Delane proved equal to the task.
His plan was simple. He declined to lead
anu WIS NOulcuL Will IU4lOWiuG DuDUC
opinion. He possessed the rare gift Of dis
corning what the average man thought on
passing events and he expressed that
thought in his columns. Hence, while he
never was q leader of men, his editorial
articles chimed in with the mass of British
readers and were relished accordingly. He
never tried 20 be wiser nor better than the
majority of the English people. The
average Englishman was sure to find in the
Times the ideas which he had himself
formed and expressed at his breakfast
table. Their expression in the glowing
language of the newspaper gratifed his
vanity and he liked it, To this the success
Of the Times during the thirty-six years of
Delane's editorship must chiefly be as
cribed.
Six years after Delane became editor, the
chief proprietor of the Times, the third
John Walter, entered Parliament and began
to figure in politics. He did not always
agree with Mr.. Delane. and considerable
friction arose between them. Mr.. Walter,
however. realized that Delane's was the
keener intellect of the two, and he did not
remove his editor, though he chated at not
being able to control his own columns.
When Delane resigned, however, he chose as
his successor professor of Arabic from
Oxford, and after him a son Of Buckle, the
historian, who was very young man, with
the understanding in both cases that the
politics of the paper should be controlled by
the proprietor 1t is understood that that
arrangement subsists to the present day,
and that for the blunder committed by the
Times in charging Parnell with completely
in the Phoenix Park murders, MIR. Walter
is primarily responsible.
The Tines is appreciated by Englishmen
because, with its faults ard prejudices, it is
believed to be honest and loyal to British
interests and existing institutions. Never,
at least in our day, has it been accused of
espousing a cause from any other reason
than belief that twas the right cause 1t is
saturated with the notion that Englishmen
are the best and the brightest and the most
honorable of human beings and that what
ever they have established in the shape of
institutions are the best possible institu-
tons, and should not be changed. 1t might
carry at its head the old motto of the
barons: I'VE will not consent to any
amendment of English laws" Thus it has
never cut any figure in the reforms of the
day, except to oppose them until further
opposition became futile