New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06
THE TIMES,
ITS ATTITUDE TO AMERICA-ITS IMPoR
LANCE TO ANfERICA-THE EFFECT OF
ITS CONSERVATISM on ITS
AMERICAN POLICY.


ITS CONSERVATISM ON ITS
AMERICAN POLICY.
London November o.
There are perhaps Americans who think that
no great Importance need be attached to "The
Tines and its errors, or TO what IL says OF
us. They are of the SCHOOL, hope diminishing
school-which insists that no opinion Is of moment
to an American except the American opinion; that
It does not signify what is thought BY that other
portion of Christendom lying east Of the Atlantic
Ocean. Chicago seems TO be the natural home
of this sect in America, as China is the natural
home Of the corresponding sect in the Oriental
world. There are papers in Chicago which en-
press il with crudeness; not all but some as III
their horizon were bounded to the east by Lake
Michigan; the intellectual horizon as wei as 'he
physical The majority Of Americans-for chicago
does not vet outnumber the rest OF the
population of the United States-are, l be-
leive otherwise minded, and to them IL
may not he amiss TO point out once more now
entirely singular is the position of this English
journal, and how very wide its influence Is, both
at home and abroad.
You refer in a recent editorial to the Pigott
forceries. There could be no better illustration
Of the point wish to make. THE Times" has
outlived the Pigott forgeries. 1t has even out
lived its failure TO offer suitable apology for Its
conduct in that matter. 1t is probable that any
other journal would have been ruined; IL is GER
tain that any other would have been discredlted,
its influence impaired, it's authority shaken Il
may repeat what eminent Engshman, deeply
concerned in foreign affairs, said at the time OF
the exposure of these forgeries He was no friend
70 this paper in domestic politics, but he thought
il desirable that paper should exist able TO speak
for England in matters of foreign policy that
there should be some expression of English opinion
which the Continent would accept authentic
Such The Times" has been: such, he thought, 1T
could be no longer. He owned his mistake-which
most people straightforward. lie saw, as We
all saw who follow these things that the position
and prestige of this journal were never much
affected by the disclosure of its error about the
Parnell letters, and that so far as they were
ahaken, they recovered almost at once.
The credulity, the want of commOn-sense and
knowledge of men and Of the world, the child-like
simplicity shown in all that business, were visible
to everybody, but everybody seemed TO think they
were exceptional, and that they had never had
much influence on the general conduct of the
paper. Everybody was, for once, right. 1t Is
no secret that the course of the journal in the
Pieott affair determined for 1t by its
late manager Mr. Macdonald a Of
good business capacity in business matters; not
with the less useful traits of his nationality very
fully developed. When an idea had once taken
root in his mind, no human power could get it
ont: and there is no record of any divine inter-
ference TO this end To the last he chung to his be-
lief that he was right; that he had done a
service 10 the journal and 70 the Unonist cause
and that time would vindicate his course. l dare
saw the Attorney General thinks so, too, and
expects time TO vindicate him; perhaps even to
Justify the assurance he gave before the trial that
he should prove the Parnell letters up to the
hilt His power of belief makes record; he
believed also in Mr.. Hurlbert and Wilfrid
Murray and for aught l know believes in them
still
The truth is, to put it briefly, The Times is
for many purposes worth all the rest of the Eng
lish press together; both at home and abroad
Il has immense power and immense authority. If
you can quote an opinion from this paper-l mean
an opinion on some point with respect to which it
still keeps an attitude of impartiaity, or repre-
sentative attitude-it will hold its own against
all the rest Especially is this true in all inter
national affairs. No journal is so English none
collects with such precision and expresses with
such weight the thought and feeling of England
ON any matter at issue between England and
another Power Hence its Importance TO U.s. as
to other nations
In referring to the calumny of q" The Times" on
Admiral Brown, / said nothing of its charges
against Mr. Egan. They were as grave or graver,
but they remain without any such contradiction
as that which Admiral Brown sent TO the Secre-
tary of the Navy, and which was published by
him. Mr.. Egan, l hope, is as innocent OF cor
II ruption as Admiral Brown OF playing the spy.
But, in the absence of evidence or even of his
denial you cannot expect the English TO believe
IL. Il olyn al
lowance for the English point of view The
English point of view is very strong one !;
whether it was ever considered at the time OF
Mr. Eqans appointment. / know not. 1t was
known in Washington, at any rate what the
charges against him were; that he bad he'd the
country to avoid arrest and trial on very serious
criminal charge That he had political motive
for the acts alleged 10 be criminal Is not
denied; but the acts if committed, were
none the less criminal TO appoint such man 10
be American Minister seemed TO the English VINO
are not usually Over-sensitive, an insult anu
they have not forgotten nor forgiven the
insult remember very well what was said at
the time; what the general feeling was among
Enriishmen friendly to us. l remember hearing
one of them say
Admit for arguments sake, that Mr.. Egans
crime was political So was Jefferson Daviss crime
But what would you in America have thought
and said, had Davis fed to England and had we
sent him abroad as representative and
Minister"
The question puts the English view in clear
light. and il is always worth while to have a
clear view of the view of your opponent, if only
to be the better able TO answer him. As a good
American am bound to suppose there must be
an answer and should like very much to know
what il is, and ! shall be very much obliged 10
anybody who will supply me with one which l
may use the next time an Enghshman raises his
voice on this difficult subject.
On the general question of the hostility of
sTbe Times 10 the United States | will add