New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-21
T0E ALTITUDE or THE PRESS.

II is a circumstance worthy the observation OF
the philosopher that in the current comment
uDon the strained relations of our Government
with Chill and the policy to be pursued by me
authorities al Washington there Is very llttlc ol
iincoism or buster. Whoever Icad, the cN-
tracts which contain the opinions of the news
papers of the country will notice that the writer's
fer the press in all parts OF the county me
press of all parties and all shades OF opinion are
discussing the mos, disturbing question possible
10 he raised the one most liable to arouse passion
and unreason. in a remarkably dlspaSslonate and
reasonable manner. 1t Is worthy oil remark UNI
at time when in the ordinary course "i po-
litcal events all things are made subordinate 10
the PARTISAN considerations which rule the flcSi-
Dental year, there has been very htte "i Whl'
might he called rank partlsanship IN the treat
mpnt e the foremost theme of the time lhcic
has been more or less talk for several years past
Of 4 somewha, snecring and superior sort about
journalism the lOwnc>S Of us aims, the mar
rownesS OF It's views. the FATALITIES ana pfcJu-
dice, and part>anship that govern It's general
conduct, II has to be admitted. unfortunately
that there i some ground for criticism OF this
kind The admission will be made with rcaii-
ness by newspapers generally. each OF course
qualifying the admission by the ayermcnt that
the offenders are in the shop over the way.
But the feature Of journalism" which has
been most conspicuous in the present discussion
is the breadth of its yicr, rhc patriotism Of Is
u;tcrancc> the absence 81 small pmils1n>hip ana
what is Of the highcSt significance. The dNpo'i-
ton 10 apply to the relations of nations the same
rules the same standards that govern the inter
cotlrno Of gentlemen with each other In Inc
ordinaIf conflicts of party politics there i more
or les, f the slap dash Of half thinking and hlS'v
utierancc Of pcttifogglng and bu>h-ightIng ana
striking below the belt. The press * not free
from il. Il constantly furnishes occasion Tor the
sheer If the supcIclliCus and cynical al the wide
divergence of is IrIiOrmInC" nom us promise
But the tone that has pcrvaded j. during IN"
current discussion Of a most exciting theme has
been - elevated it, uttcranccs 50 carefully con
sidcrcI and is influence - positive IN giving "A
healthy direction 10 public opinion, that the
pont Of the quotation marks which have in some
quarters habiiually adorned the word journal
ism; ha, been somewhat bluncd. Il might be
unplaciou, - dircc attention 10 another concur
rent circumstance in connection with the manner
in which D." journalism has handled IN IN inter-
csting time an important theme Still 1t J.
circumstance that cannot he emitted. And II -
>imply this that ;hc newspaper which has de-
voted Itself for several years To- the task oi show
Ing up journalism Us an extremely dcmOIalll-
ing agency, which has passed by with the lifted
nose and praciced >neer of the Phal'cc who
said his prayers in a lost language. Is the only
one that has failed in the ileXibility which, after
all. is the chef merit Of a great mind and the
distinguishing sign of what the world calls com
nonsense. No other newspaper has seemed TO
be so bound 10 lis yesterdays traditions. II has
not Svcryod a hair from what it has been saying
all along on the general subject. 1t knows only
one thing, and that is that Mr.. Blaine who is an
offensive Republican, appointed good while ago
Mr. Egan who is an offensive lrshman, to be
Minister to Chilli
Meantime TIE TRIBUNE, without making any
claim a, TO the incTlncy or the superiority OF
it, takes the opportunity afforded by the occi-
sion to say that % journalism is upon the whole
a gentcman's profession; that Il Is pursued by
gentlemen 4: and that whatever trifiing they may
indulge in when the occasion is not serious. they
bring TO the discussion of q really important affair
in gleat emergency a catholicty and breadth Of
view, a freedom frcm narrownesS and PARTISAN
ship. and-if a hackneyed word may be allowed
"A patriotism which at least deserves attention
If it does not command the highest praise. Tho
attitude Of the press Of the country in the present
situation is. we venture Ia say. one CT the most
encouraging indications Of the time. There are
neither knuckles nor elbows in it neither jingo-
ism nor buster. But it represents truthfnly and
accurately the temper of Nation whose great
ness is in it, patience.