The morning call., 1893-04-14
A NOTABLE NEWSPAPER CHANGE.


So rluch attention has been bestowed on
the purchase of the New York Times that
little notice has been taken of another
newspaper transfer in New York which is
of more political import. This is the sale
of the Albany Argus to the leaders of Tam
many Hall.
For nearly three-quarters OF n century the
Albany Argus has been the leading organ
of the New Y York Democracy, and probably
the most influential Democratic paper In
the United States. 1t has never been pos
sible TO make distinctively Democratic
paper succeed in New York City. The ex-
pertinent has been often tried, but has al
ways failed. Thus the city. which is Dem
ocFatic by fifty thousand votes, has always
had to rely for its party journalism on
sheets Ike the Herald the World and the
Sun, which have never sworn fealty to the
organization, and have been apt to bolt at
critical moments. New York Democrats
who wanted to drink Democratic doctrine
pure and undefled from the spring have
had to go to the Albany argus.
This journal became conspicuous in the
later days of Buell., and before Edwin d.
Croswell took charge. Buell. was printer.
with little knowledge of politics. and no
literary ability. But the young men who
were making ready to found Northern
Democracy in contradistinction TO the Vir-
ginia Democracy-Martin Van Buren, Will
liam L. Marcy, Silas Wright, Azariah G.
Flagg. John A. Dix-fell into the habit of
contributing articles to the Argus, and the
articles commanded attention. When Van
Buren saw vision of the Presidency he
acquired a controlling interest in the paper,
and placed Edwin d. CrOswell at the head
of it. Croswell was a strong. lear-headed
man; he attracted to his assistance other
able men, such as Samuel J. Tilden. Fred
Olcotf. Benjamin +. Butler mot the man of
New Orleansl, Dean Richmond and Peter
Cagger, and these, with Martin Van Buren's
ancient allies, constituted the Albany
Regency. which ruled the State of New
York for twenty years. and did much to
shape the policy OF the country.
The Regency went to pieces on the
slavery question. Martin Van Buren led
the bulk Of his old friends into the Barn
burner camp; Daniel S. Dickinson and
Charles O'COnoT, with the Southern con-
tiugent. seeded to Mount Aventlne as
Eunkers. The split threw all New York
north of Harlem River into the hands of
the Republicans. and several of the Re
gency chiefs like John A. Dix Joined the
new party. From that time the influence
of the Albany ArguS has been that of a
paper which cannot carry its own constt-
uency. For thirty years it has not com
pared in power with the Albany Journal
The election of Cleveland in 1884 and his
reelection in 1892 have revived Democratic
hopes of converting rural New York to the
political faith which it professed until 1856.
To build up party in the rural counties
2 hos baap ltaf ba pf
the Argus was necessary. In pursuance oil
this idea Mr.. Cleveland was sounded be-
fore his Inauguration. and was invited to
cooperate with other members Of the
party in the purchase Of the argus. which
was for sale cheap. The President did not
see any profit in such an investment ana
declined. Other members Of his party
viewed the case differently. and quite
lately the paper passed into The hands of
Richard Croker and Senator Murphy, the
chiefs of Tammany Hall. MIR. Clevelard's
refusal to join them in the purchase is the
more curious, as his trusted friend, Daniel
Manning, had been brought up in the Office
of the Argus; Daniel Lamont. the present
Secretary Of War, graduated from the same
institution, and Cleveland's own nomina-
tlon for President in 1884 was arranged in
the Office of the ArguS before the purpose
was disclosed to the convention.
The effect of the purchase will be to ex-
tend the influence of Tammany Hall and
the snappers beyond the present sphere of
their action into the rural districts; and it
viii have q tendency to strengthen the
Hill-Murphy faction in the party at the
expense of the Cleveland W hitney faction.
The days OF political party organs are over.
But still journal which is ably edited. and
speaks with the authority required by long
years OF faithful party service, is always a
power which must be reckoned with.
Policy would seem TO have dictated to MI.
Cleveland that he should keep on good
terms with the argus. and prevent its fall
ing into the hands of his ayowed enemies
His independence of policy prompted him
to do the opposite thing. The wisdom or
unwisdom Of the course he has adopted
will be better discerned when it Is known
on whom the mantel Of William Cassidy has
fallen