The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-01

There is a better answer still, IN the re-
suit ana effect of the greatest IL is.aAe ~
ever made in domestic matters. mean
Che so.called Parnell letters. Ihere is
no reference to that gigantic niunoer IN
the four columns which the paper To-Day
devotes to the memory OF it's late chlef.
Inc subject is discreetly aVoioeo-ois-
creetly, If it be best to pass over III
silence an error for which there IS noun
ing to be said. 1t is a sore subject IN
the Office l certainly don't refer to it
In order to fasten reproach upon Mr.
Walter, who, with the late Mr.. Macdon-
/ aid, the manager, was understood to be
| chleny responsible for the purchase ana
use of the forged letters. The most vlo'
lent partisans on the other side, what
ever they may have said, never really
supposed that Mr.. Walter or Mr.. Macdon-
aid, or anybody else on the paper, knew
or dreamed that the letters were forged.
They bought them heedlessly and credu-
lousy, and without any such inquiry into
their history as they might have been
expected to make. That is sufficient
Is grave reflection upon their sagaoity,
and no doubt people said when the facts
came out: @What will they do next? If
they could do that they might do any
thing, and what will become OF the
paper in such handsSn And they pre-
dicted-many good judges predicted
that the authority and prestige OF The
Il NIL uQI
recover from the blow.
In point OF fact it's authority and pres
tige never suffered sppreciably. Why?
Because there was behind this one mel
ancholy incident a long history OF wise
and prudent conduct; of good sense. of
moderation. of almost un broken success.
The mistake MIR. Walter made in the
Parnell letters threw into relief the high
| qualities of his previous management
and of his character. Europe saw that
this one great error was the exception.
1t did not shake mems faith in the gen.
eral prudence of the editing.
Nor do | think we need try to adjust
| the proportions in which credit for this
| general ability and intelligence is due on
| the one hand to Mr.. Walter and on the
| other to those associated with him in
editing and managing the paper. Mr..
| Delane was man of genius, If the word
| genius may be used in connection with
| journalism. He was the abless editor in
Europe-incompara the ablest.s- Mt,
| Walter, the father of him whom we are
all regretting, chose him and appointed
him. and the late Mr. Wa tier maintained
him in his placep and maintained hi1, in
| spite Of some col1isions, and Of the mas
terful temper which Mr.. De;ane showed
alike to his onelsuperior and to his sub
ordinates. Both of Them knew well that
great newspaper Office must be great
dict torsh:p, or, If you like, despotism.
| There must be one rule.
| In the ordinary editorial routine Of the
office it was Mr.. Delane's will. He was
supposed to express the will of MIR. Wal
| ter. If the two minds differed, and Mr..
| Delane could not convince Mr.. Walter, it
| was MIR Walters will which prevailed.
| There is in well organized journal, a
| great journal, no more room for caucuses
| and town meetings than there is on the
deck of a ship. Nor does tine existence
of what, in some offices is called a coun-
| Gil, initiate against the efficiency OF this
| principle A council is at the best adj
| visory. 1t can no more control the con-
ductor of the paper than the Cabinet
| council at Washington can control the
| President The President can turn them
ali out, and weak indeed must be the ex-
ecutive which suffers itself to be con-
trolled by advisers whom he may at any
moment remit to private life.
MIR. Delane was, however, editor, and
MIR. Walter had too clear a perception of
| circumstances to interfere unnecessarily.
Mr.. Deane was one dictator and Mr..
| Walter another. Mr.. Delane's control
was daily and hourly. Mr.. Walters was
more OF less in TIE Background, but his
| ,nterveption,e when it WAS called for,
was decisive. eHefwas the real Jupiter.
1t is enough to say that without MIR.
Delane or without MIR. Walter the paper
would have be66me something unlike
what it grew tbs be under their two
hands. The public did not hear very
much about either. Neither was man
who cared to advertise himself or to use
i his great position for any other than the
Utmost strictly legitimate purposes. pTht
Il governing men of the kingdom knew
both and knew that both belonged te
che governing class.
|