New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-19
MR.. JOHN WAITE r.

,,TION TO JOURNALISM-"THE TINES"
METHODS AND IDEALS UNDER
MR. WALTER-HlS CONDUCT
OF THE PAPER
London November s.
-, the two losses which within the last week
have befailen two great dynasties. the death Of
ne late head OF the Walter family concerns
rncland more nearly than that OF the Emperor
=, Russia For there is probably no single in
euence so potent in English public life as The
Times" and the death Of the man who for
nsar fifty years has been the Autocrat Of that
worry autocratic journal is a matter of national
.o,cern ir a very large sense. Mr. John Walter
shared his responsibilities with others as every
r,sa, despotic ruler does. The Car himself had
his administration and bureaucracy and they
more often stronger than he was Mr. Walter
had Mr. Delane and the two men measured
sworis more than once. Mr. Delane's hand was
more constantly on the helm, but when the
course OF the ship had to be determined Mr.
walters the deciding voice. In the last re-
sort he was The Times" and 1t must therefore
he said Of him that he has been on the whole
for more than forty years the most powerful in
dyidual IN England Prime Ministers come and
% The great journal Of which Mr.. Walter was
the head remained / do not see how 1t can be
seriously questioned that the sum of all the in
euences he welded day by day and year by
year was create, than the sum of the influence
Of any other Englishman who has lived during
that period.
OF course he was a journalist; mere Journal
ist He belonged to a profession which ii is the
fashion to despise and the profession it must be
said. in too many instances lends itself to this
temper on the part Of the public. and does its
best TO justify that attitude of contemptuous dis
like which the public assumes or affects. l speak
OF English journalism and of the English public.
Mr.. Walter. however belonged to that branch of
the profession which wins respect by making
money If he was mere journalist he was not
a mere writer or a mere editor. He was pro-
prietOr Journalism was TO him. among other
things an enterprise Of commerce. He inherited
fortune and his position on The Times he
was hereditary journalist. as other men IN this
country are hereditary legislators He strength
ened his position and Increased his fortune by
business sagacity. If he had not been strong
man he could have done neither
Rut II is also TO be said Of him that he did
not use the superiorites OF his position to the
detriment of the inferior persons who helped
make his paper He lust and considerate.
4 writer or whatever he might be, VINO served
the paper faithfully was held TO have claim
on it by mere length of service. There is not
case on record where an old servant OF Inc
Times, had been turned into the street. or dis
missed with either abruptness or Violence sun
less with ignominy. II II became necessary 10
DISMISS it was the rule Of the office that the as
missal should be considerable and a pension was
awarded OF right.
The men on the paper have always felt their
y t. .r,,a Of NnmnOSifOTS
and prnters and employees of all kinds as well as
Of those concerned in intellectual or edltoGlal
work. Mr.. Walter might seem to the outsider
hard or austere. Everybody in his employment
knew that he was just and more than just HIS
,ibera,ities and generosites constant. l
have known something of the history OF the
office for some years past-perhaps more thah
most outsiders-and l know how Mr.. Walter
sbowered benefits on those about him, ana l
think no man under him ever had to complain OF
An Injustice He the arbiter OF every man
fate and every man knew that his rate was III
safe and honorable hands.
There Is much to say about Mr. Walter per-
sonally but 1t is impossible TO separate him from
the journal with which he was identified ana
which was identified with him. He must De
Judged very largely by what ne did as JOURNALIST
When his father died the aims which had gov
erned him were described in The Times as
follows:
To recognize commerce and industry as Ine
true source OF the greatness OF Eng.aho; 70 up
hold the cause OF humanity and freedom u
snare no efforts in the collection or lntellseHce
and no pains in securing its accuracy ana au
thenticity; TO discuss public anairs WIN ihouela
ton good sense and single-minded regaIu
for The welfare Of the country the STABILITY OF us
Institutions and the maintenance OF lts posluOn
among the Great Powers Of the word,-lh "oiu,
70 look at all public affairs, and all mat'eis
which concern or interest the public. with the
ewes OF an English citizen Of virtue. good sense.
and intelligence. and u express Judgments upo.'
them in a style not unworthy OF our nop'e ing
iisb tongue: these were the principles which
Mr. John Walter the founder OF Inc Hines,
impressed upon his journal. ana these are tie
principles which have MADE Inc i'ineS what
II is.
7 do not think that too strongly stated IL IL.
with the exception Of the first phrase. an ade-
orate statement Of a high ideal If anybody
cares 70 Judge for himself how high it is let
him consider how many journals there are 10
whom +, would apply Of whom 1t could be
,r,,, omrmed that they do in the main live
In to that ideal. and act on those high prin-
.,,os 7, istrue also to say that they were in
beri,ed by the third Mr.. John Walter who has
h,s, died and that while he abated nothing OF
their substance he strove steadily to improve
tho form, i'm which they were embodied The
measure OF his success in that e1ort Is 'he 'eaS-
ure Of his success in life. There are OF cou'se'
qualifications TO be made and many JUST CRU
csm upon the conduct OF this great paper "'uS'
he talon into account 1T none the less remains
true that Mr. Walters life was success, ana
that NJ few men in great place is 1t to be sad
that they more nearly attained 10 the ldeal the5
Set before them.
81 far az honesty of purpose is concerned there
Is a>simple test. don't think II can Ne "'''e''
Of Mr.. Walter that he ever ala pupiio "o'
cept from public motive. Ihat covers ".' va"
nect,on with the journel he controlled ana oiteh
As he and his paper have been wrong srieVous
AZ is N. ,niurv they have at times done to us,
annan,,o q. ware some Of their mistakes. l be-