New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-27
THE METROPOLITAN PRESS

1t has been sometimes remarked by super
fetal and casual observers Of the habits Of the
metropolitan press-mostly from the interior Of
the State and from foreign cOuntries-that there
seemed to be in the spirit pervading It not only
a failure to rise to the heights Of self-abnega-
ton and altruism but an absence of professional
comfy and of what the present occupants and
posscssors Of call Gaul' call esprit de corps"
which could only be deprecated by the truly
GOOD. How great has been the mistake Of this
hasty judgment is perhaps best known to the
sincere and sclf-denying men of the daily press,
whO In their determination to serve the public
to the exclusion of all other considerations. feel
compelled from lack Of space to foregO the daily
manifestations Of their love for each other in
which it would be their great JOY to indulge.
No doubt some color has been given to the sus-
picon Of a lack Of cordiality between the great
newspapers Of the metropolis by the fact that
whenever great and powerful newspaper is
enabled by brilliant and costly stroke of en-
terprise TO lay before its millions Of readers a
fac-simile Of cabegram addressed TO the
editor by say the King Of Siam, or Of the Can
nlbal Islands, expressing gratitude to the news
paper for having through its influence with the
Weather Bureau moderated the fury Of the. mon
soon in one case. or having by It's appeal to the
phiIanthropic instincts OF its readers secured the
shipment Of fresh cargo Of tender and juicy
missionaries in the other, the contemporaries Of
that newspaper frequently ignore the circum-
stance.
1t is mistake to suppose. as some thought
less persons doubtless do, that this is an indca-
ton of jealousy, or that there Is any disposition
on the part Of the other great and powerful news
papers to suppress news Of stirring import and
universal interest merely because 1t rebounds
to the glory Of contemporary and coadjutor
and in some sense a competitor in the great work
of making the whole world wiser and better.
What seems like suppression Is really only the
operation of an intense desire and an absolutely
unsefsh desire. TO give--if we may be allowed
the eXpressOn-the other fellow a chance 10
exploit IT himself. When, then, it happens. as
il now frequently does twice a day. that a
metropolitan newspaper of enormous circulation
prints a direct personal communication TO It's
editor sent by cable from the pOtcntatc of some
remOtest isle Of the sea, while the whole metro
politan press fairly holds It's breath in rapt adj
mrltiOn Of the enterprise, there Is general
! feeling that the genuine satisfaction enjoyed
| by the editor over the accomplishment of 50
stupendous a stretch OF intellectual endeavor
| should not be interrupted by anybody ont OF
pure generosity, and manly and magnanimoua
disposition 10 leave the victor to enjoy without
! interference the contemplation Of his triumph
| no other newspaper ever says a word. 1t Isn't
necessary. The triumphant newspaper does IL
all Itself in page after page Of description and
detail OF the most interesting and enlivenng
! character
Still there are times when the metropolitan
press does give public manifestation Of its pro-
| fessional comfy and the mutual regard not to
say love and affection existing in It's member
ship When any one Of them does n really sweet
and tangibly liberal, large-hearted and unself
fsh thing without the admxture Of business en-
terprlse or anything else that might serve to
confuse the general sense OF duty. the alacrity
with which they spring with one accord TO make
1t known is beyond all praise Here for instance
little while ago our sprIghtly and versatile
contemporary, THE New.York Sum- having