New-York tribune., 1904-09-23
INDEPENDENCE.

In the gentle art of extracting sunshine from
cucumbers THE Evening Post" undoubtedly
exceIs. The Democratic convention at Saratoga
gave it a rather more nauseous dose to swallow
than it had expected, and it has spewed forth
one item in the bolus, the candidate for Gov
ernOr. with astonishing promphtude 10 the
compassionate observer it would seem that the
occasion called for special kindness to the SUI
ferer, for cold compresses on the tortured brow
and all the other resources Of the sickroom.
But ''The Evening POST finds better consOla-
ton in what it describes as ''One of the differ
"ences between a Presidential candidate and
"an independent newspaper" The candidate,
it appears. must stand up for his party, in sea-
son and out of season. Not so the independent
newspaper:
sans in not being compelled by the exigencles
Of politics either to stultify itself or 10 attelpS
to deceive itS5sSaders. II il has with Inc Gun;
called a man "a desperate political OPERATOR 1t
feels that il is, I'm decency. debarTeu LIO4l ~! az
Vocating his election as Governor. II II mas
dwelt upon the improperly OF Judse 41hI!ru !Ilv
ing to be a party boss, 1t is not ready, with ne
World to turn a sharp corner anu say tIoC t
this objection will not exist wheh ne IeSis"S
from the bench.
We do not grudge our neighbor tAe comfort
which It obviously derives from taking IniS
view Of the matter. In its present plsnt COM
prise AZ the length of time which 1t has taken
s'rhe Post" 10 get around to this point of view
and we admit some curiosity as to the means
whereby the paper cOntrives 70 keep its inde-
pendence on tap, as it were, TO use as consola-
tion when its usual specifics prove of no avail.
II is not so very long since THE Evening Post
was terribly dubious about the fitness of man
ike Judge Parker TO be made President, Out
when that god from the telegraph machlhe
brought the curtain down on the Chicago con-
vention with an art which SardOu might envy
''The Post" did not feel that It was, 'in decency
debarred from advocating his election as" Presi-
dent We seem 10 recollect some scorching
words printed on the editorial page OF THE
Evening Post about Mr.. Edward NJ Shepard
when that portentous person allied himself with
Tammany Hall in the hope of being elected
Mayor of New-York, but the testimony OF its
own files could not keep "The Post from say
ing that lin passing by Jerome and Shepard 70
nominate him lHerrickl the Democratic con-
"ventiOn deliberately threw away its great OPP
"portunity." We see, then. what ''indepen-
dence," as 'The Evening POST interprets IT,
really means. II is not a principle; II is, like
Mesopotamia just a blessed word, fine word
TO be rolled under the tongue like a sweet
morsel when you want 10 get bad taste out
Of your mouth.
There is another difference between a Presi-
Dental candidate and an independent news
paper which The POST presents for our con-
sideration, but this time unintentiOnally. It
made a discovery the other day. saying:
Among the cuTiosities Of Presidential lltera-
'ture is Mr.. ROosevelt's reference 20 what the
Democratic leaders say privately about the
tariff. OF course, they have not said II 70 him;
'hence he but retails in his letter the gossip
(which has been carried to him" That plain
~. in a Presidential candidate or. at all events
in a Republican Presidential candidate. is a
crime. Says The Evening Post I'm It's issue
Of yesterday: 1T is known that, In private he
"tPresdent Roosevelt does not cOncsaI his dis
like and distrust Of Odell." Presumably this
reference to what The Evening Post assumes
to know that the President says Gin private" ia
In an independent newspaper, clear evidence OF
virtue Well, there is independence and inde-
peRdence. "The Evening Posts" Kind NAV do
very we'll In hours Of woe in place OF a cata-
plasm. but for human natures daily food we be-
lieve that the other kind Is the superior article