The Republican journal., 1914-01-08
DANA AND THE SUN.

In January, 1867, CnarieS "A. Llama anu
others associated with him bought the
New York Sun. Dana became the edl-
tor and manager and has passed into his
torv as one of the great editors OF his
day. In the columns of the New York
Tribune, and later in the Sun, and by his
work in the War Department in WASH
ington or as it's representative with the
armies in the field, the service he render
ed his country cannot be over-estimated.
In taking charge of the Sun Mr.. Dana
announced over his own signature that 1t
would :'continue to be an independent
newspaper, wearing the livery OF no
party and discussing public questions
and the acts of public men on their
merits alone" That policy was adhered
to- but at times there were indications
that the criticisms of public men were in
duenced. in some degree at least, by per-
sonal prejudice or animosity. Danas
denunciation of the corruption during
the administrations of President Grant
was to be expected, as when on the
Tribune, and later in the service OF the
War Department, he was the relentless
foe of dishonest practices whenever
found. And never before, or since, mas
there been such corruption on the part
of high officials as during the eight years
President Grant was in the White House.
IT extended tc his closest friends and ad-
visors: but it was not believed then by
the well-informed, norris it credited now,
that President Grant had knowledge OF
or participated in the dishonest practlces
by which the country was robbed OF MIL
lions of dollars. He could not be made
to believe that the men he had placed IN
office, and to whom he had given his con-
fidence, were unworthy of the trust he
had reposed in them, and he stood by
them with the bull dog tenacity that had
characterized his conduct in the field.
Dana. who was with Grant in his west
ern campaigns and later in Virginia IN
the last weeks of the war, had paid high
tribute to him as a general, and never
reversed the opinion; but his continuous
and relentless attacks upon President
| Grant had the aspect of a guerrilla war
fare, and in other directions he allowed
his personal feelings to prevail over the
impartial and judicial attitude that had
characterized his earlier journalistic
/ areer. 1t was as though, conscious OF
the great influence the Sun had had on
public affairs, he felt that he could carry
the people with him, whatever direction
he chose to take. That would have been
fatal to some newspapers, but the Sun
was then, as always, so bright and clever
that while it may have lost in influence
it no doubt retained its readers.
Perhaps Dana's most conspicuous mis-
take was in advocating the nomination
for the Presidency by the Democrats of
Benz. F. Butler and opposing the nomi-
nation of Cleveland, on playground OF his
"inexperience and obscurity.' He was,
of course. familiar with Buffers history
and characteristics and therefore fully
aware of his unftness for the highest
office in the gift of the American people.
Another case of mistaken judgment was
his often expressed admiration for Con-
gresham w. S. Holman of Indiana,
Dana s.biographer says
He believed in rigid economy in the ma
tional expenditures and therefore sympa
thized with Holman of Indiana. who be-
gan to attract attention in 1882 for the
frequency with which he objected to and
the persistency with which he scrutinized
the appropriation bills of the House.
From that date until he disappeared
from public life the Sun always men,
and did all it could to encourage him in
his great work.
But Holman was neither stateman
nor scholar, or above the average Con-
gresham in ability. He began "object-
ing" at least ten years before the date
| given above, and his objections had little
A or no effect upon legislation, but served
to keep the objector in the lime light and
no doubt aided materially in securing his
reflections to Congress. His objections
were directed against an item IN an ap-
preparation bill, or against private claim
of few hundred dollars that had been
favorably passed upon by the Court of
Claims. On the other hand, if not the
author he was an earnest advocate OF a
bill for the equalization of bounties that
would have taken many millions from
the treasury, and his support OF this
measure was attributed at the time to
the fact that there was a large soldier
vote in his Congressional district. But,
not withstanding, Holman will figure in
history as the Great Director, and Han
nibal Hamlin as the man who never wore
an overcoat, although the writer has
seen him on several occasions, in Maine
and in Washington, wearing that gar
ment.
UI|TID I'D VALID