Year: 1866

patch by the Atlantic cable from St Peters
burg Of the Esd inst it is stated that on
Sunday, the 10th, the naval and diplomatic
representatives Of the United States "enioyed
reception of unparalleled grandeur at the


imperial palace of Peterhoff,n and that, among


the incidents OF the occasion, "the special cor


respondent of the New YORK HERALD with the


American squadron was specially presented to


the Emperor and Empress of Russia"


This is q remarkable innovation upon the old


usages of the crowned heads and aristocracies


of Europe towards the public press, SO remark


able indeed that it may be regarded as mark


ing new epoch in the progress of modern


ideas and public opinion in the Old World.


The Gar OF all the Russias Is an absolute


monarch. His will is the law to his sixty mil


lions of people. He has nothing to fear and


nothing to ask from the public press within his


dominions. He commands, and he is obeyed.


Alexander, however, is an enlightened and
sagacious ruler, and, beyond the bounds Of his
great empire, he recognizes the influence of the
press in shaping the International relations
between even the greatest Powers Of the earth.
He evidently has a clear comprehension of the
influence of the Independent press of "the
great republic" over its domestic and foreign
affairs. He is, moreover, so far above the old
starched and absurd conventionalities of the
courts of Western Europe that he can afford to
set them aside Hence his courteous reception
of the representative of this journal.


Thus the Czar, in his international hospitali-
ties has been teaching an important lesson to
the other crowned heads Of the continent He
stands in this regard even in advance Of the
Emperor Napoleon, who, from his personal ex-
perience and close observations as an exile in
this country, has learned much Of the power
al this day Of public opinion and the public
press over public affairs. Had Louis Philippe
understood this matter as well me ciH-
zen King Of France might have ayoided the
rocks upon which he foundered in 1e48. But
his sojourn in this country was at a time when
the public press of the United States was still
the nero creature Of managing cliques of this
or that political party, such as the Albany
Regency and the central kitchen Cabinet
clique at Washington. 1t was after the return
of Louis Philippe to France that the new
power of the Independent press was brought
into the discussion of American public affairs.
Since that day it has become with the Ameri-
can people "the power behind the throne
greater than the throne ITSELF" and it is steadily
advancing to this position in every other coun-
try where the people have learned to read
and think for themselves Louis Napoleon has
turned this knowledge to good practical
account In his constant endesvors, through the
press, with all his restrictions upon it, to be
identified as the organ of the public opinion of
France.


In England the progress Of the press in
breaking down the barriers of royal exclusive
ness and aristocratic snobbery has been slower,
but hardly less remarkable than in France
Aristocracy has had no such shaking to pieces
in England as that of the first French revolu-
ton, and yet free press has not only kept the
British government from falling into the help
less lethargy Of Austria, but in advance of all
other monarohiss in its concessions to the peo-
pie. 1t ID only Of late years, however, that the
of even the most influential
Va A]OhuOA AuSC bCOn ICCOB uiEcu Ia tuc
social reunions Of the government and aristo-
cratic circles as anything but funkies, gra-
ciously admitted behind the scenes to do the
bidding Of their masters. The nrst inroad upon
this degrading treatment, we believe, was
made by band Of newspaper reporters at an
arlstocratic public dinner in a provincial
town few years since, in point blank refusal
TO occupy sort of servants table at the feast
Now the representatives of the London Times
and other leading British journals are recog-
nized as gentlemen entitled to the highest
even in the reunions Of the nobility.
It is because the power of the public press is
at length felt and recognized by the most
exclusive snobs Of England's snobbish aris-
tocracy.


This great newspaper reformation, in all Its
stages, from its small beginnings to its present
worldwide development is familiar to many
Of the readers Of this journal. 1t is reforma-
ton the history Of which is covered by the
history of the New York HERALD. We entered
the field against the old sailing vessel and
stage coach system Of conveying news with
the startling innovations of pony expresses,
steamboats, and ships and special locomotives
Our successful campaigns against the old slow
coach newspaper coalition Of this city were as
surprising and decisive as those of the first
Napoleon against the old military martinets
Of Europe. Against the Albany Regency and
oil other managing party cliques and juntas
we took the field, not "a neutral, but
as an independent exponent Of American
public opinion. Herein lies the great secret
Of the HERALD's wonderful successes aud
still enlarging circulation, popularity and
influence against all rivalries and all hostile
combinations We lgained much by our un-
precedcnted outlays for the earliest news from
all quarters, but more from our position as an
Independent organ Of the prevailing public