Year: 1874

We take it that it will be generally con-
ceded that the New York Times is one of
the ablest, as 1T is the leading republican
newspaper of the country. More than all
others. it contributed to the success of the
rcpublican party and the triumphant re-
election of President Grant during the last
national canvass. IT'S principle of action
was not that the republican party, all of
Its leaders and voters, were right in every
respect and particular, or that the opposi-
ton, its leaders ald followers, were all
wrong. AS an honest newspaper, it con-
publican psrty, perhaps attributable
entirely TO its long continuance in
power, which ought to be reform
ed. This it believed could not be
accomplished by the defeat of the party,
which would be worse than jumping from
the frying pan into the fire There was
enough of honesty, integrity and patriot
ism in the party itself to correct these
abuses, bring about needed reforms, and
lop off unworthy members No outside
and was needed. With it we most heartily
agreed. Elsewhere, in another sphere, as,
also, individually, we contributed our mite
to the good cause and rejoiced in the tri-
umph. Since then there has been but a
general agreement between their views aud
ours Indeed 1--WE can recall now but few
such occasons-the principal one being in
reference TO the reelection Of the presi-
dent pro tcmpOre of the Senate. But
whether we agree with it or not, it
makes no difference. We have simply
referred TO these matters as Introductory to
that which is TO follow. In order TO give
it its full weight, force and importance, it
is necessary to bear in mind that the Times
is par excellence, republican newspaper, is
so accepted and considered by the admlnis-
tration, the majority of b 9th Houses of
Congress, the press and people of the whole
country. 1t has been called the organ u
Of the party, which, in one sense, may be
taken as true. But in the old fashioned
sense of party " organ" 1t is far from it.
,'udeed, we know of hut one prominent
ne Vspaper worthy of that term ami thai
is the New York World, the "organ Of
the de nocracy. 1t can see nothing wrong
in what its party does, nor anything right
in what is proposed or accomplished by tho
party in po wer. IT is one of the last lin
qering relics of slayish subservlencY tC
party in a leading newspaper, and has bu
few imitators in either party, in the coun
try-save here and there concern whicl
is sweet on some one because 1t has al
axe to grind or an office 10 beg


We have referred TO our own case, an'
the course of our paper, because we hav
been falsely assaled-thc assailants max
ing statements which they knew were falls
when they were made-for the reason tina
we would not surrender our right of pri
vate Judgment at the nod and dictation
any one. AS our readers know, we hav
always maintained the position that on
who criticises andprotests against the wron


doings of his party, thereby shows no
only that he is an honest man but all til
better republican. When the republlca


party seemed likely to neglect the repeal o
the increase of salary act, we proteste
against the measure, and held those II
publcans responsible who were aldin


therein. So we opposed thP appointment
of Shepherd, Williams, Simmons, AID glI
ported others as our judgment and cor