Year: 1872

The most important part Of Mr. Greeleys let
ter, published Immediately after the election, is
the announcement that the New York Tribune
will hereafter be an independent journal. Hav-
ing contributed as much as any other agency to
the overthrow of slavery, and the establishment
Of equal political rights in all parts of the land
having fought with unsurpassed vigor for all the
principles Of the Republican party, and having
lived to see them firmly established, he cau now,
for the first time in the history Of his newspa-
per, emancipate himself from party organship
without fear Of pecuniary loss. We doubt
whether it would have been practicable for him
to have taken this step at any former period ;
certainly not since the beginning Of the war in
1861. It is now not only practicable, but is pre-
cisely what an advanced public sentiment de-
mands. The country has already had taste OF
Independent journalism, and the demand is for
more. The New York Tribune opposed it's party
during the last six months, and, notwithstanding
it was in the midst Of Presidential election, the
Possibly, one-half of the subscribers Of the pa-
per voted against Mr.. Greeley, but their conf
dence in his integrity was not shaken. In the
recent election, q large number Of the members
Of the Republican party voted for the opposi-
tion candidate; an equal number Of the MEM
bers Of the Democratic party voted for the can
didate OF the Republican party, and another
large portion refused to vote for either candi"
date The occasion is favorable to a new style
Of journalism, or, more properly speaking, for
an emancipation OF journalism from despotism
and g degradation unknown in other free coun-
tries. Mr. Greeley is not only taking course
which is dictated by truth and JUS
tice, but one which is demanded by q
cultivated public taste. Freed from the obliga-
ton to hold that whateyer is proposed by one
set of politicians is necessarily right, and that
whatever is proposed by another set is neces-
sari1y wrong, a public journal can discuss ques-
point. It will be under no obligation to paint
the devil in robes OF Light, nor portray honest
men in the garb Of 1ufians. It can hold the
scales justly, and, appealing to popular intelli-
=
their passions and prejudices. Journals Of that
class may dispense with the vulgarity,
defamation, and personalities which are the capi-
tai of the mere party organ, and We think the
public will gladly welcome the relief. We know
we are not mistaken in the demands OF the peo-
pie, who have been eurfeited with the slang
whang Of party politics. Slowly, perhaps, but
surely, there will grow up an independ-
ent but not neutral press, in which
there shall be no advocacy OF improper
or dishonest measures OF men, and no avoidance
Of discussing them for fear it may hurt one
party and benefit another. Other journals be-
eide Mr. Greeley's, including many Of the
strongest in the country, arc prepared to adopt
the came course, and it is likely
that, in a very brief period, the in
dependent press Of the United States will
include the greater part Of the heretofore larger
and more influential papers. This is certainly
true OF the great cities, and the success Of
these will, in time, iborate the better portion
of the country press. When the revolution
shall be complete, and when newspapers shall
depend solely upon their ability and enterprise,
it will be found that both the press and the
country will be benefited by the change.