REPUBLICANS AT HEART.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2772, 10 February 1882, Page 3

REPUBLICANS AT HEART.

An amusing explanation of the tone of English journalism was given by the LondoncprresponJent of an American contemporary shortly after the funeral of General Garfield :—“Several Americans who fancied they understood English opinion well, have expressed to me their astonishment at the sudden intensity of sympathy with America which, our newspapers of every political shade have evinced in connection with the sad event at Long Branch. The explanation is not far to seek. Twothirds of our journalists are Radicals, nay Republicans, at heart. They have habitually to write to please a rich oligarchy, and never before have they had such an opportunity of writing to please themselves. For once they have enjoyed the luxury of writing of their ‘kin beyond the sea’ honestly and, if th6y have overdone it somewhat yon will forgive them when I assure you that they would never exhibit leas generosity towards you if they, had their own way. In one respect the'removal of all “ taxes on knowledge’ has proved a curse to English journalism. Cheapness has been the mother of nastiness, i.e,, of widespread dishonesty.' The commercial success of a penny paper depends, not on its circulation, but.on its advertisements, and the nnfortnnate journalist has consequently but top often to sacrifice the interests of truth and humanity to those of prejudice and class interest. It is, for example, a well-known fact that five-sixths of the staff of the London “Standard,” the great organ of Conservatism, are extreme Radicals, and when the super vising cat is away the mice do frequently play in a manner that profoundly astonishes tho country squires and parsons. From time to time quasi, revolutionary leaders appear like thunder bolts from a clear sky, followed by chuckling on the part of the initiated, and much blasphemy by Lord Randolph Churchill and the Right Honor able James Lowther. Occasionally you find a versatile scribe who combines the functions of Radical an ' Tory political instr'ctor. One such nee 1 *db last session in the Press Gul’o. of the House of Commons, L.o wa» the metroplitan correspondent of two dailies, the one advanced Liberal, the other ultra-Tory, and I could not but admire his literary method. He first thought out and wrote down his ‘ Radical copy," and then ho changed all the praisebestowing adjectives in it into others importing blame, or vice versa , and so his ‘ Conservative copy ’ was turned out with surprising expedition and verve. Thus ‘ good 1 became ‘ bad ‘ senile,’ ‘ youthful ’; ‘ pertinent,’ 1 irrelevant ’;

‘ maundering,’ 1 pointed and the thing was done. Like the grave digger in * Hamlet,’ ‘ the fellow had no feeling for ■his business.’ He defended his conduct by the contention that he was merely an advocate hired to say the best he could for his clients, whether innocent or guilty, and so rode gaily off. There is hardly a newspaper in England which you can read and feel sure that yon have got at the genuine opinion of the writer. The “Pall. Mall Gazette,” under the conduct of Mr John Morley, is probably the safest guide to English opinion to which an American can readily turn; but even on the “ Pall Mall Gazette,” the great art cultivated is to make truth look as like error as possible, lest some ‘ interest’ or other should take alarm. Howbeit, you may take it for granted that in respect of General Garfield’s death the English Press, for the reason I have assigned, has for once faithfully mirrored the inmost thoughts of the English people. Day by day the mighty arch of affection, admiration, and confidence is silently being raised—an arch which may yet span the wide Atlantic, re-unite old England and new, and make the English race the indisputable masters of the world’s future.” .