Newspapers.—The plan of this Manual permits but a brief reference to the more important of the newspapers which have given attention to the interests of literature. The New York Evening Post was founded in 1801, and was for fifty-two years (1828–1880) edited by Bryant. In 1819, it printed the well-known “Croaker Papers” by Drake and Halleck. James K. Paulding was an occasional contributor, and Whitman was one of its Washington writers during the first year of the Civil War, 1861. Bret Harte was for a time on the editorial staff, and the list of the literary critics includes the names of John R. Thompson and John Bigelow. During the years 1881–1902, The Evening Post was under the editorial control of Edwin L. Godkin, who was an Irishman by birth, an Englishman by education, and an American by what may be called natural selection. His editorials in The Evening Post constitute a most important contribution to the literature of journalism, or it may be more precise to say to the journalism of literature. They were forcible, witty, and incisive, and always represented the earnest convictions of the writer. The Evening Post, which still gives a full measure of dignified and effective consideration to literature, is now under the editorial direction of Messrs. Rollo Ogden and Oswald G. Villard. Its literary department is managed by Paul E. More.
The New York Tribune was founded in 1841 by Horace Greeley, who must also take rank as one of the noteworthy American editors. For thirty-one years, George Ripley had the chief responsibility for its literary department, and among his associates were Bayard Taylor and Margaret Fuller. A number of the more important reviews, particularly those having to do with English criticism and with poetry, were the work of Edmund C. Stedman. Miss Ellen Hutchinson, later associated with Mr. Stedman in editing the “Library of American Literature,” was for many years on the literary staff of The Tribune.
The Sun was founded in 1833, and was for many years managed by a third great American editor, Charles A. Dana. The incisive force and stirring wit of Dana’s editorials have probably never been equalled in American journalism, unless it were in the columns of Godkin’s Post. The Sun has always given much attention to literature, and the weekly contributions of Mr. Mayo W. Hazeltine have for many years taken first rank among the critical literary essays of the day.
The Times was founded in 1851 by Henry J. Raymond, an early associate of Horace Greeley. During the past twelve years, The Times has given a larger measure of attention to literature than any other paper in the country. Its literary department finally became sufficiently important to call for a separate printing, and it is now issued as a weekly literary supplement. The present editor of the supplement, which presents a convenient and comprehensive summary of the publications of each week, is Mr. William Bayard Hale. The literary supplement has secured for its regular contributors a number of the more capable critics of the day, among whom may be mentioned Mr. Edward Cary, Miss Elizabeth Luther Cary, Miss Hildegarde Hawthorne, and Mr. Montgomery Schuyler.
Of the other New York papers, The World was founded in 1860, and during the years 1862–1876 was associated with the name of Manton Marble, one of the scholarly editors of his day. It is now controlled by Mr. Joseph Pulitzer. The Express, founded in 1836, and for a series of years the organ of the remarkable brothers James and Erastus Brooks, was, about 1880, merged with The Mail, also founded in 1836. The Commercial Advertiser, founded early in the nineteenth century, became about 1890 The Commercial Advertiser and the Globe, and later The Globe. The Herald, founded in 1831 by the elder James Gordon Bennett, is still under the control of the Bennett family. It is most valuable to the community in its presentation of news, but has not been distinctive on its literary side. The Eagle, published in what is now the Borough of Brooklyn, was founded about 1850. It has always taken high rank for independence of political conviction and also for the excellent literary quality of its editorials and reviews. It has for many years been under the editorial direction of St. Clair McKelway.
In New England, The Boston Transcript, founded in 1830, devotes much space to reviews and discussions of literature and stands high for its catholicity of judgment and discriminating taste. Among the papers in the smaller New England cities should be specified The Republican, of Springfield, Massachusetts, founded in 1824, the ownership of which has for three generations been in the Bowles family. It has included among its contributors some of the ablest writers of New England. The Courant, of Hartford, Connecticut, had the advantage for many years of the editorship of Charles Dudley Warner.
In the Middle West, the Chicago Tribune, founded in 1847, is to be recalled for its association with the life-work of one of America’s ablest journalists, Joseph Medill. In Cincinnati, The Commercial had the advantage for many years of the editorial direction of Murat Halsted. In the Southwest, the Louisville (Kentucky) Journal, founded in 1830, will always be associated with the name of George D. Prentice. The Journal was in 1868 merged with The Courier and, as The Courier-Journal, has since been under the direction of Mr. Henry Watterson, a survivor of the type of “strenuous” Southern journalism.
The Washington National Era, published between the years 1847 and 1860, is to be noted as having presented to the world “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” In the contest for abolition which this book did so much to bring to a triumphant end, The Liberator (1831–1866), carried on by William Lloyd Garrison, and The National Anti-Slavery Standard (1840–1872), conducted by Wendell Phillips, should also be mentioned. These two men differed sharply from each other from time to time as to the methods to be pursued, but were at one in their fierce antagonism to slavery and in their readiness to devote their lives, if need be, to its extinction.