The Hard-Cider Campaign of 1840. 455 carried on in the early days of the Cheap Press, and was the first presidential election after the starting of the Herald. Then its editor, in assisting Harrison into the White House in 1840, wrote out popular descriptions of Harrison's military operations, and especially of the siege of Fort Meigs, which produced considerable effect. on the public mind in that bubbling, uproarious age of politics, and swelled the vote for Tippecanoe and Tyler, and sent Van Buren into retirement at Kinderhook, which was probably a dividend due the latter for what he refused to do for the editor in 1832 and '3. CHAPTER XXVIII. MORE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD. THE GREAT MORAL WAR.-TREMENDOUS STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CLASS OF Journals.—The curious RESULT.-JOHN HOWARD PAYNE. -ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.-AN INFERNAL MACHINE.-NEW MODE OF ADVERTISING.-INTERESTING INCIDENTS. THE MEXICAN WAR. — OVERLAND EXPRESSES.-LIBEL SUITS.-THE POLICY OF THE HERALD.—OBITUARY NOTICES.-CURIOUS INCIDENT WITH SIR HENRY BULWER. STYLE OF EDITORIALS. THE GREAT REBELLION. THE HERALD WAR CORRESPONDENTS.-NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.-LETTER FROM SECRETARY STANTON. THE FRENCH MISSION.-WHAT DID PIERCE, BUCHANAN, AND LINCOLN DO?-JAMES GORDON BENNETT, JR.-WONDERFUL ENTERPRISE IN EUROPE AND AFRICA.-THE ANGLO-ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. THE NEWS STEAM YACHTS.-THE HERALD EXPLORING EXPEDITIONS IN AFRICA. ONE of the most remarkable of all newspaper wars broke out in May, 1840. It was declared by the Wall-Street Press, aided by a few disappointed small papers of New York, and several of the leading Whig papers in Albany, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, against the New York Herald. Nearly every paper in the country, Whig, Democratic, and neutral, became engaged on one side or the other before there was a truce. Several novelists, magazine writers, lecturers, and newspapers of England were pressed into the service. It was an extraordinary intellectual combat. Nothing like it has ever occurred in the history of literature or journalism. Anterior to the establishment of the Herald in 1835, most of the papers were party prints. Their policy was dictated by party. They were sustained by party, or crushed by party. There was scarcely an exception till the Herald appeared. Its editor had served his time on party papers. He had gained his knowledge of politicians in the offices of political newspapers. The Democratic leaders had endeavored to use him as they had all other journalists. He had become disgusted with the manufacture of candidates and of great men. With his experience he determined to set up a party of his own-the people's party-and with this in view he started the Herald. Very curiously, the issue and success of this independent paper aroused four powerful interests against its editor: the politicians, the clergy, the stock brokers, and the managers of the old newspapers. His political and financial articles and squibs in 1835, '6, and '7 led to a skirmish or two in the latter year. His continued boldness and success in 1838 and '9 brought on the general war of 1840. The Alliance against the Herald. 457 It was organized by the Courier and Enquirer, but it opened with a shot from the Signal, a small evening paper edited by Park Benjamin, and published in New York. According to the reports current at the time, Park Benjamin, under the inspiration of General Webb, arranged the preliminary details of the campaign. After the Signal gun the Courier and Enquirer, the Journal of Commerce, the Evening Star, the American, the Express, the Evening Post, and the Commercial Advertiser wheeled into line, and discharged broadsides that would have utterly annihilated any other establishment. The war lasted several months, and in that time the attacks were vehement, virulent, violent, vigorous, and incessant. Advertisers were first coaxed, and then threatened, to induce them to withdraw their patronage. Hotel proprietors were called upon to exclude the Herald, and all connected with it, from their houses. Subscribers and readers were denounced as impious and immoral if they read the paper. No stone was left unturned to crush out journal and editor. Some of the incidents connected with this "moral war," as it was called, were very amusing and very instructive. "You must take the Herald off your files," said a couple of merchants to the manager of Gilpin's Exchange Reading-room in New York. The manager looked up with some surprise. "You must, or we will withdraw our names," repeated the subscribers. Much embarrassed with this interference, in the absence of Mr. Gilpin, the manager felt constrained to obey these potential characters, and removed the Herald. Shortly after a gentleman came up, and, missing the paper, asked, "Where's the Herald?" Another and another appeared, till a dozen gathered around the empty file. The manager told his story: "Well," said these gentlemen, "if you don't restore the Herald at once, we will withdraw our names. We will not be dictated to by Webb, or Noah, or any other man or set of men what we shall read." So the Herald went back on to the files again. Mr. Edward K. Collins, the enterprising merchant of New York, who afterwards established the famous line of ocean steamers bearing his name, was sitting at his desk in South Street one bright, beautiful day early in June, in 1840, when three well-known politicians and merchants entered his office. "We have called, Mr. Collins," said this self-constituted committee, "in regard to your advertisements in the Herald. You are aware, Mr. Collins-" "Yes, yes," replied Mr. Collins, in his quick, decided tone, "yes, yes, I understand. Charles," calling to a clerk in another room, "how many advertisements have we in the Herald this morning?" "Three, sir," answered the polite Charles. "Three-yes, yes. Well, Charles, put in three more to-morrow morning." Then turning to the committee, he said, "That is my answer, gentlemen. Good morning." This same committee called upon Mr. John I. Boyd, an old and much-respected merchant, a quiet gentleman who minded his own business and never meddled with the affairs of his neighbors. After explaining to Mr. Boyd the bad character of the Herald, a paper which he had read from its first number, they asked him to withdraw his advertisements. Mr. Boyd patiently heard them through, and said, "Gentlemen, when I find I can not attend to my own business, I will send for you to aid me." They left. Such efforts as these were made every where, and in every nook and corner. The managers of theatres were threatened with the vengeance of the other papers if they advertised in the Herald. These were Simpson, of the Park Theatre, Niblo, of Niblo's Garden, Mitchell, of the Olympic, Thorne, of the Chatham, Dinneford, of the Franklin, Hamblin, of the Bowery, and one or two others. Of all these Hamblin was the only one to withdraw, and partly from old grievances of his own. Some of the incidents which occurred with these managers in this affair were very droll and funny. One will suffice. The New York Corsair of July 2d, 1840, related the particulars of this one so neatly that we are induced to give it in full : MR. SNOWDEN, PRINTER OF THE COURIER, vs. MR. THORNE, MANAGEr of the CHATHAM. The following ludicrous story is going the rounds of the city, and creating considerable laughter at the expense of Mr. Snowden, of the Courier and Enquirer. We do not vouch for its truth, but if true, Mr. Snowden has no fair reason to cbject to people's merriment; and if not, he owes it to himself to come out with a public contradiction. Mr. Snowden, through his connection with the Courier, has monopolized the printing of the whole, or nearly the whole, of the large theatrical show-bills, which, it is said-we trust without foundation-that he levies as a sort of black mail by refusing to notice any theatrical establishment in the city whereof the managers had not given him all the printing. However this may be, a few days since Mr.Thorne, of the Chatham Theatre, went into Wall street to transact some business with Mr. Snowden, when the latter asked him if he had given up advertising in the Herald. "I have not," replied Mr.T. "Then," said Mr. Snowden, "you must do so at once." "Must do so! By what compulsion must I?" inquired the manager. "By my compulsion, and that of the public Press," answered Mr. Snowden; "for, if you don't withdraw your advertisement from the Herald, the Courier won't notice the Chatham, and I won't print your show-bills!" "Well," said Mr.Thorne, "I presume you will give me a day of grace to consid"Why, I don't mind," answered Mr. Snowden. So the manager made him a polite bow and vanished. er." Mr.Thorne might then be seen wending his way along Wall Street in what an immoral sixpenny paper might call "a devil of a pucker"'-or else in a devil of a passion. His hands and arms were thrust almost up to the elbows in his breeches pockets; his hat was jammed over his eyes, and he kicked the paving-stones before him in such a fashion that it was very evident he was meditating the pleasure he would derive from kicking something else, which would have a less awful ef The Progress of the War. 459 fect on his corns. Nor is his paroxysm to be wondered at, for his republican spirit rebelled at the idea of being dictated to. At the same time, he knew he could not do without the show-bills, and labored under the impression that Snowden was the only man in the city who could print them. Suddenly, however, and just as he was in a fair way for exploding with internal combustion, he remembered having heard of Applegate's Mammoth Printing-press in Ann Street. So away he posted, and asked Mr. A. if he could print bills of such and such size. "Certainly, sir, and four times the size, if necessary," replied that individual. “My dear boy," returned Thorne, heaving a long, long sigh, “you were born to be my deliverer." And then, having ascertained that his "deliverer" could do any sort of printing under the sun, and at prices that no one could grumble at, he made an arrangement with him for the printing of the Chatham bills from that day forward, through all time, and went his way rejoicing. The next day Mr. Thorne went down to Mr. Snowden's. "Well, Mr.T.," said Mr. S., looking pretty big, as he mostly does, "have you made up your mind about that little matter?" "I have," said Mr.T. "And I suppose you intend to withdraw your advertisement from the Herald?" "No, I'm hanged if I do." "Then I won't do your printing for you." "Can't be helped-I must go elsewhere." This going elsewhere, however, was just the thing of all others that Mr. Snowden didn't want, for he profited about thirty dollars a week by the job; so, after frowning a little, and fidgeting a great deal, and biting his upper lip, and looking as if he was wishing himself in the moon, he endeavored to calm down his agitated countenance into an air of excessive patronage, and said, "Well, had it been any one else, he should never have another type stuck for him in my office; but seeing that it's you that's in it, Mr.Thorne, I'll go on with the printing." not do any such outrage to your feelings on my account," returned Thorne, "especially as I have already made an arrangement with Applegate !" And, having thus delivered himself, he made himself scarce, for he didn't chance to have his smelling-bottle about him, and he perceived that poor Mr. Snowden was deeply affected, and might stand in want of some such delicate attentions. "You must Remarks. This spirit of dictation will never be submitted to in such a community as ours. It is not probable that Mr.Thorne set any amazing value upon his advertisements in the Herald, but he did upon his own liberty to do as he pleased and acted accordingly. We need scarcely add that he acted like a man. Thus this remarkable war went on in the newspapers, in society, in the theatres, on the railroads, in hotels, in bank parlors, in public reading-rooms, on steam-boats, and on the street corners. All sorts of influences were brought to bear against the New York Herald. The incidents already narrated show the inside efforts to accomplish the prime object in view. The vituperation of the press wast terrible. The strongest language was used to bring Mr. Bennett and his paper down to the lowest level. We will add a few of the epi thets used on this occasion: 7766 BY PARK BENJAMIN, IN THE SIGNAL. 77.66 39.66 ""Loathsome "Scoundrel pen," "Obscene vagabond," "Infamous blasphemer,' and leprous slanderer and libeller," "Wretch," "Profligate adventurer," "Nuisance, "Venomous reptile," "Accursed sting," "Notorious bane and curse," "Filthy sheet," Pestilential scoundrel," Vagabond," "Habitual scoffer," "Witless balderdash," "Instinct of brutes,' Mass of trash," "Ghoul-like propensity," "Murdered reputation," "Fiendish lies," " Venal wretch," "Instrument of mischief," "Cursed," "Daring Infidel," "Monstrous lies,' 'Infamous Scotchman," Foreign vagabond," "Polluted wretch," "Habitual liar," "Licentious," "Prince of darkness," "Infamous journal,” "Veteran blackguard," "Contemptible libeller," "Lying slang and abuse," 'Scurrilous," Caitiff," "Monster," "Foul jaws," "Black-hearted,' 37 66 Dirt," "Ass," "Gallows," "Rogue," "Ribaldry.” 66 77 66 77 66 BY M. M. NOAH, IN THE EVENING STAR. "Rascal," "Rogue," "Cheat," "Licentious," "Infamous," "Lies," "Vile," |