BSS

LIFE OF COBDEN. [omar.

1868. His correspondence shows with how sharp an eye Cobden
&r. 59. watched his masked foe. He jealously noted any post that
was conferred on a writer in the Times; in this respect, I
am bound to confess, being rather apt to make mountains
out of extremely small molehills® He told his friends in
scornful tones of the social deference that was paid in private
 by great people to the famous editor, and was scandalized,
 here also rather unreasonably, to find him dining 8b
tables where every guest but himself was an ambassador, 8
cabinet minister, or a bishop. An eminent visitor from the
United States, who had access to London society, was for 2
long time perplexed by the social attentions that were
bestowed on this mysterious being, and in conversation with
Cobden contrasted the position of the press and its conductors
in England with that of similar personages in his own country
“In America,” said Cobden, referring to this in a letter to
Mr. Hargreaves, * the editor or proprietor puts his name on
the front of his paper, fights the battles of his party openly,
shares in the honours of its victories, and is to be found
among the senators, the governors of states, etc. But with us
the conductor of the Times preserves a strict incognito to his
readers, on the plea that anonymous writing is necessary
for preserving his independence, whilst he inconsistently
drops the mask in the presence of those who dispense social
distinctions amd dispose of government patronage—the
very persons towards whom in the interests of the public be
ought to preserve his independence.” *

3 It ia worth remembering, however, that in the famous Slough speech:
of 1858, Mr. Disraeli acoused his Whig adversaries of © corrupting the once
pure and independent press of England.” “Innocent people in the country,”
he said, “who look to the leading articles in the newspapers for advice and
direction—who look to what are called leading organs to be the guardians
of their privileges and the directors of their political consciences—are nob
the least aware, because this sort of knowledge travels slowly, that leading
organs now are placehunters of the court, and that the once stern guardians
of popular rights simper in the enervating atmosphere of gilded asloona.”
§ To W. Hargrsavss. Feb, 18, 1881.