Page:History of Journalism in the United States.djvu/179

CHAPTER XI

GROWTH OF PARTY PRESS

Reticence of Hamilton—The Gasette of the United States—John Fenno—His difficulties—Jefferson's estimate of importance of newspapers—His attitude toward Hamilton—Philip Freneau selected to reply to Fenno's writings—Government position offered Freneau—Hamilton attacks Jefferson.

One may search in vain through the correspondence of Hamilton for light on the important part in journalism that he was to play during the remaining years of his life. One looks especially for some inkling of Hamilton's own thoughts as to the significance of the moves that led to the launching of what was to be a gigantic political press. But there is not a word, and, considering the greatness of the tasks that confronted him—establishing the credit of the nation not the least among them—it is not surprising that his purely political activities are not set forth at length. There is no hint as to what he thought of his own newspaper activities; it is all behind the scenes, and for light we must go elsewhere than to his correspondence or his biographies; the charges of his adversaries forming, in fact, the chief source of information.

When we consider that Hamilton owed his education to a cleverly written newspaper article, and that he had seen, in the articles comprising the "Federalist "how he might sway a nation through his writings, it is but natural that when he was no longer a contestant for power, but in power; no longer a secretary or a mere aide, but an important official of the government of the United