There is now also fortunately established a certain professional feeling amongst its members that reports of speeches, or of facts, ought to be _rigidly exact_. Abstracts of speeches will occasionally be coloured not by additions, but by selections or omissions, according to the side of the question advocated by the writer. Yet even here the more popular papers are careful to do justice to all parties. It is the more important that this latter rule should be admitted as a principle, because, from the great length of the debates themselves, they are rarely read by persons much occupied, except when questions of great interest occur. To such persons an _impartial_ abstract is invaluable. In the leading articles greater latitude is allowable. These, if the theory which has been explained is admitted, are avowedly the expressions of the opinion of its customers. The power of the press is undoubtedly great, yet it is bound by the strongest ties of interest not to abuse that power. It is clearly its interest to seem consistent, and consequently to employ, at almost any expense, the best means of ascertaining the opinions of the country _before_ they are publicly expressed. Having attained this knowledge, it will get the credit of appearing to lead public opinion. Its powers of doing good when honestly conducted, are yet larger than its powers of mischief. Yet even here its power is of necessity limited. It cannot advocate even the _best_ course of policy on any important subject unless it is tolerably certain that it will succeed in convincing its customers that it is _really_ the best. It _ought_ not to advocate that best course, because the falling off of its subscribers might then disable it from as effectually assisting the _second best_. It, however, neither ought, nor is it ultimately its interest, to conceal those opinions from its subscribers. The power it possesses, of exposing knaves and swindlers, by means of its correspondents, and of sending highly intelligent commissioners from time to time to inquire personally into the situation of various classes of the population, are of great value, and could only be exercised by a wealthy as well as by a powerful press. CHAPTER XVI. PARTY. “Of all the tyrannies that molest this terrestrial scene perhaps there is none so arbitrary, so extravagant, or so grotesque as the tyranny of party. There is none that so frequently subjects the wise to the caprices of the fool, and the good to the designs of the knave.”—_The Times, Dec. 1850._ There are two great principles of government which divide the opinions of mankind. 1st. Unchangeableness; or, “Let things alone:”—the law of the Medes and Persians. 2d. Progress; or, the continual advancement of mankind in the improvement of their Institutions.