A War of Words Between Rival Seattle Newspapers
The Post-Intelligencer hits back at the Seattle Herald, denying accusations of bribery and defending its editorial independence.
The Seattle Herald, according to its own oft-repeated story, is a paper the virtue of which has been tested over and over again by Chinese, railroad and other bribe-givers. Its latest supposed discovery is to the effect that the Post-Intelligencer has been bribed to take the stand it has done in behalf of temperance, chastity and all the other cardinal virtues. No one has given any one connected with this paper any money or any valuable consideration whatever for the stand it has taken, nor has any one promised it anything. This Post-Intelligencer is essentially a newspaper, and as such it will continue as long as it is under its present management; it is independent in all things.
“Its latest supposed discovery is to the effect that the Post-Intelligencer has been bribed to take the stand it has done in behalf of temperance, chastity and all the other cardinal virtues.”
Newspaper rivalries in 1880s Seattle were often vicious, public, and focused on accusations of corruption. This clash highlights the era's deep divide between papers serving different class and political interests, mirroring the polarization of today’s media landscape.
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