John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

But without regard to the cause or motive by which Dana's policy as editor of the Sun was controlled, it turned out that henceforth he found much in the current action of the administration to condemn, and that this condemnation interested the public at large, however distasteful it may have been to the office-holders and the men “inside of politics.” Within two months a breach had occurred, which by the end of six had become impassable. Dana's absolute independence was now an important factor in the discussions of the day, and, while many conservative and prudent people did not hesitate to say that he was going too far and becoming entirely too personal in his criticisms, the circulation of the paper increased rapidly, and its revenues kept pace with its circulation. Borie resigned on June 26th, but that did not change Dana's course. In July Grant took the Tallapoosa, a naval vessel, for his private use, and this was disapproved by the Sun. Although the President is the constitutional commander-in-chief of the army and navy, this act was regarded as an innovation on the practice of his predecessors. It las since come to be a common custom, and now passes without special comment.

Later in the month the Sun called for a mass-meeting to denounce the shooting of American citizens by the Spanish authorities in Cuba, without trial. It had already expressed the opinion that the administration was too lenient towards the Spanish government, and “should retrace its steps.” It had severely commented upon Grant's acceptance of a gift of land in New Jersey, and in August it criticised him for

... the corrupting and demoralizing practice of giving office in return for presents, his fatal disregard of law, his petty foreign