Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-10-08

'TINe foHowing REMARKS On the utility ~
NEWSPAPERS, are copied from an En-
g9ish pubhcation.l
NEWSPAPERS are powerful instru-
ment in the hands of genius and dexterlty
for diffusing the opinions, and Influencing
the conduct of mankind. To the rapid
circulation Of political knowledge, by these
means, America and ireland will be forever
highly indebted; deriving as much power
from the energy Of the press, as from the
bravery of her volunteers the one owes
to it her independence, the other her deli.
verance from political thraldom; victory
in both cases, had been clearly preceded by
the force of reasoning, and the strong con-
viction of sound argument, which, In most
struggles, have proved superior to the
I" ultima ratio regum." England is not
without her obligations to these diurnal de.
posts of the crude attempts Of literary ~.
ros; they exercised and perfected the mo-
raj and critical acumen of Johnson, the ele.
giant invective, and weighty political truths
of Junius. speak not of the party writ,
:ngs of the moralist, those illusions Of pen.
stoned toryism were totally unworthy OF his
pen.
IF it were possible for the liberty of the
press to exist in despotic government,
without changing the constitution "a sup
position, I confess, somewhat difficult to
conceiye9 that alone would form coun-
terpoise to the power of the prince, and a
degree of liberty would be Immediately IN
troduced.' There is a regard 70 Puo'ic
opinion, and deceucy of charactsr, which
the sultan himself must observe; and the
decisions of public discussions, may Amos:
be called lower house, a democratic
check on the regal power.
In the circulation of a ue1c2nductsa
| newspaper, the public welfare Is materially
concerned; in trying moments ibey give
the alarm, they diminish that dau8eg which
they cannot prevent, by preparing the pub
| lie mind. If it were possible for q pQbil.
cation of this kind to remain UldebenaeDt
the crown could not shelter bad minister
nor the misguided multitude mock pa
triot. But such Is the magic onaipotence
Of corfu ption, that it pervadea alike ma
study of the literary man, and the ca
binct Of the statesman; it d'Huses sickt.
yellow hue of party jealousy over the e
port Of public debate; il cTipples The ar
guments, it shortens or ooscures the iAus
irations OF an ininaical minister, bat extend,
he 6owery harrahgue Of many tavougite
speaker, through long, elaborate, and well
studied periods; while the bon-UiOant anc
his ch>r-anaie, yawnlng over thelr souchon@
and ardent only for the poignant paragraph
and modern anecdote, curse those tedious
discussions, which they will not attempt K
read.
The same evil hath also conduced, in
considerable degree, to sap the foundation
ofimpartial dramatic criticism, The pal
try consideration Of ivory tickets and ad
refreshments of plays, with the smiles, tn
suppers, and the wel-timed douceurs O
managers and stage herolnes, have lonj
rendered our pubtlc prints the suspicious
vehicles Of praise undeserved, land mis- pIac
ID panegyric. After retiring frooa the
theatre, disgusted with bad play and ex
=crable acting, have we not repeatedly seen
,utne modern companions of our breakfast
the nonsense and rant of precedin;
night, metamorphosed into dramatic excel
lence and first rate performance.
We are informed by writer, whose vi
gour appears to increase with the poItica
and contradictory riddles he undertakes K
i:support, but whose digressions are the 10 os
interesting and entertaining part of hi:
works; we are.lnformed, that the frs
publications of this species, in England
resembled an extraordinary gazette; thai
they were called English nTercuries, anc
published during the reign Of Elizabeth, tc
rouse national resentment. and sunnor