The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-13
HNOU i2i1B.
RICHMOND, APRIL is, 1905.

sin.the former part of the eighteenth century. Ia
erfsand learning, at leaf, If mot virtue were thought
neceiary in the conductors of political journals Pew
vent,Tfi TO nrude into this arduous Office bur thoe
who mad Tome claims literature Towards
the coi of the century, however perfcny Of le cha
raster. and of humber qualifications, began, with
cut ferupie, to undertake the high raj: of enlieh-
ening the public mind. Ihs remark apples. in
Tome degree, to Europe; bns il applies with particu-
lar force TO onr Own country where every iudicious
o5iervernlt perceive that too many Of our gasettes
III the han Is OF perons deaitute at once of the
urbanity o. g~ndenen, the Information of icholars
and the principles Of virtue. TO this curce rather
than to any peculiar depravity of national charac-
ter, we may aicrbe the faults of American newfpa-
pers which have been pronounced by travellers, the
oit progate and icurrhous public prints in the civil
lzed world.
1he!e coniideratiohs, it is conceived, are album
dainty fuiciea TO account for the diiagreeabe cha
racter OF American newspapers. In every country
the e'fih principle prompts to defame their per-
ional and political enemies; and where the fuppofed
Provocatons to TINS are numerous, and no retrains
inpofed on the indulgence of the diipoition. an
inundation OF filth and calurlny NUT be expected In
the United States the frequency of elections leads to
correpondng frequency of lruggle between political
parties; theie trugges naturally engender miichiev-
Gus paops, and every fpecies of coarle inveStivc
and, unhapiy, too many of the conductors of our
public prints have neither the difcernment the firm
neis, nor the virtue to reject from their pages the
foul ebullitions of prejudice and mal;ce Had thew
more diligence, or greater talents, they might render
their gazet,es intereitng, by filing them with mate
rails of more inttruclive and dignifed kind; but
wanting thee qualifications thew muit give fuch ma
terias, accompanied with fuch feaforinr. as circum
fances furnih OF what kind thefe are no one is TO-
ncrant." LZ;Y-r', R,tr,r,.S3 I
Such is the prefcnt fate of the American
Prets, as it has beer delineated by faithful and
intelligent obferver! apie.ure, which every
friend of this country NUT contemplate with
the mott Poignant df9uit, becaUe it derives all
its effect from the correctness of its colourinc.
Confdered as vehicle OF the mott extenGye
communication, or as a permanent record of
the tranfattions of fociety, the PRESS has re-
ceived the unbounded eulogiun of the philofo-
phcr, and the warmett gratitude OF the flatei.
man. The speculative obferver regards il as
the lat refource of civilized fociety againit the
returning revolutions OF barbarifn. The en-
ghtcned politician has confidered it as the
ttablet pillar of republican government. Bv
lone writers 1t has been compared TO a nerve of
the mott eXqoihto ienfation, running through
the body polite, and thrilling at the flightet
touch ofdeipotfm Whit others have likencd
it to the imaginary figure of Fame, with her
hundred ears and her hundred trumpets, catch
ing the leait found of approaching danger, ard
alarming the Numbering multitude By all it
has been regarded as an inexhauaible fountain
OF ufetul or amufng information As the patron
of literary puriuits, of elegant manners, ard of
ingenious tate. What Their NUT we think of
the perverhon of fuch an inefimable intrument
IN this delightful country, which fome have con-
fdered &c the lait afylum of perftcu ted liberty,
aud which all have deiired to make the favour
lie foil Of literature and fcience? What mult
we think of the dehination of an inGr,1ment
which, capable of producing the moR falutary
inpre!!ions in this country, is 70 frequently con-
hded to weak or WORTHLESS fnperintendants
Let any one examine the qualifications of orr
newspaper Editors, and then let him pronounce
upon the accuracy of this criticifin. Some of
theie men are to be coniidercd as mere auto.
mata, without the understanding to form. mr.
the fprit to exprefs, an opinion on general fib-
jeGts.
There are others, who flying from the Bsitifh
doninons, have come here in ouet of an afy
lum TO fcreen them from perfecution, or the
atre to diiplay their talents men who have
not always the good fortune to love orr
country and to undertand its local politics.
and when thrown into a printing Office. are
almoft indifferent to the factions which tbev
may excite, and obliged to fubftitute Der-
ional abute and rancorous fcurrility in place
of comparative views & expanded details.
There is another clafs of native Editors, who
unfortunately purdue the fame fcurrlous and
rancorous fytem, though their talents and at.
tainments would render them worthy of wor-
thier cauie. If fuch be the general character of
our Editors, it is not furprifing that the prece-
ding picture of the American prefs fhou!d be
correct in its Representation il is not furpring
that we have 70 few Editors among us, who are
capable of competing any proper, and valuable
eflays.
Were the Editors of our newfpapers even
diitinguihed by more exteufive and ufeful at
tainments, they could fcarcely be expected TO
compete fiich valuable productions. A newt
paper Editor in this country, has not fuficien,
leliure TO give that undivided attention TO his
iubjectS, which their completely NAV reouire.
When he fits down to- write, his mind Is he
wlldered by multitude of ideas lily dipeRed {:
the calls of his competitors are prefIinp and
unremitted; and an efiay, coarfeiy expreGcd
and feebly fupported, is too often the product
on of his pen.
But if thefe ei1dys are generally feeble. the
comments and attacks of editors upJn each o..
theirs productions are much more imnropcr.
a mutual examination of principles is NJ ali
times commendabIe: But fuch is not alwavs
the object of newspaper alteration. The edi-
tor commences with reafoning, but generally
ends in perional invettive. And this uGefuI con-