Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-24
IMPORTANCE OF NEWSPAPERS.

IMPORTANCE OF NEWSPAPERS.
!" Tke rabble gather round the man Of news
And listen with their mouths -
Some tell, some hear, some Judge Of news
tson:e naakeit,
And he that lies most lcnais most belev'd-
DRYDEN
Would parents aid tutors be carefu. e M
awell conducted and chaste newspaper ia tha
way of ingenious youth, they would Gnd !,
lead to great aud rapid improyemelt in Tin
science OF life and manners, with the !e,s,
possible troable to themselves. Novelty .as
sufficient attractions for the young and svch
a literary desert might give higher sel:sa 10
its enjoyment.
Il.s subsequent essay is intended to encou.
rage this node Of promoting juvenile Droi.
cheney; and to stimulate tie lnanagers oe
such publications to render them meet T., ,as
eyes Of unsuspecting innocence.
Among the various causes mat hayc con.
tributed to the general diffusion Of ..;no wlc;lps
in the present age, nothing seems to hays
been OF more importance than ,te circulation
Of so many different newspapers. super.
fetal observer Will, perhaps, smile Ak tbs o.
pinion when he considers what slender aoi.
lities are generally employed in tie compi!s.
ton of some, what prejudice is displayed in
the conduct of others, and what f.ctloas 2ria.
ciples are disseminated through this mcGium :;
he VII probably, be surprised that Ecwspa.
per, howsoever well it may be conducted,
should come in for such disli9gui4ned ~.
pause.
But where is the good that may not be PER.
verte1 to evil ? the b. sing that may not be
abused? Excess of liberty degenerates llo
RIGHTEOUSNESS and too great indulgence in
he pleasures OF the table may prove Us ialI
as swallowing the most deie;erious poisoa.
II is well known that, within these FEW
years, diurnal publications have been multi
Piled to an amazing degree and tier csa.
racters, for taste and arrangement, AID clc-
gznce OF composition, in some measure keep
pace with fhei. numbers. Competition begets
exer,ion, s:ld those who hope that their Ygi..
lngs Sill. be read, and their labogs pa;roaiz.
ed. study to adorn them win all the charms
of polished diction and the attractive grace OF
novelty.
The Information that newspapers formerly
contained was trivial /; and ene circulation
was proportionabiy confined.
TEe learned, the rich, OF the idle alone,
thought Of encou agins theru, about half a
century ago ; now all RANKS and descriptions
of men, read, study, md endcasor to con-.
pfehend the intelligence they convey andtoo
often adopt the principles they recommend,
without examination and act OH ;htm az {
they were sanctioned by irssf:agabie author
ty. his no doubt is an unfortunate circuG.
stance but it is III some measure reneclel
By the contrary opinions OF contending joar'
nalists and truth ana justice may generally
be found, by competing different statements
and keeping the middle course between 5qs
extremes.
Il is dangerous Tor those only, who \
but ore paper. And TIA. pap2r is made \
vehicle q false principles and dc,usiv,.EEs
soE,ing; or w,.ore#oliginai prciutin,e u
wrong bias 20 the nlind; and tt.udts s" ~
fcA oouia!y eads1oh 10 CIlip1lI iite.ngegs
ance,
On the other hand, paper conducted On
proper religious and political principles, is
calculated to do infinite service anolg those
especially, who are ileap G',ie Of thinking lor
themselves, and who, by habits, acquire the
sentiments that perpctually meet their eyes,
and anlIse their vacant hours. And in the
country particularly, how many thou.nds re-
ceire what they read in a periodical pubbc'-
ton as oracular decisions and, to whom
knowledge OF social or moral duty could not
otherwise be communicated, rs they too or
en- neglect the established means OF instr cti'
on, Or despise its assistance.
Hence the importance of journals that pre-
serve these grand objects in view--to liiumi'
nate and to reform. And from the same con-
al