Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-23
1;IrERARY CADET.
PRovIpENoE. SATURDAY, JUNE Is.

ID 40 cioar and 40 palpable as the nose on
mans face, and to mark OUT the exact dspar-
ity, NO need not the aid Of any ghost, nor is
it necessary to shave and hold" long and
dolof,l sermons on the subject. It is hardly
necessary to say, that one ofthe most difficult
tasks assigned man, is the conduct Of public
newspaper, and he who manages one in a
manner that will not offend any one, must be
very fortunate, or profoundly stupid; and that
paper which gets through the world without
difhculfy, and without offending some one,
uua partake Of those innocent qualities, which
characterize the ideot. and which render pa
ler perfectly harmless.
The Pe.. is powerful onginc; and we are
not ,gseusible Of he influence il commands: and
We are aware that IL should be welded with
discretion, and should be governed by the rigid
praeipes Of integrity. for when it is not ope-
'aied by good feelings and proper motives, in
stead Of blessing, il becomes q curse and
plague spot to iety, and ought to be muz-
zled A Press should always. be conducted
with Independence, and those who manage it,
shouid struggle to benefit the world, to i'm
prove the condition of society, to promote the
happiness Of man, and 10 secure the charter Of
our liberties. But how many presses are there
In this country which will answer this descrip-
tioni Perhaps there may be five, and we
should point to them five thought it necessary
o do so, for the accomplishment Of any good
or wise purpose. But it is unfortunately the
fact, that most Of the presses Of the United
States, are in a state of voluntary bondage;
are mere tools, and like eggs in the market,
can be bought up at the rate Of nine pence the
dozen; and we undertake to say, that the
American press never was in a more degraded
state than It is at the present moment. As for
Independence, the word is unknown TO most Of
the conductors Of the pross, and for the paltry
consideration Of a dollar or two, one half Of
the in-a duals who are come cted with il
as its guard;rns, can be made to adopt
opinions, and advocate views, which they
knew TO be ruinous to the country.
If,he conductor ofa newspaper has independ-
ence enough 10 induce him TO oppose some pop
ufar scheme, got up TO swindle the public, and
to draw from the widow her last mite, and from
the orphan his bread, hue and cry is set up
by some of the tools; and that press which has
the temcrity to advocate the true interests of
the people, is assailed by race of pumpkin
heads, and set down as absolutely licentious
The most unfit persons for the press, are those
very pious and sage gentlemen, who talk about
dignity and character, and who. if their lives
were carefully scanned, would be presented to
the world, in all the hideousness of deprayity.
Those individuals are without talents, and
have more brains in their chests than in their
heads, and assume 10 themselves deal Of i'm
por:ance, look wise, and tell tough stories;
and though they are notoriously ignorant Of the
lesser rudiments Of the language, they pretend
te acute critical powers, and set themselves up
as the Johnsons and Walkers Of the age. In
capable sf bamnering an original idea out Of
their own brains. they apply to their neighbors
to assist them; and when an article is written,
it is hastily copied by the receiver, and read
at the BARRIERS Shop, and at the Bar Room
Of a public Inn; and all the merit than can be
attached to the production, they eagerly
wear. This class of conductors, belong
to that body Of Editors, who, TO uxe their Ian
guage, conduct a newspaper in the " old fash
;sned way"
Next to the class Of individuals who have
the management Of the press, may be ranked
those pious creatures, who, naving escaped the
firy ofthe laws, degraded as they are, make
great professions to piety, and because they
cannot rise to the point ofolevation which 9th
ers enjoy, would pull the whole community
down to their own level. They act upon the
broad bottom and levelling system. and ifthey
cannot effect their purposes, they grow angry
with defeat, and infamous with age. Their
motto is, "down, down, down to our leyel;"
and supplied with fill stock of assurance
they even have the audacity to thrust them
selves into the society Of others; and whilst
the emanations Of their pens contaminate the
atmosphere. they secretly chucke in thsir OWL
infamy
To this class is the world chiefly indebted
for the prostitution Of the press, and the de
structien Of the morals of society. withou
character so sustain them, and having nothing
to lose, they greedily enlist in any cause 70
which they may be bought up; and betwee
meDdacity and insolenco, they make out
drag out miserable existence to the disgrac
Of the world. II is too often the case that tn