Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-01-07
TElla 9AARTTI8o
MARrINsBURG, JAsuAnr 2, 1859.


of a new press in the neighboring town of
Williams Port, Md issuing weekly paper
under the title of "REPCBLicAS BANNER. - of
which we received the first No. few days
since.
We augur favourablv of it, from the neat
ness of the typography, and the sood taste
of the selections, and heartily wish the gen
tlcmen congo rned in it a success commensu-
rate with their merits. The Editor, Mr.
WE1sEL, in neat and appropriate address
TO his patrons. makes some reflections upon
the mighty influence which the press now
sxerts over the affairs Of civilized nations
We are glad TO find that the Editor of the
Republican Banner is not disposed to re-
gard this influence as Just so much positive
unalloyed good 1t is in fact merely potcsr-
like the expansive force of Steam-vast, in
definite, Unreasonable poioer, and capable Of
producing the greatest good, or the most de-
solating mischief, according as it is used
We cannot resist the temptation to place be-
fore our readers, the remarks on the abuse Of
this power, of an eloquent and enlightened
American Statesman, whose pure and iervent
spirit has hong since gone to that place
"Evhere the wicked cease from troubling, and
the weary are at rest"
"Although it does not appear. that the sci
ence Of good government has made any adj
yances since the invention of printing, Il =
nevertheless the opinion ofmany, that this art
has risen, like another sun in the sky, 70 she'd
new light and joy on the political world
The press, however, has left the understand
ing OF the mass ofmen just where it found il
but, by supplying an endless stimulus to
their imagination and passions, it has render
ed their temper and habits infinitely worse
1t has inspired ignorance with presumption,
so that those who cannot be governed by rea-
son, are no longer TO be awed by authority
q The many, who before the art Of printing new
4 er misto0k in case Of oppression, because
& they complained from their actual sense of
1T, have become susceptible OF every transient
enthusiasm and of more than womanish fick-
icness Of caprice. Public affairs are transact
Il cd now on stage, where all the interest and
passions grow out of fiction, or are inspired by
4 the art, and often controlled at the pleasure OF
the actors. The press is a new and, certainly
a powerful agent in human affairs. 1t will
change, but it is difficult to conceive how, by
rendering men indocie and prcsumptuous, it
can change societies for the better. They are
pervaded by its heat and kept forever restless
by its activity. While it has impaired the
force that every just government can employ
i IN obedience, 1t has Impaired to its enemies
the secret of that wikllire, that blazes with
the most consuming fierceness Oh attempting
te quench it.
''Shall we then be told, that the press will
constitute an adequate check to the progress
OF every species of tyranny? Is it to be de
med, that the press has been the base and
Venal instrument OF the very rnen whom il
ought to glbbet to universal adherence p
While they were climbing 10 power, it aided
their ascent; and now they have reached it,
does it not conceal or justify their abo,nina-
tons? Or, while it has confessed, that the
majority Of citizens form their ideas of men
ard measures almost solely from the light
that reaches them through the magic lantern
OF the press, do our comforters still depend on
the aiIrestorng, all-preserving power Of gen
eral l?foSTaatso3l2 and are they not destitute
ofall this, or rather of any better information
themselves, if they can urge this vapid non
sense IN the midst of yet spreading political
deiuSIon, IN the midst of the '.palpable OBJ
scure" that settles on the land, from believing
what Is false, and miseonStruug what is true?
Can they believe all this, when they consider
now much truth is impeded by party on its
way TO the public understanding, aud even
alter having reached it, how much it still falls
short Of its proper mark, while it leaves the
enHous, jealous, vindictive will unconquered:
'Our mistake, and in which we choose ia
perseVere, because our vanity shrnks from
uie detection, is, that in political affairs, by
ohly determining what men ought 10 think
we are sure how they win act and when we
Know the facts, and are assiduous to collect
ana present the evidence, we dupe ourselves
with the expectation, that, as there is but one
result which wise men can believe. there is
out one course of conduct deduced from it,
winch honest men can approve or pursue
we forget, that in framing the judgment eve
rv passion is both an advocate and witness
we lay out of our account, how much essen
ual information there is tIlatne reaches the
multitude, and of the mutilated portion that
does how much is unwelcome to party preiu-
aice; and, therefore, that they may still main
tam their opinions they withhold their atton-
uon. We seem to suppose, while millions
raise SO loud cry about their sovereign pow
er' and really concentrate both their faith
and their affections in party, that the bulk of
mankind will regard no counsels. but such as
are suggested by their conscience. Let us
dare to speak out; Id there any single despot
T S avowedly holds himself SO superior to its
n IN