Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-16
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.

the following remarks from the New York Jour.
nal of Commerce, creditable alike to the good
sense and the independence Of the conductors
Of that print:
Newspaper Patronage. 1T is a cor,mon feel
ing that the relation existing between the manu-
factu5er and consumer Of newspapers, is some.
thing different from that which exists between
other buyers and sellers. The subscribers to
a newspaper are called its patrons; they are
considered as supporting the Editor by favor,
-and having them under special obligations.
II an Editor publishes any thing disagreeable to
a subscriber, the latter withdraws his support
He eaunot conscientious!y support paper which
a,ows such opinions. 10 such an extent is this
feeling carried, that in case Of any little personal
disagreement with an Editor, though it may have
nothing at all to do with the paper, il is thought
almost necessary piece of seltrespect to stop
the paper. Thus Editors are dealt 18th by rules
such as are applied TO no other persons.
We acknowledge taas the editorial fraternity
have created this state of feeling towards them
selves, by crinsng scrviliiy to obtain business,
which has not been sabmitted-t to BY any other DC.
cupation. We must say. however, for ourselves,
that we have had 40 hand in getting up such ..
feeling, or Keeping it in couDtenance. There IS
really no such thing as patronage ia the CASE
We do not believe thrre is a paper in the city
| which has twenty subscribers upon any grnund
but the personal interest Of those who subscribe,
| or some other motive distinct from favor 10 the
Editors. The idea Of patronage, moreover, is as
injurious as it is erroneous. Ii is Injurious,
both to the community and the press. Under
| its influence, feeble establishments, are made to
cover down. Invested Of the independence ~hch
is essential to their usefulness,-and respectable
| individuals are drawn into acts Of snail revenge
which they would scorn to commit iD any other
matter. Subscribers, under false notion Of
proper resentment, are induced to stop their
subscriptions, deprising the Editors Of the slight
profit on so nuch business and inflctins on them
selves an Inconvenience which IS felt daily, and
to an extent far beyond that endured BY the party
which it is thought necessary to punish. The
community a, large, We apprehend, understand
but little how numerous are the stuppases record.
ed 10 the books Of all newspaper establishments
in city like this, and how unimportaut is one
stoppAge more or less. As an illustration Of this
we will state, that within the last five years,
We have lost nearly three times as many subscri.
bers to the daily paper rs the whole number on
our list at the beginning of that PERIOD notwith
| standing which, our number Of subscribers is
nearDy three times as great now, as 1t was then.
One wrong deduction from the erroneous i'm.
| presslons to which we have alluded, is this: that
when an individual subcribes for paper, he sub.
| ects the Editor to an indefinite claim for whaev-
er service NAV be required OF him. Only one pa
per Is subscribed fur to be sure, but as that is BY
way Of patronage. the patron has right TO two.
three or tour papers, aud utter all, the indefinite
obligation hangs as heavily as before. When we
first became connected with daily paper. 1t was
no uncOmmnn thing tur people TO suppose that by
virtue 81 subscribing they were entitled 10 the
sertiun Of whatever articles they might DESIRE and
very much to control the paper; that in fact they
had subscribed as Editors. But since that time,
there has been great change of sentiment for the
| better. For ourselves, we must say, we dislike
such indef finite Obligations. We willing to run
news schooners and black ponies, work all day,
and it need be all night, to akc paper so useful
to the community that great numbers Of our rili-
zens viii think ten dollars well laid out in the
purchase Of three hundred copies vi it. sent as ma
my times to their doors; aud il is not much
matter of pecuniary interest as OF freedom from
iyksome obligation that have adopted the rule,
not prac tise in other Offices, Of making that the
| extent Of our obligation.
Five wears ago. IL was common Tor persons who
never intended to subscribe for our paper or in
| any other way to pay Us cent, to call for files,
saying they we're 9 going out OF town" his
was not unfrequently doue with all the air, of
pa,ronage,-and no little surprise, and some.
times Indignation was expressed, when We de-
clined 10 favour.
While therefore WE hold ourselves responsible
to the commsni,y aud to still higher tribunal
for the good or evil tendency Of our Iabors as
Editors, We desire to have the actual basis of the
NERVOUSNESS part OF the establishment correctly
understood. We regartl il as purely matter Of
business and personal interest 90 both sides
This being the case, we have not considered our
selves bound by any practices as to the manner
of getting news and Of rendering our paper use.
tul, nor any more bound by past or present pract-
ces in Offering our wares tor sale We feel
bound only to make our terms fully known.-
When therefore person subscribers for the jour
nal Of Commerce. we consider him as subscri-
Der for the journal Of Commerce. we consider
him as subscribing for the lumber Of copies put
down and paid foe and no more. If other estab-
lishments take subscriptions for one copy aud
dare not refuse TO give SIX, it 10 not 30 with us
oil