Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-08-14

burst OF it all upon Madame de Stael, led her
to remark that the English had realized the
fable OF living with a window in their bo-
SONS. 1t may be thought that this is con-
fined to class who, surrounded by the al
lurements of wealth, seek this kind of publ
city. If it were only so, the class is large,
beyond all parallel, in England; but its in
fuence affects all other classes, giving each
In their way the habit of allowing their per-
sonal lnclinations and objects to be dealt
with In print; so that, altogether, these are
thrown upon the public to an extent without
example in any other country, ancient or
modern. When the drama at Athens took
cognizance ofpriyate life, what was said be-
came known first to a few listeners, then to
small town; but in three days London
newspaper reaches to every part of the king
dom, and In three months, every part of the
globe.
Some will suppose that the newspapers
govern the country. Nothing would be more
unfounded. There is a power not only in
the government, but in the country itself,
above them, and this lies in the. educated
classes. True, the daily press is of the edu-
Gated class; for its conductors hold the pens
of scholars, often of statesmen. Hence, you
see no editorial personalities, which, more
over, the public taste would not bear. But
what goes into the columns of the newspa-
pers, no matter from what sources, comes
into contact with equals at least in mind
among readers, and a thousand 10 one in
number. The bulk of these are unmoved
by what newspapers say, if opposite to their
own opinions; which passing quickly from
is dense, make head against the daily press,
after its first efforts are spent upon classes
less enlightened. Half the people of Eng
land live in towns, which augments moral as
well as physical power; the last, by strength
ening rural parts through demand for their
products-the first by sharpening intellect,
through opportunities of collision. The dali
ly press could master opposing mental for
ICES, if scattered; but not when they can
combine. The general literature of the
country also reacts against newspapers
The permanent press, as distinct from the
daily, teens with productions. There is a
great and powerful class of authors always
existent in England, whose sway exceeds
that OF the newspapers, as the main body the
pioneers. The periodical literature is also
effective; a match at least for the newspa-
Epers, when its time arrives. 1t is more ele-
Imentary; less hasty. In word, the daily
press in England, with its floating capital in
talents, zeal and money, can do much at an
onset. 1t is an organized corps, full of spir-
III, and always ready; but there is a higher
power of mind and influence behind, that can
rally and defeat it. From the latter source,
1t may also be presumed, that more delibe-
rate judgment will in the end be formed on
difficult questions, than from the first impul-
ses and more premature discussions of the
daily journals The latter move in thoir
proper orbit by rejecting, also, in the end,
the higher judgment by which they have
been controlled. Such are some Of the con-
siderations that strike the stranger who reads
their daily newspapers. They make Won
derful part of the social system in England