The Arkansas advocate., 1835-12-18

inc Fast are flooded with them, and they sprina up every day like mushrooms, and wither away like the gourd of Jonas. This age Is gluttonous in the matter of newspa- pers-and like many gluftons, is not over choice as to the quality of the yiands 1t feeds upon. The taste of the public is something 1 like the taste of the Esquimaux-ii delights 1 in seal blubber and train oil. Talent has almost ceased to be desideratum in the composition of an Editor--and education Is kind of surplusage. Let tie aedgling but use the Eve" most lusiily-pfoclalm his in- dependence more loudly than the Pharisees used to pray in the synagogues-ery ''Pat- riotism!" 4democracy!" and ''the people!" and he is an Editor--a great and popular man. It is for this reason, ia part, that the press has ceased to be respected-has ceased to sway and lead public opinion because it has ceased in great measure to instruct. Men take charge of papers, in whose heads the scattering idea that gets there by aecident--heaven knows how is at much at loss as the snail when he do- mieiliated in the lobster shell, where he one night froze to death--men who have obtain ed no knowledge of political principles-of l political economy--or of the science of go- vernment. Of course they cannot instruct the people, because they have never them- selves been instructed. They, therefore, not knowing how to take sides according to principle, attach themselves 10 ne'a--and thus the press is debased and enslayed
 We have thought sometimes that no inde- pendent press could sustain itself. Editors have so long been accustomed to following and pointing public opinion, that the public are angry whenever they see disposition l in an Editor to form his own principles and stand by them. It Is considered as heresy against the Democracy. Every thing is now looked upon as right, only when it is popular. Editors have found out that the easiest way to obtain support was by fatter- ing the peopIe-professing great humility and deference-and frequently pleading ifl- experience 10 avoid giving an opinion which mag be unpopular. The people have be-  come used to this, and will put up with no- thing else. They are like spoiled children, and will not be eontradieted.. II seems as though kind of jealousy had sprung up be- tween the people and the press-and that nothing can neutralize that feeling but the most unbonaded difference, and an utter want of talent n the latter.
 Just such Is the case with public men. The first qualification to be possessed by one who aims at office is sycophancy- either to those higher in office-or to the public. He must have no opinion but theirs--and if his views in politics or gov ernment differ from theirs, he must studious- ly conceal them, or modify them to suit their taste. His life must be q life of hypocrisy. He must sing peans to the people, of which the key note IS ever s'the Democracy''-or he may not hope for office. He must hold that the Party leader can do 10 wrong-or he cannot even be allowed to bow at the footstoo!. What is the consequence of this state of things? It is a general political prostitution. It is that no man can succeed who is not able to conceal, modify or desert his principles to suit his master whether that master be the public or a file leader.- Ii is, that low cunning, petty intrigue, and contemptible subserviency are better and more certain qualifications for office than stern anc open independence and upright ness of purpose. 1t leads to this, that all the offices ofthe country are bestowed upon second and third rate men--plant fellows, who know how to anticipate nod or a wlnk--while the best intellect of the coun- try IS kept back, because 1t cannot truckIe and bend the knee. It leads also to this, that no matter how faithful public servant may be who is elected by the people---the moment he expresses an opinion with which the sovereign people happen 10 disagree,