The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-27

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS.
great Diversity Of opinion seems prevail in re-
ference 10 The uses, purposes. aud responsibilities o.
the newspaper press and the mode in which il ought
to be conducted. Some men, whose minds have not
kept pace with the spirit and progress Of the age ina
CINE that the principal object OF newspaper 70 10
suekle fools aud chronicle small beer" Others look
upon il as medium merely for recording awful acct
dents. strange incidents and dreadful cslss,rophes
Others again would eoufne it To giving the latest
news OF the OF the markets. prices current and
passing coIniDeuts upon the fashions, manners, and
customs Of the day. Even those who regard news
paper political engine, frequently entertain very
strange views to It's aud abuses To please
some men, political editor 90 become
species of party bull dogto bark and bite onl as he
is hidden by his generous keepers, who chain hun up
when his services needed aud feed him because
his strength may be servceabe TO his masters These
imagine that editor must have yoliion Of his
owEo perception of right and wrong, except such as
heir vision may rcHcci-l,o compass guide his course
except their ~lll-no Independence, no nanllness--no
principle except their pleasure. When 1t answer
thar selfish aims that he should attack particular IN
disdnal or sci OF individuals or oppose or defend
given neasure--no aspery Of remark--no bitterness
Of epithet-no boldness Of denunciaon, can be too
exaggerated 10 meet then appreciation.
Not murnur do we hear from them at such times,
that the dccorum OF discussion Is dIsIegarded. the
charities aud couneses Of life violated They would
have editor indulge 10 large and loud mouthed pro-
essons Of his regard for the rights aud interests OF the
people at larse-they would have him profess holy
horror Al iniquy wherever II may exis--and deal IN
general defamation, gull-irap, catch The conf
deuce Of the middlng classes--but this - all The
moment editor attempts TO reduce his professions TO
pracice-the moment he gives an earnest Of his SIN,
certy to the people, by attempting to uncoak hypocrisy.
and drag before the pnbc gaze the practices Of
some plant tool Of exclusive cotere,-then come,
from such the whispers Of discontentthe secret
rebuke--ihe threatened vengesnce-the mslignant
sco~and finally, the last and meanest resort OF little
minds-sn attempt to control the liberty 81 the press
by withdrawal of-patronage! Then does he hear
with establishment for the first time that men, who
have sppauded the most direct and unequivoca attacks,
when lcyeled in other directions, "cannot submit to
countensnce personalities and condemn the practice
Of sssaing private character, though the ndi-
vldual assslled, be ever so guilty." Beautiful con-
slstency! Pricats character indeed! For example;
suppose that individual entrusted with responsible
station in an incorporated company-an olcer perhaps,
Of courts Of justice sworn to dlscearge the duties
Of his Office honestly and honorably-a man holding
within his hands extraordinary OF oppression
one who, Of oil others, should set example worthy
| Of mutation, instead Of becoming shun board 10
others-suppose an Individual thus circumstances
should DO specifically charged In public paper with
oppressive conduct in the discharge Of ms duties.
and that his friends should claim Tor MIN the
| i,nmuut.ss which belong 10 priDafe character -
what becomes Of the rights Of the community -
Where 10 the lsborng man to look for redress
where the mechanic seek compensation for injury,
if the press is muzzled agains, his complaints II an
obscure Observation-Disclosures destitute, ignoran--vo-
laes moral social obligation, or trespasses, ever
so slightly upon the most dubious privilege Of certain
classes minute account Of the transaction, with name,
circumstance, OCCASION and reprobatory comments finds
ready admission into the most respectable public
prints" aud gives no offence TO the most fastIdous
reader There Is indelcacy in disclosing the names
and offences OF the humble-no prostitution Of the liber
" Of the press, unus6abe personality in the mat
ter! Why should not the same rule apply in all cases
aud to all persons Has one man immuntes and pri-
vleses that another man has not! Do not live in
land where the rights OF individuals the same BY
what standard Of justice-hy what rule Of propriety,
shall knavery escape censure because is exalted Is
vany to 60 unscourged because it has crept up the
scale Of society," Must the press speak in courtly
phrases, and lisp delicate disappropal only, whenever
refers to professional rapacity which. if displayed in
the conduct OF mechanic, or man IN humble voca-
ton, would be denounced as downright scoundrelism!
Away with these shallow artfces-the baseess dis
tncuons Of weak and wicked minds. Seek not to re-
strain with cobwebs the mghtiest engine of the age.
The functions of the press, powerful they have be-
come are not half developed yet Its duty society
is co-extensive with its power Already lie thunder
shakes the foliage Of the of corrupton-ere long
its lightning will rive the trunk to its roots major-
" OF The public journals Of this country in the hands
OF men whose hearts allied the great masses Of
the people-men whose intelccs canno, be bought up
~ % much OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES nerves WIN not be
lated because some few sefconstitued dIctators OF
public opinion may undertake rcw down all who do
not choose 10 submit themselves to be hoodwinked
aud gagged at their bchesls
new political dispensaton is invigora,ing mems
minds. Principle is assuming the place of profession
The triumph OF charlaanry has had its day The many
becoming too strong for the few Those who do
not believe will live to feel it. Let the PEOPLES
OPPRESSOllS therefore beware-and let those who
aid and abet them take heed for themselves. As
to-morrow's rises in the heavens, SO sure will
they be fall helpless sacrifices at the shrine Of their
folly.
Let the Directors Of Incorporated Institutions also
beware that they do not nterpose the privileges they
possess to those who trample upon the privl-
leges Of the people So long these institutions act
honestly and honoraby with coinmunity--so long as
they conne themselves, and compel their agents to
hne themselves within the bene6cent sphere of ascfu
ness for which they were created-so long will the
people support and guard lhemso hong will the public
press defend and uphold them. But let them depart
from this line OF conduct-et them compromise jo
or title OF right to favoritism undeseryed and their
artificial acric will crumble into dust around them
What the public press accomplish an Investigate
ing committee Of the Legislature will find difficulty
IN PERFORMING Again say to friend foe. take
heed The innocent have nothing to fear the cupable
eDerything.
"IsToxIcArloN lies at the root Of all crime Two
lives in this affair." may probably be sacrificed, the
opening Of a new grog shop. Met are at all cor
ners-in nearly every square-in almost every cellar
Throughout. this great metropolis by the bottle and the
glass, there is still anoher-and ano,her-and another
he licensed; both parties votes, and both par
ties fear the loss Of votes license grog shops. ad hb
Idlers, too lazy to work. collect few decanters
and botles-a few gallons Of wre,ched distilled stuff
a bar and counter, and licepse-a then invite their
friends to have house warming; ge, drunk fight and
kill each other. Loss OF character drunkenness gam.