Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-03
o. See first page.
The Coming Xenr-Whnt we have Done
What mean so DO.

The Coming Xenr-Whnt we have Done
what we mean so DO.
We make a fresh departure from this day. When
cast our minds eve back upan the short period
that has elapsed since the Herald was established
and mark the progress which il has made, and the
effects II has produced the daily press gene raj
We have some reason to be gratiGed at the result.
Five years ago, the ignorant, besotted, INDECENT
Wall street press possessed complete monopoly
Of power, influence, circulation and profit We en-
tered the field without capital, friends subscri-
bers-with nothing to support us bat industry that
nothing could relaX-an experience gained BY years
Of labor-and moral courage that never yet feared
man or devil, in any quantity or any combination
Bit by blt-lttle by ttle-day by day-we gained
upon the feelings the affections the attentions of all
classes Of society, and Of both Faraticism,
prejudice, vugariiy, jealousy, attempted to get up
combinations 20 put Us down. hut We ;aet them face
to face, and broke them TO pieces, after the
other like the reeds before the hurricane. Many
of the improvements which we the frs: to in
troduce into the daily press have been fseby mita
ted BY our very rivals-bnt they reach as
easily in the march of Intellectual improy nent as
a man with wooden leg catch the lishAng's
fash
IL was our parpose TO make the daily new spaper
the orig nal elsment-the elementary principle of
law, government, religion, finance, and society its ELI
In the history the world, all The professions have
al time another, been the ascendant principle
of social movement. First, the religions profession
then the military-then the poltical-but 10 give
the editorial profession its proper influence, aud
make the daily newspaper the original principle
of all social and political movement, has never
been attempted till these, oar days. ArouRd us,
several of the receat creators of the small daily
press are making efforts 10 catch popularity, and to
establish for themselves position and power; but
they mistake the original principle which governs
mind in a state of civilization. The windy produce
lions of another land, the growth of other instu-
tions, can get permanent hold upon the fresh
and original minds of which society is composed in
anew country. Here is the great error of all
living literary They are copyists-not origin
Ashley are iubued with the written literature of a
foreign land-not filled with the daily -deve oped
characteristics of their own.
In these views the secret OF the great success
of the Herald. Many minds contribute to its coumRs
but single mind gulaes gnates and controls the
whole of its complicated machinery-and the ambi
tion Of this mind is far beyond the Vulgar passions
either of making fortune, of being the paid
agent Of any eots'fe, clique exclusive class in
ciety, trade or politics. Our aspirations are of
ambition Of a Van Buren, Biddle, Calhoun, a
Clay, or Webster any of the vuls great of
the day. They appear to be content 10 head party
to give law clique-to originate the movents Of
faction. 1t is society at large-the world its width
and the failure its euent towards eternity that
occupy our mind. Daring the last few wears, the
influence OF such ma have only led the world into
grevious decentralization. Some original, elevated,
independent, nay, almost inspired mind, is required
TO stem the torrent OF disease and give it new di-
rection. We pretend 10 no superior wisdom-to no
other heavenly inspiration, than what study ard expe.
rence cas- CONFER but II is very evidnet that society
in this country is retrogading TO the darkness de-
moralizaton, and barbarity Of past ages, unless
some new spirit is infused into the indie ndent and
yet uRcorupt classes Of the people. The frauds and
corruption Of he financial, commercial, religious
and political classes greater thSn yet cried
heaven fo,vengeancc, from the polluted streets Of
Seldom, or the rotten lanes OF Gomorrah We want
a reform, only dependence for this reform is
upon the agricultural, mechanical, and middle clas-
SEES, among whom virtue yet fingers as her last re-
treat earth.
In aiding and in developing this reform, pledge
the Herald and all its power and influence. This is
the way we begin the year-and this is the way we
mean TO end IT,