The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-12-03
HOW TOPROMOTE THECArsr.

There can, we conceive, he but one opinion ,s
TO the most etieciual method of disseminating
democratic principles, advancing the cause and
swelling our ranks. IL must eby Increasing the
circulation Of newSpapers-those winged mes.
sengers that come laden with tidings from all the
world and read lessons of instruction TO all classes
OF ociety.-Perhaps no State, Gifts size and pop
uation, can boast of more general intelligence
than Vermont. We yield the palm to none, in
any Thing that eevates the people; and vet there
is n lack of that reliable, self satisfying informn-
llon which every man garners up for hlmself md
has always at communicative solid capital of kno-
nowledge, not snalched at random from the liz of
A. b. and G., or resting on hearsay, but acquired
by careful examination and patient study. What
should we say OF a man who should 90 into battle,
without the requisite arms, and trusting to the
chance Of supplying the deficiency from The per,
son of a fallen foe The answer is obvious. And
so every citizen should go constantly armed with
all the information which relates TO his civil and
pollllca lights. The newspaper is the magazine
from which he may supply HIMSELF his wife bis
children, on the most moderate terms.
We have said that the people of Vermont were
reading, rejecting and intelligen, people, and SO
theyare in comparison with any other people, Few
there are who can neither read nor write and vet
said, lin the proper sense of the tcrn,) 10 be yell
informed The fact is not to be disguized; and
is there any excuse for it Generally none Books
and newspapers are so cheap as to be accessible
to all, and who have not time to devote to them,
especially during these long evenings How much
time is unprolitably spent,-and often by those
who can least afford to spare it, at taverns, grog-
shops and other lounglng places, which nigh. be
improved IN the acquisition of useful knowledge
in the diffusion OF light in dark places?
But we have wandered! Our object in the out
set, was to enforce The necessity of extending the
circulation OF democratic papers in order to effect
political revolution in the public mindto commence
the work early the ensuing winter in every town
and school district in the State, und if possible TO
carry u democratic paper 10 every door, We
would prefer subscriptions, because whatever
man buys and pays for he is inclined to place val
nc upon We name this winter, because it is n
time of comparative leisure, and opportunity is af-
iorde for forming or re-modelling opinions de-
liheratey and cooy We want a thousand ad-
additional subscribers-and what democratic paper
in the State would decline even half that dunber
Will our democratic friends consider Of these
things w. Patriot.
This is all right, every word OF it, but, what
shall be done We are half inclined, now and
then, to find word OF fault with the democracy
oflhe state They are sadly IN error, if they sup
pose they give anything like a competent support
to their papers. They must do something, if they
have the slightest hope of seeing the state redeem
ed.
We most earnestly join with the able editor of
the Patriot, and beg of " our democratic friends
10 consider Of these things"