The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-09

disseminating error, which would not be obtained by
one Of bad or doubtful character Hence TO he USE
ful, PAPER should be under management ho' n able
and honest, under the guidance of those who seek
Justice but who have intelligence 20 comprehend ana
resolution 10 do il. A paper conducted with suhi-
ent ability 10 create public opinion Is angel OF
mercy in the hands Of conscientious managers,
messenger of wrath in the hands OF managers with
out scrupes. But when paper aspires melely 10
follow puhc opinion, 10 be its creature, lis echo,
"To catch the manners, living, rs they rise
it will whether conducted with ability or imbeciliiy
exert corrup ing influences. bad leader Of public
opinion poIsons the fountain OF thought and feeling
bad follower the stream.
An honest leader Of public opinion, in seeking its
own interest, always seeks the public good, and IN
pursuing IT, is always governed by general principles
Such paper, in the very commencement Of It's ca
reer, proposes to itself goal point OF arrival and
certain course for reaching IL. Its conductors say
the dignity, prosperity and safety Of humanity are
our object, the only of our own success; the
principles on which they depend are eternal, and our
duty 10 aim at our object through these principles Is
obvious" Such paper will pursue It's course sead
y, unawed by the storms raging around u, and Will
finally reach its destination amid the gratitude Of all
who intended tight, and the respect even of those
who did not IL will be consistent, while papers of
opposite character will continually rail at il for ncon
sisiency The honest and intelligent will always know
where TO ind Ii, because they will always know where
TO seek ii. While its detractors will complain Of nerer
beng able to find it, and their complaint viii be just,
because they will always seek in their own crooked
paths, into which 1t never wanders.
The course Of such paper is always conservative,
II always aims, not merely at maintaining things as
they are, but as rendering things they ought be-
and therefore il never seeks to promote good or re-
strain evil by any means inconsistent with fundamen-
tai principles by any means tending TO counteract
the good which it would promote, fraught with
more evil than those which il seeks to correct. Thus
if sees the public mind rushing bndly into one ex
remty u does not strive, for the purpose of prevent
ing the mischief TO persuade ii TO turn round and
rush preclpiateIy into the opposite 1t strives TO
stop the impetuous mass and lead il back TO reflection
II excaims, "Stop! Inquire where you are rushing
and what you are pursuing or flying, and what Will
be he end !"
But dishonest follower of public opinion, and such
mere followers be honest, seeks merely It's
own momentary interest, without regard to the means
Of promoting IT, and is therefore guided by ge-
neral principles Ii il comprehends such principles II
spurns them obstacles in its career instead OF lean
ing upon them as supports. To the conscience Of
such paper, all means are alike which promo liz
object; for il regards dollar Hundred cents
whether it be the wages of sin the reward OF ine-
gritty. 1t can live only upon excitement, and there
fore ia Always destructive, neper conserratire Act
cordingly if it the public mind rushing into the
Schuyklll it says to ITSELF Le stimulate his freL-
zy run along with this crowd, and collect all hat we
can from IL in the race Or If il should see its lue
rest in turning the crowd with equal fury oTpl'
site direction il exclams, Beware Of the Schuylkili
but rush, Tor safety, into the Delsware!!! G@
Snch papers canlive only upon error and deusion,
and therefore continually striving to misead The
public mind and error and deluson the
result OF excitement and not Of sober reflection, they
continually fabrcang statements, continually
presentings things in false lights and Disgusting them
in exaggerated hues They are continually insisting
that all their devious wanderings strait course,
Their nnumerab!e changes the very perfecli ofcon-
sstency; and as they act from honest motives,
they necessarily ascrbe corrupt influences to those
whose straight and independent course s beyond their
comprehension