Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-09-02
From the Philadelphia North American.
THE MAIL AND THE PRESS.

THE MAIL AND THE PRESS.
These are the two great personalities ofthis
vast Republic. BY their means, in this coun-
try we have been able to prove that any extent
of territory may be governed under republican
forms, possibility that no philosopher of the
Old World ancient or modern could conceive.
Ii is a well known attribute Of human nature
that its best sympathies arc earlics, awakened
by contact with their exciting causes. Alb
sence, il is well said, conquers love, and the
love may be said to decrease in proportion to
the distance of the absent. The mos, charita-
Bile can hardly keep their pity fully awake for
the inisfortunes Of their antipodes.
The knowledge Of this principle has led an
cient Spectators upon forms Of Government,
TO fear for large Territories under ono head
They were not aware Of what modern science
was to accomplish in bringing tho ends Of the
earth together.
BY means of the Mail and the Press as they
now exist in this country, all difficulties Of this
kind have vanished, and community Of in
,erest is established over nearly quarter of
the globe. To these two of tho greatest of
modern agents, civilization, freedom and knowl.
edge owe their wonderful progress in this ives.
tern world. The most heterogeneous materi-
ais, the most discordant interests being thus
brought into contact, find in an interchange of
qualities, their asperities smoo,hened, their
dissonance attuned. Constant intercourse b..
tween all parts Of the country induces each to
accommodate itself 10 the other, all being 70.
warded for any sacrifice by the many advania.
ges thus attained. 1t is this rapidly Of CON-
munication which has preserved this Union,
under the most dangerous circumstances. This
quick transmission of intelligence allows no
time for any misunderstanding about facts, 10
grow into cause of dissenson. All occurren.
ces. all Government and public proceedings
arc known ia their full particulars, throughout
the country, Immediately after they have taken
place. Without this, the jealousies, and nu-
merous causes Of dispute, which even now ng-
itate the country, would long ago have spill, il
into fragments. Ii is as truly as beautifully
said by Mr.. Calhoun in one Of his speeches,
1.-The mail and the press are the nerves Of tho
body polite. BY them tho slightest impress
sion made on the most remote part is commu-
nicated 10 the whole system"
How essential then Is IL that agents so ac-
tive in contributing to the continued success Of
the great experiment for the sake Of humanity,
now trying on this continent, should be urged
TO their fullest and truest uses! How important
that the mails should perform their duties oven
better than hitherto, Us population becomes
more dense, interests more varied, and terrific
ry more extended! Those iron iilamen,s, the
rail roads, which bind SO many States into
close communion, should be as rapidly extend
ed 10 still distant and rude portions OF our land
as our resources will allow, so that the inhab-
itants of these may also receive the refining in
fluences which accompany an increasing and
improving population.
Tho importance Of making tho mails so
cheap channel for the conveyance of inteIli-
gence as to be within the reach of all, has al
ready and will continue 10 excite attention.
There are needful reforms in the adminslra-
ton Of the Post Office Department, which tho
people will demsad and they will be made.
Tho abuses that exist in the other branch Of
our subject demand much moro an effort at re-
orm. II would not be within tho scope of
this article to speak of the manifold and fearful
perversions tina, prevail in the management of
the Press Of this country. II has equal pow
or for gaod as for evil. Its commanding innu-
ence say BIO tersely and appropriately desert
bed in the words Of Cowper:
How shall speak thee or thy power address,
Thou god Of our dolatry, he Pressl
Exers their influence, ond advance their cause.
by thee worse plaques than Pharoah's land bcfel,
Difus'd make earth the yesiibulc OF hell;
Thou fountain, at which drink the good and wise,
Thou ever bubbling spring of endless lies;
Like Eden's dread probationary tree,
Knowledge of good and evil is from thee.
The history Of the world and proper faith.
both teach Us tha, the good and the true will
eventually overcome the bad and false, ia this,
as 10 all other things. Bot il makes as no less
for what we may do to pro,ract
this desirable contamination. Every man has
il 10 his power TO do much towards the corec.
lion Of thes evils, with which this great good !
is leavened. The RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the press
indicates like quality to be ministercd TO in |
tho community. Were all men moral there
would be no support for any bu. moral news-
papers. Let every man determine that he will
resolutely uplih his voice and exert bic infn-
ence 10 prevent the circulation OF any print that
desecrates its high duties, and the first and
most important step towards this most press
ing and needful reform will have been made.
We might sptly finish what we have here said /
with an exhorta,ion TO newspaper proprieiors
and editors 10 have more respect for their CALI I
ing than TO misuse il as they do too often but ,
we have exceeded our limits, and il 10. after
all, from the public iiself that this amendment
must come. So long as thoy pay well for
false wit, brutal humor. and indi- I
vidual abuse, so long will ihesopply continue.
Better days are coming however. The best
minds Of the country have directed their at.
leniion 10 this mstter. and much is being said
and written about it that is rapidly having It's
effect.