Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-01-20
IYDEpENDENT NEWSPAPERS.

interests of community? Every Government
comprises sovereign power. the disposition
of which decides the denomination of the
Government. Every style Of Government
possesses vehicles Of intelligence adapted TO
the kind and quantity Of information to be con-
veyed. One prohibits the discussion Of sab-
jects pertaining TO the science of governing
another allows such discussion but restricts it
by prescribed limits-a third admits TO the Ut
most scope TO popular discussion, and depends
for lis existence upon the genera. and thorough
dissemination Of intelligence. Newspapers
are the most convenient and ready means of
spreading this intelligence and consequently
when doing so they are acting, IN this country,
within their proper and legitimate sphere.
This is doubtless correct theory, bot has not
its application, for more than half century
shown, that though productive Of much good,
it is also productive of serious injuries! The
principles Of our Government cannot longer be
styled an experiment; and although any relax
alton Of popular vigilance would be to some
extent betrayal of the high trust with which
the people are charged, still the moral and So
cial good Of community have high claims upon
the attention and efforts Of the press and should
not be overlooked in the struggle after politi
cal truth or political ascendancy. Legislation
may lay the foundation Of society, but the
material and style Of the supers tructure is de-
rived from sources which Legislation cannot
enhance, but which il often seriously prejudi-
ces. The newspapers which point out these
sources. and which guard TIE community a.
gainst useless innovations and experiments, are
al east occupying highly useful province.
Newspapers have sprung up like knights in
the time Of the Crusades. until they are able
TO WELD more actual force than any of those
mighty armaments which, wave after wave
inundated the Holy Land. Through this me-
dun our cities breathe forth daily volumes of
intelligence which is taken up by the mails
and carried with rapidity 10 the farthest ex-
,remes Of the Union. so that mere whisper
resounds from side 10 side Of this immense
empire; and no hamlet is so remote, no family
so obscure and no frontier so far west, as to be
out of its reverberaiing sound. In the stretch
Of Western emigration the Garrison and the
Press-the enc designed 10 insure the peace
and the other to promote the welfare and guard
the liberties Of the emigrant- have been al
most Simultaneous in their arrival. If out Of
this multitude Of newspapers three-fourths
wero devoted to proper objects for the appIica-
rion Of industry-to education, agriculture,
manufacturing and commerce we thoroughly
believe that these several objects. wilhou! the
cost of an additional cent to the community,
would severaly be placed upon more pros
porous basis and without at all endangering
that watchfulness upon which the perpetuity
Of our liberties depend, The mass eff commu-
nifty have so long fed upon the froihy and spi.
ced erusions Of political writers, that it is be-
coAing cloyed and Disguised Of this kind OF
excitement. No one will deny that nearly all
Of the scurriliiy and low, personal abuse which
so frequently meets the revolving eye of the
reader, originates in the discussion of ques.
lions pertaining to some political game, which,
in all probability those same papers startled.
And it is equally eviden, that the community
is losing lis taste for this species Of startling
and that it is daily intoxicating
stern desire for something more closely con.
nec,ed wish reality and themselves. In COM
muniiy like ours, whose interests are strug.
Cling TO find their proper level and direction,
with silent representation in the National
Legislature, AID Territorial Legislature, that,
if experience is worth any thing. is only pro-
duciise Of good ,riea silent, the papable fol-
ly of practising upon party tactics unless it
be upon the principle "lhat in peace we should
prepare for war;" is so nearly self evident as
to render demonstration a burlesque. If half
the smaller papers, now cringingly devoted to
men and party, would avail themselves of me
manifested in the presen, taste of
community, and declare their complete indie.
peadence Of both, IeSerying 10 themselves the
right Of honest praise and censure, we firmly
believe that the benefits Of The change would
be acknowledged, not only By the Increased
of the best interests Of society. but
IN the diminu'ion OF party violence and the
promotion Of political candor aud integrity.
Tax LSAn TRADE.-A statistical statement
Of the amount Of Lead produced by The Upper
Mines, compared with that Of The
two preceding years, will be found in another
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