Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-08-07
MISCELLANEOUS.

lity oflh Press drove nearly all !he best
men Of the country from entering ORE
naming in public life. The degree Of
.degeueracy Of the Political Press since the
days Of Mr.. Jefferson it would be difficult
to estimate. Where is the fault ? What is
the source of the evil! Is il in the Press
itself! Is /, the character of its couduc-
tors? Or is It in an unhealthy lone of
public sentiments That The vices
are 10 be traced TO all these causes OF COT
ruption, cannot admit ofdenial, Its in
creasing virulence appears to be The re-
action vi that diseased condition oi public
taste 10 which j. impar,s lis own spirit and
from which il receives its lone. 1t IS inl-
possibi 10 suppose lis conductors would
furnish daily doses Of scurrillty to, those
who are It's patrons, unless they were rel
ishcd Tor their piquaucy.-ll is hconcelv-
able that the Newspapers, winch can only
exist by tho public brealh--wiIich nave II"
element oil lille but in public opInlon-
could coutinue, increasingly, 10 discourage
any quantity OF enyenomed personalities,
luciess there was craving want Tor this
species OF meutal ailnenl. a diseased
couditiou Oft public taste IS, therefore,
the most active cause.-the largest source
-of the violence and virulrnce ol the
New spaper Press. The supply Is conse-
oueutly commensurate win me want OF
- ss,ba1 description Of talent, iiIalent II can be
.,Iled-,hat most eliectually ministers to
,h;s morbid intellectual appetite. lhat
This NAV be again traced 10 be frequency
an,l violence oil our parry contest "dn'i's
IS ss i,rle denial az the lac, i'seIl. that our
Poliucal press IS the most ilcenllonS iu
the world, IS indlspulaoie'
I /, NAV be said that lhIs description ap-
,,;es 10 the party newspapers. Where
can any other party journals be iound
,.;Ihin ihe limits OF The United STATES
rrhe exception are 50 rare 'lal tney pre-
serve a, :nost sickly and precarious Gals
,snce. AS our political contests have De-
oa,,a more euveuOned, loo iaiihiuiiy re-
na.,,ng ,he character ol lnose contests. IL
,nns,' S. the true Image OF party opiuion u.
par,y Gespolism or cease to eA's'. M"
presses arc stained that VIII not oueJ
,he hehests OF party-no Editor Is toieta'
,ed unless he submits to It's discipline,
more M &c no deficiency OF conductors vi tue
;,roes RESPONSIVE 10 all party Requirements
pI,Ilv sympalnlzips With 'iie must en-
uttered party feeiinss-.:who asSfara'e The
Reals Of partizan hostility anu give supe.
.addsd @ force 10 the hab,tol political ,itu-
nsra,ion. Thus by the action aud re-ac-
i;tn of narly on the press aud The press on
..s.,, .su ,he land is filled with daily dla-
fa,.J ,,;th,hat coarse literature WHICH
consists in s.ringlng together abusive
: en;,he,ss of ludicrous conolnation-witli
pnnning on uames-wits' polspan! pr'so-
pai;,;es 2.lhal manly cnaraclenze Journal
len, in The United States.
''No;y il may be said that the Political
Press might be improved II educated men,
of refinement Of manners were placed at
;,s head. But lhe same warfare OF sour :,
r;I;,v ina, drives statesmen, combining
ah;G,v @ with dclicacy OF sentiment, from
,hs nvhlic councils, prevents those most
~ =. nahie. from euucallon aud habit, having
ann agency in the management OF lne
Press. They lack the moral courage 10
undertake SO perilous reform. The IN
sa,ia,e wants OF the public are also an I'M
nedimeut to improvement IN The charac.
~ If AMERICAN Journalism. The num-.
her of napers make il impossible 10 recruit
the, corus of Editors, insufficient numbers,
from The bes, instructed classes Of Ameri-
can society. In England, the learned
and liberal profession amply supply this
wanl.-ln France, her leading statesmen
are writers for her Journals. In The Uni.
led States we have no similar sources Of
supply. We have flel back on village
LAWYERS and disappointed demasogues,
when our pressing wants are suPplied.-
Charleston Patriot. fsae5.. 5....i