New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-13
THE Press.

other newspapers in the city, for havins published 's
statements.
The Press.
The remarks in DR.. Dewey's lecture the othcl
evening on the Press-according as they DO with
sentiments so often expressed by others-have leo
as to inquire into their Justice. The Press IN TINS
country rests on an entirely different basis from
that of any other country on the globe We publish
more papers also than all the world beside. Ge-
noa withits 100 900 inhabitants, has but two SEMI
weeklies about the size OF our smallest penny pa
pers. Naples, with the population of New ork'
publishes the same number with Genoa. france
has larger number-and yet what traction
thev make compared with the number issued IN
the United States The proportion IS little
greater in England; but yet very smaH proper
ton compared to ours. That amid such vast
number MANY worthless ones should be found is
not strange. But the low scurrilous sheets issued
in London are not reckoned as a part OF the press
when speaking in general terms OF 1t. Inc Lon
don Times would quite resent the attnty traVe-
Ter should establish between 1t and the LONDON
Pinch. While with us every thing that appears
in the shape Of paper, 40 matter what It's Prln-
ciples OF reputation is put in TO form the charac
ter Of the press, aad good and bad-pure and
impure, arc huddled together, and sort OF
average made of the whole, which average
Is then applied to each particular journal NOW
we venture to say there is no nation IN the Worio
that publishes so many papers that are free from
objection, on the score of morality and integrity
as the United States and instead OF thelr oeihg
conducted in the language of Biingsgate or on
the PRINCIPLES of the cock pit, they both seek and
secure the best interests of the country There is
a wide difference, and easily dlstngulshaole' De-
tween the journals of the day; and we protest
AGAINST the companionship they are made to sus
tain. We do not claim lmmaculateness ior
them, nor defend the great evils that exist; but
We ask for proper discrimination 1t Is
fhankless business to strive TO steer clear OF er-
ror. and then be cassed with those who steer
directly into it. Here are two opapers: one hunts
IN every crime or tale of horror that IS calculated
to feed our worst passions, and selzes 1t as SO
much capital invested in the paper; the other
shuns all those violations of good taste and sounc
one makes jestof every thing noble
and worthy, if it can. only make readable para
GRAPH the other treats earnest things in an earn
nest wav: one seeks no end but selfinterest, at
whatever sacrifice of morality; the other ldenli-
fes itself with the great questions OF the nation
and the interests of humanity; one is destitute
of talent the other possesses 1t, and yet our 'ea-
sonable men put them in the same category and
botr
title our press and dismiss them both This
is unjust
There is doubtless asperlty of feeling often ex-
hibited in the fierce clash Of political opinions
and severity of language often used by our better
Journals that cannot be justified, and which rightly
expose us to censure Yet in this better class per-
sonal abuse of each ether is seldom found, and
discussions are carried on with quite as much
courtesy as in many of our religious journals
We would like to say word on the problem; en-
tire freedom Of the press in this country is to
work out. The violent exctements among the
people, and frequent disorders that occur are eS-
planned on the ground that man is working his
way from former darkness into light, and through
chaos of some sort the path must lead, and the
mantle Of philosophy if not Of charity is thrown
over them. From deeper degradation to
higher position the press is to pass. Freed from
the shackles of centuries, 1t shonld not surprise
any one if it did throw abroad its recovered
arms at first little too reckessly We should
like to show how natural this transition state
Is, and by what means it will vet adjust IT.
self, but we have not now time or room. But
,oiit say that one means is, for those who con-
troll public opinion to cease at once classing all our
papers together and make the distinction that real
ly exists. The cowardce exhibited on this subject
by those very persons that complain the loudest,
comports very poorly with their principles. Let
that portion of the press which addresses itself 10
the higher objects of life, and seeks TO guard
with what ability it possesses the best interests OF
morality and truth be set apart by those who now
would make us ali one common brotherhood; and
twill soon constitutes the press OF the nation.
A journal devoted to the higher purposes OF
criticism and literature and the rendering OF strict
justice to authors independent of favor would also
aud much toward this object.
u gentleman has suggested TO rs, that the
quotation from DIR. Chanting in our article on an
international Copy right Law yesterday,migh
be taken as If we We're willing }that foreign Ma
tons should do our spinning any weaving, If we
were only allowed to Go our own thinking We
do not think it possible a man who has sense
enough to see the argument at all, could lal
into such a stupid error. He would be tftera
lis, ;ndeed--one who had rare faculty to un-
derstand the power of words, without compre.
hending the scope of thought, The whole artl