The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-27
7I5

necessary. What fertility Of conception should
there be 10 furnish every day sources OF amuse-
ment--what extensive reading, To give every dav
| new stores Of informaton--what labor in revising
what Judgment in seecting--what knowledge of
the heart and what mastery Of language 10 stife the
voice Of prejudice and passion, and arouse into ac-
| ton the nobler impulses Of the soul
such reflections awaken IN US painful sense of
our deficiencies; but they are salutary reflections.
II Is well for the conductors of newspapers to know
their defects II is well that they should have an
ideal OF excellence before them. Let every editor
subject himself, now and then, to a catechism like
THIS; The stability of our government depends
upon the character OF our people. Has my infu-
ence been used to improve debase that character
Have ever Willingly issued, good coin, errors in
fact, or sophistres IN Argument, The Union is en-
dangcred by sectional anmosties these been
encouraged by my means' Have admitted into my
paper aught that would foster prejudice or enkindle
passion, that would array section against section, or
State against State Obedience TO law is essential To
social peace. Have my columns ever favored illegal
violence, or encouraged disrespect for constituted au
thorites In war, the national honor is concerned ina
jealous and unanimous support OF government. Has
the tone OF my journal ever emboldened the enemy?
Newspaper squabbles pander to the worst tastes Of
the public Was my paper ever opened to a war
OF opprobrious ephetsi Has the dgnifed courte-
sy OF the editor ever yielded in my columns, to the
angry feelings OF the MANI Or have |, in all in
stances, endeavored 10 enlighten the public mind
and improve the public iastc-to arouse a spirit of
Cancellation, and weaken the dominion of prejudice!
Have in all instances, upheld the cause Of law
and order' Have ever defended the honor Of my
country, and supported, in my paper the dignity Of
the press" II is in no carping spirit, and with no
invldIous references, that we venture to suggest
such catechism to our brother. editors throughout
the Union. Upon ourselves, it bears as severely,
perhaps, as does upon others. But we are compel-
ed TO speak by our earnest conviction that in many
respects, reformation is needed in the newspaper
press of our country. Our remarks will be re-
ceved, we trust, in the spirit which has prompted
their uterance. Let them not be hastily dismissed
from the mind. IL the character ofthe press is ever
to improve, it is time for that Improvement to COM
mcnce. The war with Mexico may enlarge in its
sphere. There are explosive elements in our midst
There are exciting questions unsettled abroad. We
have been long time quiet. But peace of thirty
years is about to be interrupted; and storm may
be now gathering, proportionate in violence to the
stiffness which has preceded it. If this storm can
not be avertcd is for the press to mitigate its hor-
rors when i comes External aggression need not
be feared, if it receive no support in the bosom Of
our soil; and 1t must be the province of the press to
shhe, in their birth, the germs of civil connection
and servlle instruction, to kindlc throughout the
land the fire Of sef-sacri6cing patriotism, and to
prepare the people, 'with one mind and one heart
firmly to resist every invasion of American rights