The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-03

pence, a journal which has already attained a
reputation nearly equal to that of the Times, and
a circulation far beyond it. The other old
journals are diminishing yearly, and some of
them will soon disappear altogether. AS soon
as the taxes on the London journals shall have
been removed, we will see as great an increase
IN their number aud circulation as we now see
In Paris or New York
The Journalism of Paris more resembles the
system OF New York than the London journal
Ism does; and accordingly II reaches nearer TO
the amount of our circulation here About ten
or eleven years ago a similar reduction IN the
price of newspapers took place in Paris, which
was commenced in New York by the proprietor
of the Herald and some other papers The con-
| sequence has been a vast increase CT circulation
in the cheap journals; while the Journal des De-
bats, which continues at the old price, and on
the old system, has been diminishing much, of
late years, and is now entirely upheld by govern
ment patronage AS soon change of dynas.
ty takes place, that journal will disappear, and
another one. or the cheap principle, will sue
coed it.
The journals of New York speak for them
selves. They exhibit higher aggregate circu-
lstlon than that of either the London or Paris
press, bclhS ilOIt IIldH uOuOlc THAT VI tue LUZ
don, and fifth or onesixth over the agsre-
gate circulation of the Paris papers. We have
also included in these statements the population
OF the different cities, and also that of the diffe
rent countries. 1t will be seen that journalism
iourishes, in proportion to population, to a
much greater extent in this free land, than il
does IN either France or England. In this esti-
mate we only include the newspapers in the ca
pital of each country. If We were to give the
details of the provincial press of each, the dis
parity would appear even greater in favor of the
United States, and against France and England.
The whole provincial press of Great Britain
consists of little over two hundred journals
that OF France a little over three hundred; while
the provincial press of the United States CON-
prises probably more than two thousand jour
nails. In fact, we believe that, from the era of
Faust, and the escape of the new devils which
he let loose by his discovery of the art of print
ing, to the present day, no country can exceed
the United States in its number of Intellectual
and reading people, as may be proved by the
vast extent of its newspaper press.
In this country, however, the newspapers of
New York have by no means, the same influence
over the country at large, as that which the
London journals exercise over England, or the
press OF Paris over France. This may arise
from the little squabbles, the mean jealousies,
the personal rows, and other disreputable char
acterlstics which have marked too much the
journalism of the United States.
We believe, however, that better and bright
er day is dawning over us. The newspaper
press of the United States, like that of London
and Paris, is going through remarkable revo-
luton and m IF he al not yct
IN each of those cities, conducted on the old sys-
tenn, Will entirely disappear after the lapse OF
ten or twenty years. In New York, most of the
newspaper proprietors, heretofore, have gene
rally been engaged in other speculations, which
have Withdrawn the activity of their minds and
the enterprise of their genius from their news
paper establishments. This has caused the rise
and fall of so many newspapers in New York
Some proprletors and editors have speculated in
stocks, instead of attending to their newspaper
affairs ; others h ave become presidents of banks;
lssuers of paper money; and thus have neglected
the most important point OF a newspaper esta-
bshment, and given their attention to some out
side business. Some have been immersed IN poll
tics SO deeply that they continually overlooked
the general interest of the journals committed to
their charge Ia fact, mo newspaper establishment,
in any part of the world, can ever succeed
unless there is some powerful, energetic, ORR
ginal, determined, concentrated mind, conduct
ing all its operations to one purpose, devisibg
new enterprises, and keeping ahead of tn pub
lie mind in all public affairs A newspaper es-
Enlistment is more an intellectual operation
than a mere matter of dollars and cents Capt.
tall without brains, never can establish a Jour-
nal of any eminence. Attempts have frequent
ly been made in London, Paris and New York;
and they have universally failed.
In another poin; of view the journals of the
great cities among these three great nations, are
political power-a fourth estate of the realm,
or the republicans the case may be-a central
point of thought, which becomes part of the
constitution and government of the particular
country in which il is located. London, through
its mighty press, governs the whole British
mind, from Canada to Hindostan. Paris, through
it's multitudinous journals, regulates the in
tellect of all France, and we may say, of
the whole continent New York is fast
attaining to the same dignity, and the
same point of power, by its press-a press that
will be yet greater, and mightier, and freer
than any which any other country can exhibit.
The city of Washington is but one of its suburbs
Congress is but one element of the government,
and the President himself nothing but the exc
cutive agent of those measures which are first
originated in the metropolitan press of great
people, and which gradually assume form by
discussion throughout the republic. Instead of
squabbling and quarreling about trfes, news
paper proprietors, journalists and reporters,
ought to understand the dignity of their posi-
ton, and the pride of their profession. They
should unite together in the one great purpose
for which they are placed here by Providence,
viz the regeneration of the new world They
should direct all their energy, their whole mind,
and all their strength, to that great and gradual
revolution which is before them, and which they
and their successors have to work out in the
progress of future ages. Do, do, do.