The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-07
American Journ alism- Position and Olrou
latAon az lne New York Herald.

American Journ aiism- Position and Oirou.
latAon ar lne New York Herald.
The progress, character, and prospects OF jour
nalism in the United States, present a subject
emiDt ntly worthy the attentive study OF the phi
loscph+r, patriot, and Christian. Never. until
these times, and In this land, has the experiment
OF perfectly free and unietered press been fully
tired. The results, thus far, before the world;
and NO man can deny that the Influence exercised
by this great sgrIcy OF intelligence and opinion
has been highly subseIvient to the interests OF
truth, liberty, and virtue. point has now been
reached in the progress of The American newspape
prees, which just,hes brief review OF the past
and glance 1T the future.
UNIQUE stIOnsby, 1t 10 TO the establishment of the
independent press IN the large cities, about four
teen years ago, that we must trace the origin Of
that spirit Of energy, impatial,ty, and enterprise
which inspired new and more vigorous vitality
into journalism IN America. Previous to that
epoch. the commercial and party newspapers were
ieebly conducted, and had, INDEED, made but little
advancement beyond the uninhuentlal gazettes,
such as Thomas's Msssoehusstts Soy, aud other
little sheets, published towards the close OF the
last century. few scraps Of stale, foreign and
tant procet dDgs IN Congress and occasionally
full r. port OF murder, with long essays morals
and political economy, by ''Scrutator" "Pubcus,"
&" Jusiatia," and other eminent anonymous scrib.
bIere constituted the staple of these old fashioned,
iDdolent, strictly viruous, and highly respectable
ne wspapers. The rapid growth of the chief cities
of the Unon-o New York in paricuar-and
their progress in intelligence, refinement and
high cultivation, soon demanded q species OF
iour sl,sm more consonant with the spirit aud
progress of tho age; and the cheap indepen-
dent prees was established. Its success ma
turally followed News from all quarters was
collected with great industry and tact--the to-
pcs OF the day were handled with more or
less sb,llty--apd the American public were fur
p,ebed for the first time with energetic, enter
pr,spg, and reliable ne wspaper press The circu-
lation of the new journals increased with extraor-
binary rapidly. No longer confined to the rich,
the newspaper press began to dIffuss itself among
the masses of the people The privileged classes =
the pol,uoans--the purse-proud merchandising
stock br-krrs-a all who feared the honest light of
day, began TO be alarmed; and the old sixpennyjeur
nails united in fierce suIcry against the new species
OF journal,sm, which had the impudence to speak
out the truth all subjects, in the name OF justice
and the people The result OF this conflict is well
known. In New York, IN Philadelphia, In Baltl
more, in Boston, IN New Orleans, the free, popu.
lar press now VIE Ids an influence which irreslsti-
bic, and which has produced most salutary effect
on tie entire journalism Of the country.
From the first stsp in Its career, the N'w York
He,od epdeavored to attain a more comprehensive
and elevated ground than that assumed by Its CO.
a ,ha nd der pros
be something more than mere local newspaper.
The aim of the proprietor was to give to his jour
nal a national character. Hence his continual ex-
pepditures in order to enlarge and carry out his
original design How far he has succeeded IN Gre
at,rg a newspaper establishment worthy Of the
patronage OF the American people, and adapted to
the necessiues and character of the age, is pro-
blem which may be safely left to the decision of
the rublic, nj home and abroad
Without the slightest inclination to depreciate
the merits of any other journal In the country, or
J~rsct from its influence, we are, we believe,
fully justified IN stating that no other newspaper
In the United States enjoys a circulation at once
so large and so dlfusive as the Ne~ York Herald,
and nleo, that, accurate and impartial vehicle
OF intelligence, it possesses, in the highest degree,
the public confidence. When state that this
Journal may be regularly found in every city, town,
village, hamlet, district, and section OF the United
States, we make assertion obviously suscep-
tible Of the closest scrutiny, and on which no one
would venture without the fullest authority The
H,oid Is, IN fact, universally difused throughout
the United States, and IN this respect its circu-
1aton 10 of peculiar character. Abroad, our CIR
cuIstion Is extensive, and diffnsed CORES
pending rato We seRd more copies OF our jour-
nal 10 Europe than are sent OF all the other news
pepers ia the Unt-d States.
The Hsroid establishment Is now in state of
the beet possible organization, both as respects its
Intellectual ano me ch ancal me and capabilities.
Our numerous corps OF editors and reporters is
ccmpoeed OF gentlemen experienced IN tho useful
discharge OF their dui,es. The machinery, presses,
and oil necessary mechanical means and appliances,
are AZ perfect at modern art can make them. We
have every facility for the publication OF an i'm
mense COTTON In the shortest time. All this eff
cient organization has involved vast outlay OF
money, and been the result Of great experience
and practical skill.
We shall ne xt week commence printing our
journal In entirely new and beautiful fonts of
type, from the foundry Of James Conner e. Son. The
experiment OF the Double Sheet has thus far fully
anewesed our expectations. We direct the atten-
tion OF advertisers to the extraordinary induce
ments which our journal offers to them. Already
the new system is bringing in largely augmented
sdve rising patronage. The universal publicity
which our journal lives to all advertisements in
serted 10 its columns, 10 q notorious fact. Our
terms are liberal, and every proper attention will
be paid TO the wishes of thoss who extend their
patronage.
Let advertisers weigh the facts which we have
presented. Hitherto 1t was impossible for US to
comply with their desires, and at the same time do
'nc justice which we have always melted out to
oar readers. Now, we can attain both objects.
SUPPOSED sl.AvER.-The brig Susan, Capt. Wal
lord, ct New York, sailed from Rio Janeiro on
he kehr h.,,,n