The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-12-11
Truth and Dignity of the Press

No other country in the world is so much in
fuenced by the newspaper press as is the
United States, and no newspaper press in the
world can be compared with that of the United
States for the zeal with which intelligence is
collected, and the rapidity with which it is dis
seminated. But there is one fault in the Ame-
rican press, which attaches to the press of no
other country, growing out of this very zeal
and anxiety to lay any extraordinary intelli-
gence before the community at the earliest pos
sible moment. And that is, the lack of rellabil-
ity which there often is as to the accuracy of
such intelligence. Considering the dignity,
good sense, general intelligence, and practical
caution of the people of this country it is rather
surprising that they should be so easily imposed
on by false intelligence on important subjects
and that the inordinate desire for the Z" latest
news" should be satisfied by every item headed
" Telegraphic Dispatches" OF course, where
the readers manifest such an impatence to get
hold of the latest intelligence editors feel them
selves bound to put the public in immediate
possession of every communication which may
come to hand; and in their very laudable de-
sire to be ahead of all competitors they cannot
be sufficiently discriminating between the
sources of information to enable their readers
to place implicit confidence in all their state.
ments.
There is probably no more fruitful source Ct
fictitious and mistaken intelligence than the
magnetic telegraph. Telegraphic news, rs every
reader OF newspaper knows, is entirely ano-
nymous. dispatch comes over the wires. and
is Immediately printed as 60 telegraplic news :"
but it is entirely unauthenticated to the public.
Whenever an engine can be made an instrument
Of abuse so easily as the telegraph can, there
are always to be found persons depravcd enough
to take advantage of such an opportunity, how
ever serious the consequences We think that
editors of newspapers cannot be too careful in
examining the authority on which all such
communications are sent. At any rate, they
should have enough confidence in the source
from whence they come to be willing to risk
their own character with the public upon the
truth of them.
Another very prolific cause of erroneous in
telligence, is the habit which many papers have
of printing letters from unknown writer's in
distant sections of our own country or in foreign
without taking sufficient pains to as.
certain whether the writer is a reliable person.
Many newspapers have regular correspondents
In different parts of the world who are paid for
collecting and communicating important intel.
ligence. Although their names may not be
known to the public, yet from the fact of being
'hus employed, their general probity and vera
'lty is understood to be vouched for by their
employers This, Of course, is all very we'll, as
ong as the editor is willing to shoulder the
responsibility. But there are some papers,
which if letter is sent to them, no matter how
questionable the authority on which the state
ncnt of facts is made, it is Immediately spread
'efore the public, under the heading, From