Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-11-13
LOU DON.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1852.

TIE PreSS.-The press seldom gets due cred
It for its great and universal uses and services.
Abuse, 1t receives in abundance, from the impe-
rial despot who breads the power of its free
voice, down to the pettifogging lawyer and his
swindling client, who equally dread its honest
exposures of their villainy. A free, or partial
ly free press, does an amount Of good to the hu-
man race which cannot be fully estimated. In
this country, for instance, the press daily opens
the path to fortune and fame to thousands, not
one, perhaps, of whom will ever evince spark
of gratitude. On the contrary nine out of ten
thus served will be found in their after career,
inveighing bitterly against the freedom of the
press All are very anxious to use it as a ser
want, but when it declares its independence and
becomes the censor of their acts, most men fear
and hate it.
But let us glance at some of the great things
which the press does for the country and the
world. 1t fosters every great and useful enter;
prise. Is canal to be dug, q railroad construc.
ted, or a steamship line established, it is the press
which shows their practicability inspires hope
and confidence, and creates the public spirit to
sustain them. Yet what return gets the Press?
When the railroad is completed and the infor-
nation shed abroad by the Press is creating i'm
mense patronage, and the Directors are accu-
mulating wealth by thousands, they will grudge
yea, refuse, to pay as much for and advertise
ment as is the cost of the paper which it would
occupy So of steamship or steamboat lines,
which would never have existed but for the ur-
gent arguments of the Press. The managers
expect that their ships viii be praised, the claims
of the Line on the country advocated, and their
interests advanced to the extent of hundreds of
thousands of dollars all gratuitously, and their
very advertisements published at mere nomin- |
al rate. And we might exteIlu s-srO..s
into every department of business.
Not single issue of paper of auy circula- !
ton or influence, but adds to the wealth of some
body; suggests some new and profitable enter
prise; or creates increased patronage for enter
prise not new Rut the man who has suggested
to his mind by the newspaper article or para
graph means or mode by which he may i'm
prove his circumstances, is seldom grateful If
friend or neighbor visited him personally, and
told him what he reads in the newspapers, he
would regard him as his benefactor; but he has
bought the paper for a cent or two, and he feels
no further Indebtedness.
The ambitious politician rises, through the
agency of the Press, to place, power and fortune;
but how often is he found to be its most violent
denouncer He will not vote for a law securing
its greatness. Lest the revenue, squandered by
other votes, may suffer in the least, he Will not
support any measure which would allow newspa-
pers to pass though the mails free of postage.
And we might travel over the whole world of
political, commercial and social progress, to show
what the Press has done and is doing, for asso-
Citations and individuals who will not unfrequent
ly affect contempt for the great agency origina-
ting, sustaining and promoting their enterprise.
-NelC- York Sun.