The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-08-14

1 Tue Pass OF AMERICA.-We make the fol
lowing eloquent and truthful extracts from the
Grafton recently pronounced by Hon Robt. G.
| Winthrop, before the " Association Of Alumni
of Harvard College,:
| And then, the press of America--the periodi-
cal press, the pamphlet press, the light literature
press, and above all, the newspaper press OF
Amerlca-tbat tremendous enginery which
throws fresh broadside at morning gnd noon,
day and evening, beneath almost ever ROOF in
the Republic, and whose competitions 60 often
betray il into fatal complances with the preiu-
dlces, the PASSIONS and even the profIgacies OF
its supporters. Who can estimate tn, influence
of such an enginery upon our social and moral
condition? Who can calculate the Dernicioue
effect upon the community Of single corrupt,
licentious newspaper coming ISLANDERS like II
mint, changing phases like the moon, "with 365
opinions in year" upon every subject which il
treats, splicing its daily and its nightly poiions
with every variety OF obscene and SENSUAL stimu.
liant, controlled by no sense of responsibility,
finding its easy way to the knowledge and peru.
sal OF the young, the ignorant, and the inexperi
enced, and mnistering and panderng to their
diseased tastes and depraved appelites? And
who can calculate, on the other hand the inhu.
ence which might be produced--nay, LEI me say.
which is produced, for have in my mind i thank
Heaven more than one examPle--by such an
engine, IN the hands of upright, intelligent, in.
dependent, and conscientious men-eapousinp
and advocating neither ultraism nor criticisms.
neither a wild fanaticsm nor bigoted conser
vatism-~with The fear of God before their ewes.
with the love of truth in their hearts, and by
whom the advancement Of knowledge, of NOR
urrsJs tIs.rrv
not held subordinate to the popularity of the
hour, or to the state Of the subscription list.
The present accomplished and eloquent prime
minister of England, who has been personally
known and esteemed by so many Of us in this
country as well as his own, has recently de-
clared somewhat emphaticGly, on the floor OF
Parliament, that "as in these days the English
press aspires to sshare the influence of states
men, so also u must share the responsibilities of
statesmen" 1t would be more true in this
country, fear, to speak of statesmen aspiring
TO share The influence Of The press. But, how,
ever IT may be as TO the point of relative aspira.
ton, there can be little question as to that Of
comparative responsibility Certainly, if re-
sPonsibility is to be measured by power, the
responsibility of the press is greater than that
Of any statesman under the5sun, however ex-
allied he nay be. WhoAhss forgotten that
splendid exclamation of anothersgreat English
minister and orator, in 1910, when he ehal
lenged aud dehed all the authorities of the
realm to contend against the power of the press?
"GiVe them, said he, "a corrupt House of
Lords; give them a verna1 House of Commons:
give them n tyrannica prince; give them truck
ling COURT and let me but have an untettered
press-I will defy them TO ercroach a hairs
breadth upon the liberties of England" Yes,
an unfettered press is match, and an over
match, for aln,&t anything human. Neither
tyranny nor A1doin can stand against It,
Neither corrupSA nor virtue can survive its
systematic and evering assaults 1t may be
rendered all obnt khipotent for evil it may be
rendered all ARK hnipotent for good accord
ing to the endslto which it is directed, and the
influence by which it is controlled And the
only reliable, earthly Influence to which we can
took for safety, is sense of responsibility, |
moral and religious responsibility, on the part
of its controlierr