The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-15
RICHMOND. VA !:

RICHMOND. VAT
Thsrsday Morning, April 10, 1852.
THE ENTERPRISE OF JOURNALISM.
Within few years there has been great re-
volation in journalism, producing as marked a
change as has been wrought 10 science, in phi
losophy or in government. Formerly the
newspaper was luxury confined to the few.
Flow. 4 has become a necessary for the many.
Then i was sought for merely to supply such
intelligence as pertained to the weightier af-
fairs Of life, to present the phases of party and
the latest movements in the matters Of Suite
Nov, the morning paper is laid upon the break
fast table
AT the accustomed hour of eggs and toast
to furnish the subscriber with the entire his
tory of human progress during the four and
twenty hours that have just elapsed. Once up.
on time, too, the gazette was not altogether a
trile as regards the cost of subscription. Now,
the very hest chronicles ofnews may be obtain
ed for mere bagatelIe; 2 or 8 centsin the larger
cities of this country being the outside charge
percopy. la England, it is somewhat differ
ent. Unjust be remarked, however, that in
London for every reader who purchases a pa
per at FIRST cost, there are ten who have it sup.
piled atsecond cost. Thus the Times, which
every body knows is the most remarkable jour
nal OF the age, is sold to the first purchaser at
1--WE pence tequal to about ten cents) but pass.
ing from his hands il is read by others at three
pence, two pence, and at last penny. dimin-
ishing in price with the time Of day, as the af-
ternoon approaches.
We have been led to make these remarks by
q recent article in the New York Tribune, de-
veloping the resources and prospects of that
extraordinary paper at this time. 1t has just
reached its eleventh birthday, and appears in
new and elegant holiday dress, appropriate
to such an anniversary. A single glance at
the statistics given will show as how immense
has been its success, and how large is the in
fuence ii exerts. The daily circulation of the
Tribune is stated to be 19,680-the semi-week-
ly 1850, and the weekly $500, besides 1850
printed expressly for transmission to Califor.
mia. For the quarter ending with the first of
April of this year its receipts for advertising
alone were $780, 1872, while the total receipts
for the same time amounted to the enormous
sum Of $75,657.
How, the astonished reader will be apt to
ask, has this tremendous degree of prosperity
been attained? The question is certainly a
pertinent one. The principal owner and direct
or of the whole concern is Horace Greeley-a
name associated forever with all that is false in
philosophy, dangerous in doctrine, and bad in
morals. He is the most furious of abolition
lists. He is the most levelling of socialists
He is the most noisy of agitators. Surely.
one would think, there are not enough of NAL.
contents in the metropolitan city of America
to keep up journal under the editorial super
vision oil such man as this. But let those who
think so, be informed that the doctrines taught
by the Tribune have nothing whatever to do
with its prosperity. There are probably 1000
men in New York, and these among The very
best citizens, who would continue 10 take the
Tribune, if Greeley should advocate openly the
abolition of marriage or the introduction
among US Of the Car Of Juggernaut. The pa
Per has become just as indispensable to these
1000 men, by reason ofits commercial articles
as their ledgers or their day.books. And this
suggests the true secret of the vast success o
the Tribune. Ii has become SO great, because
Greeley has made tito all inients andpurposes
q newspaper, in the truest sense of that term
in which the reader will be sure to find rela
bic compendium of The latest intelligence or
all possible subjects. and has fixed its price al
sum so low that ii is within the reach of all
classes. BY division of labor, he is enabled 10
accomplish what would be absolutely impos.
sible without it. And, he has, ais, DIN this man.
ner, acquired vast deal of credit for ability
which properly belongs to his associate editors.
There is one man for the heavy line of political
editorial, another does the money market, a
third directs the scissors,a fourth presides over
the department of the muses., &C., sc. 1t is,
IN all things.b but the vile character of its teach
ings, perfect gazette.
Now. we have to say, after giving this sum.
mary Of the Tribune's capabilities, that such
as the Tribune is in New York, to the extent of
Its energy and circulation, so the Dispatch is in
Richmond. Nor is it self.glorifcation in us to
say SO. We do not profess to be SO learned or
80 various as that paper,or to evince any supe.
flor ability to our city contemporaries. But we
do claim to be sounder in doctrine than MIR.
Greeloy.and TO serve up more news than any OF
our friends of the Richmond press. And, be.
ing determined to maintain the orthodoxy of
our editoial sentiments, we shall go ahead in the
line OF newspaper success, supplying our
budget of intelligence at a merely nominal
price, and affording the business men of the
community an advertising medium that cannot
be surpassed. Cock-a-doodle-do!
PRESIDENTIAL SPEcULATIoss.-The New
Orleans Delta figures up the chances of Gen.
SCOTS nomination, by Wing National Con.