Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
The Independent Press.

Under the above caption, we lind an eNceiieht
article in the Baltimore ,Amcrican, universally adj
mitted to be one of the ablest and best papers pub
lished in the country. No one who has 'Reyer
learned from experience, has any idea of the diff
cul.es of conducting public journal, aud OF the
thousand annoyances. great and small. to which
the publisher is subjected Ne have nothing spe-
cial to complain of. but nevertheless commend the
following extract from the .4mcrica"'s article to
the careful perusal of our readers:
ut is one of the very first interests of every
community to guard, rs with religious concern,
the free, unfettered action Of its press. What
would be thought of the inmate OF fortress who,
for selfish ends, should attempt to intimidate OF
weaken its exterior defenders? Every deduction
from their power would be a loss to It's strength,
and an addition to the chances Of the enemy.
$50 in community. As to collect large sum
for noble object individuals will contribute small
amounts, so TO maintain trustworthy manllness
in the public press, each supporter must generous
" Weld something of his own individual feelings,
preiudices. or interests. Ii something pointed be
said ar remains unsaid if this remark appear toe
weak or that too severe; If the politics be too de-
cded or the reverse; if something that reader is
hostile to be dealt lenently by, or else another is
assailed in which he may happen to have per
sonal interest, contrary OF not to the public good,
as the case may be, let him remember that his
special and particular f0rbearance in this respect is
his contribution to the general liberty of the press
which, with tens of thousands of similar orbear-
ances, are essential TO the maintenance of the ru-
est Palladium of civil and political blessings that
Providence has ever vouchsafed to man. Every
reader of a newspaper may be sure Of this one
thing that il is no more the interest than the dis
position of its conductors to crafty his every taste
and accommodate his every want, 50 far as IN them
lies If ever requests are refused, it IS not with
pleasure but with regret not from caprice or cow
ardice, but with sense ofduty and often enough,
of high service to the refused party. Plainly e.
nough, then, as it is mark ofmanlneSs to respect
manliness in others, the non compliance ofthe con-
ductor of a press with the solicitations OF reader,
should not excite the latters dispeasure
lit will be in vain if in this country, where nc
fnder erp,ugatorius, no police espionage, no gov
eminent meddling dare lay finger upon the lib
erty of the press-so dear to every people not IN
possession of it-that liberty is infrnged upon, and
rittered up to nothingness, by the citizen himself
Should the practised characters of this powerful
vehicle of intelligence and moral power yield the
reins to unskilled Phatons, who for the most part
are the victims of passion and mistake, soon indeed
would the elements he on fire. Because OF the
great power of the press is the greater need OF eau
ton in conducting it, Let, then, something be
pardoned to the spirit of MODERATION AND PRU-
DENCE."