Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-08
WeeklY Intelligenoer.

Oh volume of the Weekly Intelligencer, ana IN
nreseptipp II tn our subscribers they will pardon
us, we hope, for addressing to them few remarks
having reference TO the enterprise in which we
b. ore engaged and which they Lave thus far so gem
erouiy sustained. The true province OF the press
is not always correctly understood even by those
having it in charge, and it must be source oil
deem regret TO all good members of society to see
SO frequently the power of thepreSs prostltuteHto
the advocacy of immoral and injurious principles.
Whether this advocacy is to be attributed 10 the
excessive spirit OF newspaper compenuon' no"
pervadiug all parts of our country ana 10 the de-
sire on the part of the conductors TO extend then
circulation and increase their prohts and to do so
by wandering to what they may deem the popular
feeling, OF whether it is bat an emanahon oil that
natural proneness to eyilrather than to good, (which
has always been the close companion of man from
the earliest records of his history down to the pres
ent time; we need not pause to enquire. 1t is
enough that the fact is SO, audit then becomes the
imperative duty of those who properly appreciate
their postion who understand the true mission and
power OF the press, to band together and attempt
to prevent and reform the errors which are so ap-
parent
s5l his exceedingly difficult for the conductor of
publc press to act at all times in accordance with
frequently happens that he cannot, at themoment,
perceive the true bearing and moral tendency of
what may be transferred to the columns of his
paper.
The grea. tendency of the age is to make and
sell readable books, and in so doing, it must be
noted as melancholy factin the history of Ameri-
can Literature, (and we mean here by American
Literature, both the productions of our own au-
4 nf
words what is read by the American publc,) that
authors and publishers have in their productions
and their issues, but one test, namely, '0fH the
,s,rk sell? Is the work moraI2 will it tend to
promote the true interests of society? will 1t train
and properly educate the mind of the young9 are
questions rarely asked and never answered. The
rood old days Of the Spectator, the Tatter, the
Guardian and other works of that kind, which
were the light WORKS Of their day, but which were
still intended 10 ''point morale and improve
society; have passed away and intheir place stand
the Hybrid productions of the noyelsts of our own
oec of doubtful character and vicious tendencies.
Sue, Dumas aud the French authors generally; who
Leiineate the vicious incidents of q people as
proveIbial for the loosness of their morals as for
the lghtness of their character works which paint
passion in its deepest hues and lead the minds oil
the readers through all the labarynths OF French
vice to The end, and leave them there without
single redeemrng sentiment even;o call them back
from its depths; have taken the place OF all which
our fathers were accustomed TO read, respect and
be profted by.
f,ulwer, James, and other English authors, not
so ointedly immoral in the tendencies of their
works rs the Frehch school, the admired of the
passion readers of English light literature, and we
would have them but pause and ask themselves the
single question, after perusing these delightful
treats of the inagination (for such they are, and
.fascinate while they consumel what single good
sentiment, good impression, or piece of useful in
formation have they received from their perusal!
The answer would be negative without an excep-
tion and they could further answer that their time
was lost, thsir money gone and their minds wholly
united for the study of sound and useful works.
The same remarks are more peculiarly applicable
TO the infinite number of pigmy authors now crowd
ing the arena OF American light literature. Many
of these fail even to interest, while they Pervert
and destroy; while many are too weak, vapid and
nsipid even to leave a mark for good or i'll, save
The never falling habit of loose and careless read
ing ensendered and entailed forever thereby on
those who read their works. The literary pub
fishers of our country will! have heavy account
10 settle with the rising generation They are
longing to the class of which we have spoken, at
prices which place them in the hands of the poor
estaborer in tue land, rather than place there at
similar prices the substantial food upon which the
common mind could feed, fatten and march on to
rational Improvement. The publications of the
5Harpers Dewitt & Davenport, T. B. Peterson,
Tichnor, Reed & Co., ct i'd OMne genus, scatter
broadcast annually over our country more iniquity
and depraved tasse-place more mental dalnnation
in a single year in in the hands of the young-than
the combined efforts CT the philanthropiss of the
world could eradicate in century. For many of
their publications these publishers deserve the
thanks of the community. They have placed
many standard works in the common hand, but it
only makes it the more to be regretted that they
hive mingled so much evil with comparatively so
little good.
The effort and mission of the press should be in
part to correctness growing evils to present these
worts TO the public in their true colors, and to
advise them of their real character and tenden-
cies A weekly paper visits princip1llythe farm
ing and laboting classes. 1t should therefore be
adapted 10 their wants, aud calculated to afford
them information and instruction in those things
which pertain to their avocations. To the farmer
we shall endeavor to makeour weekly acceptable,
Oy presenting such original suggestions on his de-
partment as may be furnished us. and by suitable
selections fr,m the agricultural journals of the
country. To the mechanic we offer paper as
one which will aid him as far as practicable in
the discharge and improvement of his calling,
D promising to lay before him the Improvements in
his art which are valuable, and TO all GU. readers
we shall endeavor to make our paper acceptable
For the young we shall adapt ii by carefully
cludng from its columns everything calculated to
deprave the taste, and vitiaie tie morals, and by
nroyiIinl instead the solid and substantial food