The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-05-12
For the Pioneer.


At the request of the Editor of the Pioneer, have
consented to become a correspondent. From the FIST
publication Of papers in the Territory, have felt
DESTROYS TO paronize But they have so
often and far descended from the high position
which ali public journals should occupy, into the re-
gion Of personal abuse aud scuriity there has been
much political slang and vitupera,ion, and much
that is offensive against good taste and morals, not
TO say religion, that have hardly deemed it safe to
introduce them regularly into my family. For as a
matter of iact children read every thing in family
newspaper, even to the advertisements.
While in the numbers Of the various papers pub
shed in the Territory which have fallen under my
notice, there very many articles worthy of COM
mendation and which have done good service to this
country, by fairly representing abroad, there
has on the other hand been sometimes manifested "A
disposition to xagscraon; "a want ofthat high regard
for truth which should characterize all the vehicles
of intelligence introduced weekly into the family cir
this matter is not only desire but purpose the
part Of some. May there be an ever increasing srlE
respect we'll respect for the intellect and heart of
the reader, manifested in all who engaged in
ducting our weekly news-letters.
The press has come to be power in the world.
Shall it beused for good for evil! 1t is one of the
charges made agans, us Americans, by our friends
across the water, that while great intellectual
writers and speakers more careful than themselves
10 conform in of style and taste to the model
Of the great Enssh classics, there is at the same
time growing taste in the multitude for slang and
ritald Of every description, which has FIRST been form
ej and then catered to by low and unprnciped
class of writers, who are initiated and copied from by
most Of the local newspapers. In this way there arc
in the process Of formation. as it were, two Amer-
can dialects, manly, vigorous, elegant; the other
although IT retains some ygor, and vulgar.
The one encouraging pure style Of thought and
expression, ard the other exercising upon thought
and dction the most disastrous influence. Can there
be any hesitation the part Of the conductors of
public papers, political though they may be, as to
which style of thought and expression they would
like introduced into their own families Al editors
readers are his family.
Bnt there are higher principles than these depend
and nourished by the weekly newspaper. Among
the Immigrants to Minnesota there viii be many
families accustomed to reading papers more OF less OF
religious character, who may desire to take one
published in the Territory In the absence Of one
proessed!y religious. should not those now in cxis.
,encc adapt themselves the want. OF these families,
by introducing still greater extent than at present
the moral and religious clement
In my future Communications purpose to take NJ
various topics, which may, however. be we'll ragged
under the head Of Indian Affairs. | cannot promise
any srea, regularity. We arc enti,ed to a monthly
mail at Lac qui Pare, bat for the Fast winter we
have been glad t. receive il once in two months In,
deed tive unparalleled depth Of snow on the praires
cut oil communication with the civilized world
for more than four months, except by men travelling
on snow shoes with dog trains. As we have never
before, within the memory Of man living had such
winter AS The past, may reasonably hope that we
shall not have the ike again.
Yours truly,