Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-08-26
THE PROGRESS OF nfIHD

BY an article in the Comet which we glanced
over a few days since, giving the number OF
/ business houses, &c, that Baton Rouge con-
tanned n quarter Of 4 century ago, it appeared
to us that that town had increased but very
little in business and population, if any, since
that time it then had 4 regularly csta' ls'lcd
theatre, an evidence of a thriving, enlightened,
populous place, which it seems it cannot now
support. But Notwithstanding this, and a bet
ter evidence that good taste and Judgment Of
q mental character have not rctro"ra:,c1 with
! the decline of the drama, and y surety ihat the
progress of mind has been rapid where other
| evidences would seem to speak OF its decay,
is the fact that there are now three daily papers
published in Baton Rouge, willie there We're
but two weeklics published twenty-five years
ago, when the town appeared 10 be in as llour-
istling 4 condition, and as popnlous, rs at the
present time.
1t cannot be doubted that the invention Of
the Telegraph, and its Introduction into almost
every locality in the country, infused into the
minds of The people, since they had such Il
wonderful! medium of intelligence ut their very
doors, 4 desire to know earlier than was for
merly the case, what was transpiring in differ
ent parts Of the world. Hence the issue and
support Of daily papers in place of the tardy
weeklics. And hence, likewise, whatever crc-
ates a yearning for intelligencc-an'ea gerness
to unfold the welcome newspaper-is & certain
evidence Of the progress of mind-a surety
that intelligence is sought and is spreading
among the people, creating good will and hap
piness, and raising 4 bu,wark around our insti-
tutions and our liberties, as will keep them
pure and unsullicd, and make them invulnera-
bic to the willy and insidious attacks Of for
eign foes.
In almost every locality in this country has
the progress Of mind, in the manner TO which
we have alluded, become manifest and indis-
rutable. 1t is immaterial what has brought
about so inordinate 4 thirst for intelligence and
exercise of the minds powers, which must so
materially and benefcially affect tie destiny of
our country. The factthat it is so-that with
our newspapers and our public schools, a pow
er for good is swiftly growing in our land, to
check and overthrow internal and external ene-
mies--is of itself sufficient.
The daily press is truly the mirror Of the
public mind. 1t has become an institution in
the land. Wherever it exists and is well sup.
ported, it may be correctly judged that the peo-
pie are active, Industrious and prosperous. The
weeklies and semi weeklies of olden times, in
localities not more populous now, are fast be.
coming the cold fogies" of the present day,
and in every direction we see them fast giving |
way to their swifter competitors, the dailies.
All this shows how mind and its attributes
can grow under a Republican or Democratic
Government, and evidences the v~aulting eager
ness to grasp every species of excitement and
by the expanded i~ntellects of a free
and untrammeled people, jealous Of any in
Engagements upon their rights, or upon their in
stitutions, and enjoying blessings, domestic and
such as has fallen to the lot of no
people which the sun of Heaven shines upon.
May this continue !.--may the progress of
mind grow with its strength in our free land.
1t is the only safeguard we have from internal
'ommotions amongst ourselves, as it is our
only rampant against the insidious wiles of
foreign Influence" which the great and good
alluded to in his Farewell Address
70 his Fellow Citizens. With a daily paper in
every fourislling locality in our country, which
fast becoming the case, a mailed armor
s thrown around the people and their institu-
ions, as to guard both, safer than walls of ad.
lmant, from the attacks of hidden and open
,nemies--be they amongst us, enjoying the
that we enjoy, or be they abroad,
for the hour when they can mingle
n the struggle which they hope will prove our
destruction.
A Successful Daily.