Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-04-27


There is much good sense in what follows,
50 many facts condensed in a small compass.
and which, by the way, are susceptible Of an
easy, practicable application, that we cannot
refrain from giving our readers the benefit Of
it. We copy from the Toledo Republican
It's With extreme reluctance that we are com
Peled occasionally to refer to matters connected
with our business. But there are so many queer
ideas prevalentin all communities on the subject
Of newspaper publishing, that we feel constrain.
ed to say word now and then, by way Of ex-
PLANTATION. One idea which gets lodged in
great many heads, is, that it is only necessary
to start paper, and then by some inherent,in-
visible power Of propulsion, il will force itself
along through mountains Of expense, swamps
Of Encouragement, and dismal caves Of toll and
trouble, without any farther assistance on the
part Of those who beguile the poor printer into
the haza' dous business. This idea is so utterly
foolish perhaps we might say selfsh-thst we
shall take no further notice than this allusion
to its existence.
Another common idea about newspapers is,
that they have no immediate or essential con-
nection with the prosperity Of the place in which
they are published. To be Fure their services
are required to chronicle every event that may
:Onduce to the general good they must advo-
cate the construction of railroads, and show
their feasibility and importance, so that the
public confidence may be reposed in the enter
prise, aud the stock subscribed.
They must notice every new steamboat or
vessel that NAV appear on the waters, by going
into minute descriptions Of their construction,
and expatiating upon their superior accOmmo-
dations, thus giving important information to
the public, and doing nice JOB Of advertising
for the owners.
They must hold up before the world constant
ly, and "keep it before the people," at home
and abroad, the fact that the towns and cities
in which they are located, land we might not
unfrequenty add in which they are starved, J
are just the places to invest in real estate, and
for this service the owners of corner lots will
subscribe for the paper. and shell out literally
to support it-Over tie LEFT.
They must speak Of every improvement
made, every new branch Ofindustry introduced,
every additional facility for the transaction Of
business, which may turn up in the course of
human events; they must defend the charac-
ter Of the town when assailed; they must de-
fend her public men, her merchants, her me-
chanics, and all who dwell within her borders,
so far as they can be defended /; they must get
out Presidents message or other important
public document, at the earliest moment, even
though the printer toll by his lamp through all
the weary hours of the night to do it;--they
must seek to crafty the whims Of q great many
people on every conceivable subject, and get
the ill., will of two-thirds Of them in trying to
please them /; they must advertise, gratuitously,
everything that has the least stamp of public
nature upon it, because it is for the general
good" in short, the newspaper is the hack
horse on which the universal public expect to
ride, on the low-fare system. We might ex-
tend this list of newspaper duties, performed
for the public without remuneration, great
deal furth er, but we forbear We submit the
question without further argument-W Whether
newspaper is, or is not intimately connected
with the general prosperity of the place where
tits published. If it be decided that the paper
does possess public character, and is valua-
BILE auxiliary in the promotion of every good
work, let it be esteemed and treated according
ly. That is all we ask.