The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-13
NEWSPAPERS Now,

With all the Improvements which modern ingenuity
has invented and enterprise forwarded it is question
of serious doubt whether not the vocation of the
Printer has been much improved The adverse we
afraid is too true In point of dignity and respec
liability, the press although freer from restraint and
WITH we may say perfect carte blanche of privileges
is not more elevated in its character to-day than it
when Franklin, its great pioneer first gave tone
and position TO the American press We do not init
mate that the press in many respects has not irpro.
ved-on the contrary, it is matter Of sincere grat
cation as we'll Of SURPRISE that human ingenuity has
been able to accomplish so much in comparatively so
short time When we speak now, of the condition
of the press, we mean its moral condition. When We
assume that the press has not improved, we presume
the exceptions which all general propositions contain,
will be found.
Our object however, is not to morallze here, on the
duties usefulness and sphere of the Press We have
few practical thoughts which we desire to submit
and which we intend as sort Of review of the Press at
home Our observations will be made from pecunia-
ry point of the question: and will be confined strictly
to our State asst is nos polite that should know
any thing about the affairs Of our neighbors The
time was when the Press of South Carolina might he
regarded as profitable investment and person few
years ago. had some iuducement to 60 into the bus-
ness, with the belief that with proper energy and
application to business he would be able 10 reap the
reward o! his labors. What is the inducement now?
Within the last half dozen years, the number of
newspapers within our State has increased nearly one
hundred per cent. We are in the fifth year Of our
connection with the Press md call to mind near
ly if not quite, ONT dozen and half OF newspapers
which have come into existence during that time and
about half of that number have during the same Pc
riod, ceased to exist Some few came and went, en-
phaticaly "the wonder of an hour" 1t is now diff
crlt to keep pace with the many changes which are
constantly taking place among Editors and Proprie
tors and the different papers which have been merged
within few years, shows too plainly, what the
to collect now, the and places of all the pa
pers, who are the Editors, &c, for we scarcely well
come one into tile editorial chair before he gets tired
and we are called upon to chronicle his sudden exit
These thn~s serious disadvantages to tile business
and soon our State will be known as the restless
changing little State of newspaperdom. 1t is surely
no compliment 10 the State to say the least Of it,
The legitimate inference is that the newspaper bu
siness is entirely overdone and the conclusion seems
very reasonable to us that the present number of pa
pers in the State be sustained 1t is hardly to
be supposed tat depending as our country papers do
upon local patronage, which is now so much divided,
they can be sustained with any degree profit or sat-
sfaction to those who have their conduct in hand
We will now ask few questions-What is the object
Of establishing newspapers in the country? Is it only
that the people may be accommodated and that they
may have light and be made wiser and better? These
are certainly very commendabe and worthy traits in
the character Of these enterprises yet opne there
are few conductors OF the press whose benevoence is
so largely developed that they led into this call
ing from no other motive. Men generally have but
little benevolence to spare and we assume that The in
duccment is either 10 make money or acquire reputa-
tion perhaps bo which perfectly admissible, un.
less unworthily employed Here have picture A.
imagines that nespaper is important and essential to
the growing prosperity Of certain ocality-perhaps
there is one or two already-but being age pro-.
life conclusions the idea is conceived and soon we
have prospectus-the new fedged bantling appears,
and all seems bright and promising. But change
comes over the spirit Of its Dreams and the sober re-
alty breaks in upon the mind, that all is not gold that
gitters Materials and labor are cash articles and at
this time are particularly high, day after day, and
week after week. the practical details Of printers
lie are being learned-the multitudnous and veXa-
tous cares at every point, and at every STEP shows
the propetoredtor that his vocation is by no means
snecure. In vain patrons appealed 10 and friends
urged up to the mark. Promises to pay comrlimen.
tary notices. congratulaory epstles and all tho other
courteses of the craft will not put single dollar in
the pocket orpay the printers wages. a few months
OF this sort of experience satisfies end A. that he 10
driving all uphill business. He therefore concludes
that the best way to do will be to get out as easily as
possible and he is not long in finding some one else
who is as eager as he was to get his name in paper
He sells out to B. and the same results are experen
ced. B. sells to c. and thus it goes on not descend
ing from sire TO son. but in the course otwo or three
years as many changes have taken place. and finally
the enterprise dies out for want Of breat-patronage
i'm other words, money.
This is no fancy SKETCH as unfortunately, the lsto.
ry of too many papers iu our State shows. We might
tale unfold Of even more melancholy character but
this is sufficient for our present purpose.
We are led to conclude naturally, that there must
be reasons for all this and it seems proper that we
should just here try to find one. The Press is to
b'ame for this state of things, and we mus without
intending to be invidous, charge great deal 10 the
multiplication ofaprced papers, which have lcssened
so suddenly and so greatly, the terms of subscription
and advertising that with the present high rate of ma
,erals and labor, with the amount OF losses ~hcl are
necessarily cdenlsl to printing estab ishments. it is
NEXT TO impossible for new papers to stand without