The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-16
WASHINGTON, ID. C..
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1854
DAILY ERA.


The Daily Era was commenced on the 1st of
January; the Nebraska Bill was reported in
the Senate on the 4th. The coincidence was
as fortunate as it was remarkable. The in
tention Of the projectors Of the bill was to
hasten it through Congress before the People
could understand its nature or pass judgment
on its dement's They knew the power of the
Administration and members of Congress; they
were sure Of the cooperation of three CT the
fise daily papers here; a fourth they supposed
would be led by its conservative instincts to be
silent, while the Daily Era, just commenced,
would have too limited a circulation to exert
much influence. In this way, indications Of
adverse public sentiment abroad could be ex-
cludsd and Congress be subjected to constant
pressure Of sentiment favorable to the measure.
Fortunately, through the active exsrtions Of
our friend, the Era found its way into Con
gress many members of both Houses becoming
subscribers. We had thus an opportunity of
meeting the arguments and appeals of the Pro
Slavery press here, before the tribunal which
the ro-Siavery schemers had hoped 10 carry
urge upon it the views taken of the measure by
the opponents of Slavery, and submit to its
Judgment the indications of public opinion at
the North. Such an instrumentalty, at such
a time, as Daily paper here, within sight and
hearing of Congress, struggling at every step
against a measure so monstrous as this Ne
braska Bill, was worth all that we had risked
upon it. Such has been our feeling upon this
point, that we have almost forgotten to urge
the claims Of the paper upon the support of our
friends abroad We arc reminded, however,
that we have been neglected. of our interests.
To the question, repeatedly asked "Does the
Daily support itself yet }" our uniform answer
is, that the expenditures upon it will exceed
the total income from it by at least five thou
sand dolars--that is, if its patronage remains
at its present point.
OF course, no one would expect us to con-
tiuue so burdensome an enterprise, under such
circumstances, beyond the time named in our
prospectus. The two-fold labor it imposes We
would cheerfully bear, and, had we an indie
pendent income, adequate to meet such de-
felt, it should be unreluctantly bestowed. But
We canno. perform impossbilities.
The truth is, the enterprise has not been
sustained by our friends with anything like the
vigor which profusc promises led many mot
ourselves) to expect. One famous place, in
which the assurance was held out that two
hundred subscribers should be secured to the
Daily, has given us but two q and these" says
the agent who has just sent their names, care
all that have been able to rake and scrape.n
The large cities are not at all to be relied on.
The truth is, if anything is to he done it
msst La .lsas Ls in.isiaG..ls Isiss at nA;.>.-
interested in such paper as to desire it's daily
visits, and means enough to pay for them. No
business man likes to talk about his affairs,
bat We will be frank with our subscribers on
one point.
To enable the Daily barely to meet the ex-
pense of printing, paper, reporting, &c, We
Ought to have had Just nine hundred more sub
scribeIs than We have. More than a month
has expired since We began One thousand
subscribers moro than we have are now re-
CURED to meet expenses. We will now make
proposition.
Every person forrcGrding four dollars shall
haze The DAILY until III. Isl day Of September,
and The Weekly from that time till the 3Ist dag
Of December, or The close Of the gear.
The question as, are there one thousand OF
our subscribers willing in this way to share
with us the burden of an enterprise the impor
lance Of which at the present time cannot be
overrated, or must zoe be left to bear the whole
burden
We shall not complain in any event What
ever loss We may sustain, We shall feel as if we
had done nothing more than it was our duty
30 do.