Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-27

full attendance OF delegates from sacn cbunty, 81
business of Importance will be brought before the Con-
veniicn. By order of the Central Committee.
Jan. 81 1854. JOHN p. COOK, Chairman.
Newspapers and their Patronage.
A certain official remarked to US the other
day that we ought not to charge for prin
ting handbills calling public meetings, as we
were dependent on the public for a irHhood.
We defined his meaning to be that printers
are essentially paupers, and that newspapers
and printing are mol ,corM the price paid
for them. We have been surprised to find
the same singular and unjust idea enter
tanned by other persons. Now we reiterate
what we have said before, that if there is a
single subscriber to the JOURNAL who does
not consider it worth the money he pays
for 1t, we want him to discontinue Mt once;
and il any of our advertising patrons be-
lieve that they do not receive On equivalent
for the money paid us, We hope they will
do likewise. Having good health and free
use of cur limbs, we scorn to be paupers.
Let no one pride himself on his generosity
for taking our paper because we are "6rst
rate fellows, and he wants to see us support
ed." Printing is as honorable, as legiti-
mate and as necessary as any other business.
Did we not consider it so, we would aban-
don it at once. ssEvery tub should stand
on its own botrom.' This principle of pa
tronizing newspaper because it is thought
it ought to be supported, has deleterious
tendency. By it papers which have real
merit are sometimes neglected for the sake
of suppmJing comparatively worthless sheets
at favorite localities, and were it otherwise
there would not be so many WORTHLESS sheets
they would die out and give plac, to
others more worthy. A poor, sickly news
paper is disgrace to any town, and yet, it
is often enabled to lengthen its miserable
existence by persons who want to see it
supported" for the credit of the place, who
at the same time will own that the paper is
almost useless to them. AS far rs the
JOURNAL is concerned, we are determined
that it shall stand on its own merits. We
do not want such Support at present, and
shall consider ourselves insulted If it be
offered. We have seen the day, as doubt
less all other publishers in this country have,
while struggling to gain foothold, when we
would gladly receive and gratefully ac-
knowledge such assistance, but we now use
our utmost endeavors to make a good pa
per, and, considering it fully worth the sub
scription price, no longer desire gratuitous
aid.
In this connection, we may with proprie-
ty notice the grumblings of some persons
on account of the superiority of eastern
papers over western of the same price. 1t is
useless to explain the fact that the larger the
circulation Of paper the cheaper it can be
afforded to single subscribers, for it is ap-
parent to all, notwithstanding some persons
tell us they "can't soc why western papers
cannot bc afforded as cheap rs EASTERN"
Take into consideration, also, the cheapness
of labor and oil manner of prin.ing material
in cities, and the cause is at once seen. Dol
not understand US, kind reader, as advising
yoI uot w putruHi1O 'hoSc ioi ko "'Au "SAA
filed city papers which are afforded so
cheaply. Far from it. In the language of
the renowned editor Of the New York Irib-
sne, (Mr. Greeley,) these papers do not at
all stand in the light.of well-conducted To-
cal journals.
We claim the JOURNAL to be local paper
devoted especially to the interests of the
city and county of Muscatine, and to the
interests Of the State and country generally.
As such, We claim the patronage of all the
friends Of the former. At the same time,
set the eastern journals, with their lengthy
and minute details of the news of the world,
with elaborate and well-digested leaders on
the leading political questions of the day,
receive their fair quota of patronage.
For our part, we are content to give merely
a brief and succinct account OF all the most
important occurrences which we can CLEAN
from our exchanges, and pay particular at
tention to the development of the resources,
Improvement and advancement of our pecul
iar locality. On this platform, and with
only these claims for "supp ort," we will
stand or fall.