Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-08
From the LiberatOr,
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

The daily press of Boston, with thre0-quarters
Of an exception, has so long been closed to any
strong and decided expression of opinion against
slavery, and its agencies existing in this city, :ha,
censorship of the press so far has advanced from
being customary to seem moral and proper. But
the open attempt to obstruct the free expression of
opinion in matters purely literary is some what
novel, and shows n rare combination of ignorance
and impudence. cool enough for the latter part OF
November, and in this sense seasonable, though
by no means satisfactory. In the article copied
below from the 7rureley, our readers will find an
appropriate reception of the attempt made by
MIessrs Ticknor and Fields to bully the editors of
that paper for expressing an unfavorable opinion
of a book sent to them for editorial notice. We
fear that Mr.. LOngfellow will be much more an
noyed than amused by this undertaking of his
publishers 10 eriOTt favorable notices Of his poems
from the press, but we have seldom seen a richer
specimen Of that laundering which distinguished
authority has pronounced worse than crime.
'ATrEMrr TO CoERcE TIE PREss.-Amidst the
anxieties and cares of public journalism, not the
least is the fact that, in the faithful discharge of
duty, occasions arise in which it becomes necessa-
ry to make statements or PROFOUND opinions which
are sure to be more or less distasteful to indiyidu.
ais. Thorny always is the path Of opposition, and
so far as personal considerations are concerned,
nothing would be more agreeable than to say IA
good word OF everything and everybody. But,
however it may happen to be with publishers, no
such flOwery path is spread for the honest, indie
pendent and conscientious editor. In its highest
sense a newspaper should be, not only the leader
of public opinion, but the conservation of public
morals, and the exponent and director of public
taste. Gentlemen are very fond of toasting, "the
freedom of the press" when it is confined to an
abstract and safe sentimentnlity, but they are apt
to grow very testy when that press is compelled,
in the discharge OF its high functions, 10 disturb
their cherished c~rOtchcts, or take any step which
nn ~ - on ~ ia a,fnrn ,r,tI -. 4
Some there are who appear to entertain the vulgar
notion that a newspaper should be nothing but a
mere advertising sheet, and that it's highest off ce
is to "puff" the goods which t:adesmep find it for
their interest to bring befoie the public in its
pages. Out upon the thought! 1t would indeed
be a melancholy day for tue world, if the engine
now so potent should ever sink into such fathOm-
less degradation. Happily there is no danger Of
such an evil. The public too well appreciate the
value of an independent, heightened newspaper.
The appreciation ensures for such a print an ex-
tensive circulation; that extensive circulation rem
ders it the interests of parties to advertise in its
columns; and this again enables its conductors to
take entirely independent ground on all questions
of public interest.
We have been led into these remarks bv the re.
ceipt of a letter, which unwilling rs we are to
speak of personal concerns, we feel it but an act
of justice to ourselves to lay before the public
Among the departments of the 'Trdrelei' to which
we haNs sought 10 give special prominence and eX-
cellence, is one devoted to notices of new publica-
tons issuing from the press; and we have The sat
istaction of knowing that this is a feature of our
paper which the general public regard as of no
ordinary value. Iu the execution of this delicate
and responsible task, we have ever sought to be
kindly in our criticisms, and if we have erred at
all, we have erred in being the very reverse of
severe and unjust every work of any value has
received our hearty commentator. In the dis
charge of this duty, we have known neither author
nor publisher, and have been actuated only by the
motives first, of fostering the diffusion of a heal
thy literature creditable to our national pride :
and secondly, of placing oar readers in the posses.
sion of the true merits or dement's of every new
work of any consequence issuing from the press.
On Tuesday last, it became our duty to notice the
publication of the new poem by Longfellow. which
has been looked forward to with so much interest,
his, Song of Hiawatha,' and we thus candidly
gave our impression
"Longfellow is regarded as one of our best ma
tive poets and we do not wonder, therefore. at
the interest with which the publication of this
latest effort of his muse his been anticipated.
The song of lliawatha is founded on, &c. 4 h 4 Il
The poem is in n very curious measure the Ian
guage sweet the style almost startling from its
simplicity and the imagery, taken from it's natur.
al objects, if not always beautiful, appropriate. or
sublime, is always truly Indian. We cannot deny
that the spirit of poesy breathes throughout the
work. But a. Scott to some extent deserved that
bitter sheer Of having wasted his higher mowers,
which might have done so much for hun anity. ia
singing the slogan of a Border feud,'-so in like
manner we cannot but express a regret that DOR