Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-16
TIME PRESS IN THIS COUNTRY.

VmE rkAESS IN THIS COUNTRY.
A Paris correspondent of the New York
Commercial, abiding to the position of the
London Times, says:
"The influence which it exerts extends to all
Europe; it is overpowering, bearing down all
opposition, and can be seen, felt, and realized
daily, in the financial operations of the day, in
the connting-house in the ministerial cabinet,
i in the kings palace in the saloons and in the
"To say that the Times is at this moment ex-
erting more powerful influence in the politi-
cal destinies Of the English people than is ex-
erted by the Government itself, would not be an
exaggeration. Throughout Europe this inAu-
ence is strongly felt; for everywhere else than
in England, no matter what may be the talent
engaged upon journal, their mouths are
closed by the restrictions which are placed upon
the press, and the power, the force, and the in
huence which develop themselves under free
and unrestricted expression of opinion, are al
most completely annihifated. The writer's Of
the Times, although unknown, ought to be
satisfied; for they have more than their share
of this worlds honors."
The power Of the Press is great wherever
the Press exists. We do not here speak Of
muzzled and restricted Press. In no country
can such a Press exert the full influence that
properly appertains to Public Journals. But
such Journals, even, are not without their in
fuence. What, if the Editors are but stipendi-
aries and hirelings; what, if they do but pub
lish what they are directed to publish and
what they are paid to publish? Be it true or
be it false, there is such superstitious rever-
ence for print, among the masses, that the
Press, even under such restrictions and with
such corruptions, will have powerful effect.
Nor are those Journals, called Organs, the
only Journals that desecrate and pervert the
great art Of printing. In this country we have
Journals that acknowledge no obligations to
parties however ancient and yirtuous, or to
principles however sacred and useful They
are what are called the Neutral Presses-or
sometimes the Independent Presses. By neu-
trail, we presume is meant that they have no
political convictions; and by Independent, that
they are at liberty to fight in any cause and
under any flag These three kinds Of Journals
have sadly impaired the influence Of the Press
in this country. The frst--that is the Hire
ling Journals or organs, are paid to write or
not to write, as may suit the interest Of their
employers. The second-that is the Neutral
Journals, or those with no principles and
the third-the Independent Journals, or those
with any principles, awaiting themselves Of
their license, either follow public opinion, as
it developes itself, in order to be popular,
or endeavor to form public sentiment before
it is expressed, because they are paid to do SO.
They are the Delgettys Of the Press. They
care not groat for the opinions, or schemes,
or politics they espouse, so they are well paid
for espousng them. But the pay must be both
high and certain, or they will instantly shift
over to the other side.
We believe that what are called the Neutral
and Independent newspapers have done more
than all other things together to iniure the
standing and the influence Of the Press in this
country. Like the Swiss Of another period, most
of them can be hired to enlist in any cause
Without any principles in politics or morals,
all that they value is success. They attach to
them q tribe Of mercenary scribblers, like them
selves, who, located at prominent points, not
only throughout this country, but throughout
the world, send such calumnies of men, and
falsehoods Of things, as they think will best
subserve their selfish purposes. The truth
is too stiff, and staid, and sober for them.
They prefer what is lively, severe, stimulating,
or scurrilous, no matter how untrue it may be.
Men read these Journals as they listen to scan
dial, and they despise the calumniator, while
they relish the calumny.
Many Of these Journals are established in
our great northern cities, fand enjoy large cir
culations. Corrupt themselves, they corrupt
their more ignorant readers, who, too often,
take up their opinions not knowing that they
are a mere thing Of traffic, and believe their
statements without knowing they are false.
But there are readers who know that these
Journals are mercenaries. Such readers despise
them and learn to dstrust the sincerity Of the
whole Press. In this way they have done great
and irreparable injury to the American Press.
These mercenaries are all equally vile, whether
they be paid by government or by interested
individuals.
As every man in this country, this free
country, whose institutions are based on the
intelligence and the sovereignty of the people,
should hold fixed and we'll defined political
principles-should belong to either the one, or
the other, of the great parties that exist here,
SO every Press, where every man is, or should
be politician, ought to hold and to advocate
fixed and we'll defined political principles, and
ought to present to its readers arguments
instead Of tricks, and facts instead Of fasehoods
The trading and unprincipled men who make
the Press subsidiary to lucre and not to homes,
fame, have most seriously injured the American
Press. They have lost to it the confidence Of
the people, who can not be bought. They have
lost the confidence even Of Demagogues, for