Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-06-23
Mission and Power of the Press.

Napoleon once said be would rather Sen
| counter hundred thousand bayonets than one
hostile press" Extravagant as this remark
| may seem at the first glance, little reflection
will convince any one that to aspiring, I'M
| scrupulous, military chcttain, Il conflict of
opinion is more to be dreaded than II conflict of
| arms. In a sanguinary contest the victory is
awarded to him who excels in bold InanUuvre,
heroic daring and well laid, and promptly
executed strategic plans. In a conflict of
opinion reason and right and truth are the
controlling agencies by which the case in dis
pute whatever it may be, is to be adjusted and
settled Nothing is much dreaded by a
tyrant as independent thinking free unfettered
discussion, and calm and searching scrutiny Of
passing events. This is the reason why every
despotic government watches with such fevcrish
anxiety the course of the Press, and so often
lays upon it its iron hand of power for its sins
of omission or commission. This is prudent
and necessary so long as the reign of despotism
is to last. There is not an existing despotic
government that could survive single year II
the abuses of those in power, and the privatons
and wrongs of the masses were made public by
means of the Press. Free discussions, unawed
by the tyrant's rod, and unrestrained by the
fear of his caves dropping minions, is blessing
the full extent of which none can justly appre
cate who have not been restrained by "pains
and penalties" from giving utterance to those
deep emotions which would have been deemed
1agitious and reasonable.
l. This country, above all others, boasts, and
Justly too of the full and free exercises of those
high prerogatives, freedom of thought freedom
of discussion and freedom of action. The press
has no censors but public opinion, and no res
trant in the legitimate exercises of those rights
and privileges so wisely guaranteed by the
Constitution But there are some, we regret to
say, who meanly take advantages of their posi-
ton as conductors of the press, to vent their
malignant personal spite upon those whom they
regard as standing in the way of the accom-
plishment of their sinister, selfish schemes
They are generally men without character and
without means, many of them mere braness,
conscenceless adventurers, skulkng around
and shooting their poisoned arrows with the
hope of bringing decent men to the degraded
level which their own instincts and the rules of
society compel them to occupy. This class,
and we are sorry to say that they are hume
rous miserable excrescences, foul stains
upon the body polite, and soon sink, covered
with the infamy which their own depravity has
secured Their epitaph is written in n few
words-'' useless while living, unmourned when
dead
Much as has been said and written of the
power OF the IreSS, WHen conducted on lhOSe
high principles which ought ever to be prominent,
and prevailing the full extent and efficacy of
its mission, it is not yet half understood. 1t
has yet a work to perform that will tell with
amazing power upon all the interests of society,
in exposing wrong and outrage, in advocating
social and political reforms, in exposing sophis
try in science and hypocrisy in religion, in
elevatng and enlightening the masses. in cor
recting abuses, and in vndicating those great
principles of truth and duty which are of bind
ing and universal obligation. The full power
of the Press will not be known till its con-
ductors shall love truth more than party; till
virtue shall be more esteemed than partizan
zeal or party triumph; till correct principles
rather than eager aspirants for Office, shall call
forth its earnest advocacy; till man shall be
looked upon as universal brotherhood, whose
high descent and high destiny are estimated by
no sordid, calculating policy, but by that
pansve beneyolence which embraces in its
ample fold the dwellers in the value and on the
top, the down-trodden and despised,
as we'll as the affluent, the exalted and the
Bulletin.