Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-08-12
IL. L 8 > 6.
From the New York Evening Post.
Struggles of n Free Press Hn Kentucky
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF wM. S. BAILEY.
By HINsELF.

| cotton machinist and steam engine builder
by trade. Established machine shop IN
Newport, Kentucky, on the lot where l now
live, and which purchased for a home resi-
dence in 1889. While engaged in the ma
chine business, Mr.. Ryan commenced the
publication Of small daily paper in that
place, and called it ''IHe NepDort Daly
Ne,os" He continued the publication of it
about six weeks, during which time |, with
others, wrote some articles for his paper, He
complained, after some of my articles were
published, that they were two radically ill.,
eral for slave State, and that they had iniur
ed his paper; and finally urged upon me to
buy him out.
his was new idea to me ; the thought of
an iron worker to lay down the hammer and
cold chisel, and to forsake the anvil and vice.
and take up the pen, was startling reflection
to me- But saw an independent press was
needed for our place, and the mechanics and
working men of my acquaintance favored
the new idea; and not feeling satisfied thar
Mr.. Ryan should say had injured his pros
poets, purchased his type and press at $3.50,
and put them in the upper story of the ma
chine shop, large two story frame building.
Increased the size of the paper, and on the
Ith day OF March, 1850, we issued the first
paper, placing for our motto the words. oIib.
erty and Equality"
This, with what 1 had before written, eaus-
ed a sort of a Jealous inquiry amongst the
officers of the law and Doctors of Divinity as
to who this Bailey was and what he was
about. We, however, gave the general news
OF the day and went on to encourage public
improvements, industry and education with
now and then good article, showing slave.
ry to be the greatest curse to our general
prosperity. Newport is older than Cincinnati,
| but mere handful compared with the Queen
City OF free Ohio.)
We employed from seven to eight compost
tors, two reporters, and a proof reader, the
| first year, and during that time all that
would take jovial glass and loiter away
their time, had money furnished them fer
that end by our 'sharp-sighted OPPONENTS
who thought they saw a tornado of liberty
| brewing in territory consecrated 70 bondage
and endless oppression and took that plan to
confuse and spoil the interest of our paper,
leaving copy half set up, and but little ready
Tor the paper. This caused us to call the at
tentlon OF our daughters and wife to the COM
| posing stick, who, with our own aid, manag-
| ed to get the paper to press towards daylight
| In the morning on all such occasions
| Finally, when the craft began to find out
| that we could patch things together and bring
| out the paper at its regular time, majority
| of them dubbed together and passed reso-
| luton that the girls should not set type in the
| office, as it would injure the craft and bring
| its members into contempt. We expostulat-
| ed with them, and asked only for steadiness
and punctuality on their part and at this
time, found out they had been told that the
| paper did not fill the wishes of the leading
men of Newport-that it opposed the institu-
tons of the State (the peculiar institution
| and that such paper was not wanted there.
We soon found that it was useless to en-
| ploy printers to be thrown into the hands of
wealthy faction, and there tutored to defeat
the object for which they were employed So
after consulting our own family, we conclud-
ed it was time for us to pass a resolution also
which was, 'that no more printers should
be employed in our office until the influence
of our opponents was destroyed" Then
girls and boys-four daughters and two sons
wife and self, all ''pitched in, :" to the num-
Der of eight, all told, leaving the machine
shop entirely to the care of few hands until
the work engaged was completed; after
| whial., ne FL - - a;+ - -l-,4;t -, oil
together, having 10 time to direct the action
| OF the workmen.
Meantime our little store, containing $500
worth of groceries, was completely run down,
the income from the paper being small, owing
to the active opposition Of our opponents for
it was their custom to watch the advertise
ments every morning obtained by our little
daughter, then but ten years old,) by going
into Cincinnati and stating to the advertisers
that they, the influential Kentuckians, would
purchase nothing from any house that adver,
tised in the Newport NeaoS, that they (the adj
vertisers) were indirectly at war with the
| most respectable and wealthy citizens of Ken.
lucky by supporting such sheet; and that
fhory o,,1l +,,I - ~
nothing to do with it.
This course of action was notifying to us,
and we resolved to issue a weekly paper also,
to let the country people know something of
the actions of these heartless men. So on the
4th of August, 1851, having obtained about
fifty subscribers, we issued the heatuckv
Weekly Ne,oS, in which, as well as in the
daily paper, we showed up the actions of
lazy drones and despots by name, and con-
trasted them with the industrious working
men of our State. This drew out the sum
burnt masses with hardened hands from the
sleek and rudy faces of ense and leisure, and
caused them to stand upon the side of Bailey,
their fellow workman and unhinching adyo-
cate of equal rights.
The next thing was to try the law of naiqht
against right; but IN this they soon found
| they would be overpowered in numbers. and
do they could not tell The id fools
would continue to read Bailey's paper and
another press must be brought to bear against
HIM this was the word from the upper
ten The weekly paper had increased its
circulation from the 4th Of August to the 9th
OF October 10 about three hundred, and about
one o'clock OF that morning Goth of October,
| 1901 y the whole concern was in flames. hay.
ing been set on fire in the night by some base
incendiary.
! Not only the first type and press purchased
OF Ryan was lost but a new font and a new
press for the weekly sheet, amounting to
| $1,000 in addition which, with the machine
shop, blacksmith shop, and screw machinery,
was all destroyed, and my lot, with hand.
some grape bower, and valuable fruit trees
Nc, all laid waste to the cattle and hogs in
the town. Then were deep anguish and sorry
hearts IN my family. Our clothing and bed.
ding were nearly all destroyed for, having
to work night and day, we were Obliged to
have our bedding in the office to take rest
when we could.
On the same morning, after sunrise, while
the blue vapor was rising through the beds of
burning Goals, came MIR. Samuel Pike. editor
Of the Maysville CKy.) Flag, strong pro.
slavery man, in company with some of his
friends. They viewed the ruins awhile. and
then walked of up town, with substitution
Taper TO raise $1,000 to bring his press. Sc.
from Maysvie to Newport, to build himself
up upon my ruins. AS soon as this was as.
certained, it increased the sorrow and indig-
nation OF my friends, and they came and con
suited with me, and agreed to start again
with their aid. So they raised me $5l7 in