Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-12-02
Tn Power % tho Psess-

Ncwspa er journals have fought
long aud fearful struggle for indepch-
dsuee. They have AT last become al
Es.ArE,-a fixed and permanent inssi-
tuition, liable only to the same viciss'-
tsdes that attend all forms Of govern
ment, strong and invulnerable so long
-, virtue and truth are the basis Of their
power, and the dissemination OF knowi-
edge the main object Of their exls'eh-
&C. The history of the struggle Of
journalism for independence Is one OF
the most interesting and Instructive
studies Of the scholar, and is pregnant
with muliitule OF suggestions for the
legislator and the statesman. Cotein-
poraneous with It's growth and emau-
eipstion from tyranny is the growth I
Of freedom for the masses Of the peo-
pie. 4
This arises from the constitution and
nature Of man, in whatever station o.
life the wheel of ,ortune ar the chapter
Of accidents may have placed INN.
From the man who wears royal da-
dem 70 the humble and obscure cot
tsger, the common feeling OF fear aad
dread of public crltlsism IS powerful
restraint upon the conduct u indNmu-
als, and holds in check the tvrani, the
legislator anl the man OF business,
from acts of wrong and oppression, that
would disgrace humanity with The
enorrnity Of crimes, vices, and villain
ios, if the power of the Press, did not
force them to shrink from the expo
sure. In its infancy. Journalism wa 50
bound about with the swadding clothes
Of dependence, the laws Of libel, and
constructive treason, that 1t grew only
in the shadow OF some aristocratlc or
royal patron, upon whose protection
and favor its very existence WAS made
entirely to depend. Corruption OF
oppression in high places il dare not
rebuke, and exposure OF individual acts
fvillainy were prevented by the ter
rors Of the law Of libel. Blu, there was
one channel still left open through
which journalism could pass IN It's a.
saul,s upon,he citadel oftyranny, crime
aud vice; which no monarch ever
thought II was necessary 70 defend
u was the dli!uslon ot ,ntorLnat Oh,
knowledge, aud literature among the
grea, masses Of the people, and the as
ealing OF ignorance, prejudice and vice
il the citadel OF every mans OWL bo-
som, while il carefully refrained from
every slluson 70 government, that al,
oused the sluinbering energies Of tho
people and made them Mak There
va. 10 law agairs, thinking, how 81
tyrsnnical NAV have been the aw:
Agsin., the publication Of Aoaqht
Jourr ali.m then became the slow but
sure educator 81 the great masses o
the people, who could never reach The
halls Of Oxford or Cambridge, or b,
able 10 buy the costly books which
were limited in number, and within III,
reach ofthe ruling classes only Tht
waves Of this influence gradually bcgal
TO expand, and the cheapness Of jour
mas brought them within the reach G
nearly all. Then commenced the rev
olution for both the emanci patton c
the people and ofthe Press. Then III
prees was found to be the poten, aux
Hilary Of the people in their effort L
secure the recognition of some portiol
other political rights. The press ha
educated the pcople,-educa,ion st
them thinking of political rights AN
determined them to make the effort I
attain them-the press became tn
sommander-in-chief, and the struggl
waa fierce protracted and bloodlesa
Judges came to the relief Of monarch
and ari.tocrats, and constructive ,rea
cone we're invented BY the Judiciary
and laws Of libel passed by Parliament
The 6gh, Of the Press and the Peopl,
against Royalty, Nobility and Tyrann
was doubtful; and at las, the Cour,
and Juries deserted the allies of OF
preston and turned the scale in fave
Of the feedom Of the Press. Human
ity rsjoiced in the triumph. and Libe
ssty speedily unfurled her standards
the wilderness Of America, and ii
Pres became . permanent institution
carrying terror and alarm to the hear
oftyrants and criminals Of high an
low degree.
In England the Press has gained it
he people every inch Of ground the
now posssss in the field Of government
i aroused the people to demand R,
form, and Reform was granted, Lor
Dsousham said in 1881 to the Hou,
eelerdA that ~Ths Press 10 now tn
ealy organ Of public opinion. Til
1itls It assumes; but It 10 not BY usul
Yatioas il 10 rendered legitimate BY tn
0s6bets Of your parliamentary Const
- s.sl~ns 4 l. n~>~~~A ,,,>ov <ho r,,:rc .