The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-28

SOch was De South American press In the days OF
its infancy; ey were, at the same time, It's hsppiSst
dsys- These was new sOciety to be civilized, Q
new order Of ideas 70 b substituted for the old vsgs
gio1ous principles to BE- propagateS over the whole
continent The revolutionary governments, which
were aware that all their strength lay In public
opinioa, wefo not sstis6ed wish merely protecting
the unlimited action q the press b; s solicited
The first perodicsis, naturally enough, were
stamped with the peculiar character OF our young
Tpubcs they were exclusively devoted TO politics;
literature science and art formed no part Of them,
except when by more or less close relation they
were TO influence the political movement which had
taken possession Of the heart and spirit Of the
people. Periodical literature. II I am permit
TED to s, give !. that ns~e. was the nssurs!
any participation OF art; its eI0quence came
from tho heart. and its enthusiasm was the
product Of patriotism. Independence and liberty
constantly inspired prose writer's and poets
After stating the victorious resistance the press OPP
posed 70 reacueDary ideas and tendencies, Sr.
Godoi passes TO the services 1t rendered to civiza
ton. .M
1t is difficult he says to etfacc the traditions,
principles, customs, government and social organi
zanon Of society in the space of forty years, espe
cially when this so,iety lived for long time under
the Joke OF Spanish government But il is still
more difficult to create within tseney years litera
ture in . society which lived three hundred years
an0er the rule Of the spanish lngulsJti0n.
However, the developement OF the press gave South
America that literature. Although young and be
tfpying the influence Of the French literature wncl
1t took Tor model, it does not want either In indie
pendence, originality, or vigor, which 1t elevated
over the Spanish literature Of days. In the first
years Of Its existence il with pride show amongst
IFS representatives some great literary men, such as
Andres Bell0, Ventura Banc0 Enc8lads, DR.. Viii,
jose BsTros Pasos; poets like Olmedo. Guillermo
Masea EcheverTa, Marmol; hist 3rans such a Baralt
Lastana; theplCgians, publicists philosophers and
even eminent men Of science. whose works would do
honor to any European literature. The press, Ieav-
ing its circle of political action found in literature
new element Of civilization and Of moral and intel
lectual progress for South America.
The statistical summary which Sr Godoi presents
OF the Spanish American press must necessarily con-
tain some inaccuracies In ts details since the press
in these countries Is subject to very frequent changes
and newspapers appear and disappear with an in
credible rspfdity, that II s almost an absolute i'm
possibility to know at stated time what is the true
circulation Of the press. ST.. Godoi, well aware Of
this dtncuity expresses himself this p0int in the
following manner
in South South America there exists no statistics
Of the press. Il s very difficult TO ascertain its cir
culation and extent. We have no official documents
to aid u.s. but have Ia our possession the richest
most varied and most curious collection Of peri0di-
Gals In the world. We accept of this opportunity 70
tender our thanks to our friend M. Psol0, who had
the kindness TO furnish with precious accounts
on this matter.
The first periodical was founded in Chile, 1912.
In 1855, forty years later. 192 wspapes pub
shed In Spanish America, which are distributed In