The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-07-19

There is no question that the system Of "puf-
ling.n which too many newspapers have adopt
ed in California, is highly detrimental to the
true interests Of community. 1t white-washes
villains; it elevates fools to positions which ma
ture never designs them for, and too often
makes practices creditable. which otherwise
would appear in there true light, as intolerable
nuisances to Society. The Golden Era an ex-
cellent and well known Weekly, newspaper of
San Francisco, in reference to this evil makes
the following very just remarks:
ga worthy Contemporary in a recent lecture
to his brethren Of the quill. justly, we think,
remarked that 1.-The conductors of public jour-
nails have. as q gcnral thing. a very inadequate
idea of the Importance Of the position they oc-
cupv and the influence they WELD Many of
them are content to manage their presses solely
with reference to the pecuniary interests involv-
eL. little rejecting that Ivy iudcious manage
ment they could not only subserve their for
tunes. but elevate themselves socially and po-
litcally 1t has been thus that newspaper edi-
tors have rendered themselves liable to a con-
tinual and systematic course of imposition from
all sorts and classes of men and institutions"
1t is proverbial that the press of California
has been prostitued by system of putting and
manufacturing. to order. great men out of al
most any sort of material. Heroism is not me-
zcessary hera-Bravery need be nothing more
khouder-L ting Intellect is not at all
"a. In fact. a skilful paragraphist, who
Sway in the columns of a newspaper,
ke great. or at least notorious man,
"a nonentity. No element supposed ne
y to man of mark, is required. The
st '.ninIies" have been inflated, like a bag
lind, and sent up among tie stars. The
heanest pettfogging lawyer that ever disgrace
Fed the criminal courts of the East, comes here,
:.sees the editors.r is forthwith pronounced by
them a second Lycurgus, and is recommended
to judge ship. A surgeon rudely saws off
leg and the morning paper chronicles it as q
feat in surgery. a div reads second hand
ed sermon at the top of 4 cracked voice, and is
forthwith gazatted as an eminent, learned, ell
oquent logical pieus, and christian minister of
the WORD of God A .iackanapes delivers
4th of July grafton. and is pronounced the De-
mosthenes OF his dag. An actor. "a rebustuous
| pcriwig-patcd fellow-capable of nothing but
| inexpicaile dumb shows and nese." having
| become tired OF ranting in the Eastern theatres
at Sl0 per week Ends his way to California,
! gets on the Fright side'' of the knights of the
/ quill, and presto.-his name appears in huge
! letters. and his genius the theme of admiring
! thousands-the rush-light becomes dazzling
''st-r." And idle 'hanger on" not knowing
| what to do with his time. writes a sketch or
/ two for has favorite paper. makes a hit" and
! is immed ately placed among the Literary gent
uses of the age. And so it is with the mt nbers
of every prolession-the modest and truly de-
serving being thrust aside to make room for
such as editors may please to elevae by ''well-
directed pufery." 1t is a shame and a disgrace
and has served to render the press OF California
mere nothing"