The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-11

WEEKLY JOURNAILsM-DYMG HARD-The
New York Tribune is, we zee, groaning over the
decline OF the circulation of it's weekly edition
the main prop Of its establishment. It CON-
pains that 1t has latte1ly lost thousands of sub
scribers through the influence Of the postmasters-
some acting under the influence of political con-
s.raint, others through hearty good will 1t is
natural enough that the Tribune, which made its
circulation through the instructions issued TO the
postmasters under General Taylor, should now
attribute its decline to similar agency. This,
however, lie mere sham Surprising the post
masters to be hostile to it, interests there are
other ways Of supplying the paper than through
the post. A paper having to fight against poll
teal Influences ike those alleged, would have no
difficulty in placing its subscribers beyond their
reach. That the Tribune has not succeeded In
doing 60 is proof that there are other agencies
at work than those assigned.
There are few persons who have watched the
course Of Journalism in this country who have
not marked the ephemeral character of
the weekly press. Weekly newspapers are
luxury, not necessity, and hence
they are subject to fluctuations and changes
unknown to the daily press. A daily newspaper
represents the wants. the wishes and the bust
ness interests Of the community, aud it conse.
quently grows with the growth and strengthens
with the strength Of the locality in which it Is
published. 1t must be the grossest mismanage-
ment, and q total abandonment of the business
principles in which successful daily journal has
been established which diminish its circulation
and deprive it of its status. We have seen the
effect Of srch Encouragement in the case Of one
OF two of the leading London dailies; and, on the
other hand, we have before us that Of the London
Times, which, Notwithstanding its frequent
changes of political views, maintains its circula-
ton and its supremacy solely through its bust
ness energies and its close attention to the public
wants We have witnessed repeated failures of
the same sort here; but in every instance they
have been occasioped by the attempt to create
by political influences solely what must be the
growth of the popular necessities in the various
other branches Of public affairs.
There is nothing surprising therefore In the
fact Of the decline of the Weekly Tribune It
represents no business want, it is the organ of
10 great interest, social, religious or political
People can breakfast dine and sup With the most
perfect equsnimity without having perused the
Weekly Tribune, though whether they can sleep
without its aid is not quite so certain. This
weekly Is, in fact, only obeying the inevitable law
which governs the existence Of such publications.
II is one Of a brood Of hebdominal journals which
start periodically into le thrive for while on the
freaks OF public TASTE and then die cut, from the
absence Of consistency in the causes that called
them into being. We have witnessed in our time
constant succession of these artifcially incu-
bated newspaper broods, but we do not recollect
single instance of one of them reaching re-
spectacle old age. The Weekly Tribune is reach
ing the termination Of its mortal career through
natural and not through political process and
it might as well give up the ghost honestly, with
out saddling the postmasters With 20 innocent q
murder.