The true Democrat., 1857-05-26
Modern Journalism.

The reiectmg mind, in contemplating the characteristics of modern civilizaton and in noting the elements which give it its peculiari- ues, will not fail to bestoW marked prominence upon the discovery of printing as the produc- tion oi inventive genius which has had the most marked effect upon tie d6stiuies of the race of any yet made. It, more than any other aSeLcy, has changed the whole face of modern society; and, ill the future, it Is destined to work changes no less miraculous, as no other human power can. Whether for the common veal or wo, depends, ID great measure, whether the rights and duties of the press are properly un- deratood, appreciated, and observed
 To illustrate the character of the modern journalist, we may note that his labors are des tuned to supersede those powerful efforts of orAlory which surprised and delighted the an cleHt world as they flowed from the lips of Dcmosthenes, burning with the hatred of Phil r, and Jealous for the preservation of his coun- try's liberties and the luStre of her civilization intact; or of a Cicero, denouncing in thunder tones, III behalf of an outraged people, the man Who under the supposed shield of authority. dared topIunder rob, and murder. The orator was then naturally the informant of the people, as well as their leader; and, as he rose upon the-bema, he held the curious populace, as well by the charm of novelty, as of power. But surprise, the so powerful coadjutor of ancient eIoquence, has been taken away from the mo- dern speaker by the seepess press
 The modern journalist usurps the province allotted to the other, and acts upon a larger scae-speaks to a larger audience. It is now the daily press which gives not the net result only of our theories and speculations, which constitutes our deeds, and which, when chroni- pl lpI fall n6ar ha hoo nc opens up new avenues of thought, and breaks up the ground for the ideas which, believed and adopted shall be for "cursing or bles- slng' to the nations; for as man Minketh, so is he,' and so may he be expected to act So much for the power of the press.
 It has its responsibilities too. It is its prov ince to sustain and prop powerless virtue it is its province to assist in frownins down vice; it Is its province to point out evil existing in the social, moral and political world, and to sug- gest the remedy for curing them, it is its prov Ince, in word, whilst censuring what is good ln existing institutions to hail all progress in arts and arms.
 Some ten or fifteen years ago it was estima- tel that no less than sixty thousand persons in Paris alone obtained their support, directly or indirectly, from thls source; whilst it Is suppos. ed that Ill the time of Louis XI there were not more than ten thousand persons employed as copyists, in all France Rehecting upon these and kindred facts, we can readily see how de- mocracy is the inevitable result of prnting- And it is worthy of observatan how many Congresses and Parliaments have been thereby moditied, and how the journalist Is destined to unite more and more in his own person the functions of the legislator, priest, and teacher.
 Being power of such d character, it is in the highest degree important to the pubic well fare that its rights and duties should be we'll understood. The conductor of journal is not to be viewed as one engaged in private enter prise merely, but he is to be considered as the representative of the masses of the country. His constituency, no less than that of the mem Der of Congress, is the people. The govern ment in our America being professedly for and by the will of the people, does and ought to cooperate with the journalists of the country for the public good. So far as we are concern ed, it will be our endeavor to be faithful to what we conceive to be the true mission of the alist.--States.