San Andreas independent., 1857-07-04

[From the Democratic Review of April 1851
The Press

@ In this land of freedom almost every reli-
gious sect, every shade of political persuasion
every ism in philosophy, morals, ethics. or taste
has its organ, which. in many cases, is the only
means of heralding its existence to the world
Each of these organs is a propagandist after its
own fashion; butts usefulness is generally con-
fined to ascertaining, by its circulation the num-
Der of adherents to a particular doctrine and
most of them have involved their founders in
loss and ruin. Even qnack physicians have es-
tablished organs, in the shape of newspapers
relating the most wonderful cures of their pam
aceas and sarsaparillas, and denouncing the
faculty as a set of ounces, only fit to lecture in
colleges, and increase the mortality of our prin-
clpal cities. To suppose that these organs help
to organize society, expose error, and teach
truth, would be sad mistake. Their natural
tendency is to create anarchy in religion and
politics, and they become harmless only by their
excesses, which stimulate readers to become
critics The very fact that readers are accus-
toned to make allowances for the partialities,
lncinations and incorporate zeal of organs, is
sufilclent to destroy their power, and defeat the
purpose for which they were established.
Another reason why so many organs fail to
meet the expectation of their founders, is the
necessity IN which they are involved of attack
ing those who arc opposed to them This gives
thelr articles a controversial tone, and an air
OF unfairness and illiberalty to others, which
defeats its own object The want of candor in
the organ shakes the faith of the believer, and
is not apt to make converts of the doubtful
The interest of the reader, then, is confined to
guessing at the object of the writer he studies
the author, not the essay, and is already beyond
the organs reach. The ardor and enthusiasm
of the organ, while it makes the reader cautious
and iii Struc ffuI ctip ol
of the opposite side; and in the middle of the
excited poles, the great body of the public re-
mains perfectly indifferent. 1t is with this re-
gard that shrewd and dispassionate observers
of men and things have remarked that organs
are OF no use to any body nay, that they hurt
the cause which they intend to promote. This
is especially true with regard to those organs
which are designed to promote the fortunes of
individuals, by placing them in positions which
they do not occupy before the public and which
neither themselves nor the organ are able to
sustain. Such organs must necessarily degen-
crate into mere panegyrists of men-the most
insignificant position that can be occupied in
an educated and enlightened community. and
the most incompatible with self-respect. We
might here, by way of illustration, point to GER
tain organs that were, and others which are in
existence: but we forbear, in charity, from any
personal allusion.
Let us now take view of the party press,
and, in connection with it. of that press which
is pleased to style itself independent" Wherev-
er there is freedom of discussion, there will
be parties, that is, men disposed to take one or
the other side of every question that presents
itself. The existence of parties is inseparable
from human reason it is the abstract faith in
this or that exposition of principle, or in the
men who serve as its eXponents, which consti-
tutes the partizan. OF all the principles which
exercise direct influence on mems happiness
in this life, the most important are those which
regulate society; and the highest of these, the
principles which serve as rules to society in the
form of government. 1t is NATURAL therefore
that those principles should excite the most
lively and abiding interest, and that the discus
sion of them should in many instances be con-
Quoted with warmth bordering on passion. The
interests of individuals or classes seldom run
parallel with those of the entire community as
i'm aggregate; and states and governments are
not exclusively constructed on abstract reason,
but have an historical origin and progress which
often conflict with theoretical propositions
however just and irrefutable in themselves To
introduce harmony into these conflicting ele-
ments, and to promote the general good by the
least sacrifice of individual interests is the great
problem of the statesman to persuade men into
the embrace of particular doctrines, and, as
means of establishing these, into the support of
particular men who serve as their exponents is
the business of the politician. The manner in
which this is done, and the purpose which is
had in view, mark the degEee and elevation of
that class of gentlemen; and a mere appeal to
the passions and prejudices 81 men, as means
of establishing doctrines or securing power is
the characteristic of the demagdgue. The press
may represent each and all of these grades and
capacities; hence the Importance of improving
its tone and character. 1t is through the press
that the great mass of the people should speak
to each other daily from all parts and sections
of the country.
The proper business of the press is to serve,
not as the organ of particular persons or inter-
ests, but as the organ of public opinion The
press ought to be the mirror of the public mind
after it has done its duty in presenting facts as
they actually occur; neither adding to them nor
suppressing what is necessary to enable the
public to exercise its judgment upon them. This
is what the press oughtto be, in free and en-
lightened country let us see what it is.
In the first place. each party has one or more
leading presses at the seat of government, then
a leading press in each of the State capitals, and
one or more leading presses in every large At
lantic or inland city and if there is difference
of opinion among the followers of particular
creed, then each fraction of the party have again
a leadinq journal for the propagation of its her.
estes. All these journals, from their very vo-
cation. do not content themselves with ret7ectinq
public opinion they Lead it; in other words,
they represent the views of the editors, publish
ers natrons and wire workers behind the scenes
as the opinion of the public. In this the press
is almost daily guilty of frauds upon the public
either in suppressing facts and truths in regard
to the subjects they treat of or in suggesting.
by way of inference from what they state as
true that which is false.
The leading presses of the country, even with
the best intentions, are in continual danger of
becoming the mere tools of public men, to whom
they act as sycophants. They lead the masses,
while themselves follow men whom nature has
rarely endowed with the capacity of leaders
In this vocation they garble facts, suppress cir