Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-10-29
For the Republican.
The Press..Its Influence.

For the Republican.
The Press..Its Influence.
A little more than four hundred years ago,
when the nations of the earth were groping in
mental darkness and corrupted with all the vices
that fiendish imagination had been able to in
vent, little flame was kindled amid the wales
of Germany, seen only by few, the magic ef-
fects it was soon to exert upon the constitution
of society, comprehended by none. This was
the discovery of the art of printing-nade by
John Guttemburg, in l45o. The type at first
wer cut with knife; the press was a rude and
ineffective structure; and the art necessarily re-
manned in a very imperfect state for great
length of time. Within fifty years, however,
it has made rapid strides toward perfection,
and is now one of the most perfect arts praetlsed
by men; and it is, moreover, one of the great
elements of reform-the efficient aid in all ed
ueational enterprises. Its deep, pervading in
fuence is very frequently unapprieiated.
Would you, readers, realize the blessings of
liberty, let liberty be torn from you. Would
you feel the priceless worth of constant friend,
let such friend be separated by distance or by
death. So, if you would comprehend the oper-
Grafton and overwhelming influence of the press
in our day. you should first be deprived Of this
great element of mental and moral culture
Living as we do, admid the constant rays of this
orb, our imaginations cannot fathom the mental
gloom that must have existed in the present age,
had not the art of printing been discovered.
1t required the brilliant fancy and powerful in
vention of Milton to paint the horrid deformities
the grim and execrable shapes of Sin and
Death, and the eternal nothingness and pitchy
blaekness of Chaos; so will it require an artist
of almost equal power to picture the mental
darkness. the alterations and phantoms of big
otry and superstition which hangover most ma
tions in which the press has found no home.
Look at the books, the magazines, the tracts,
the monthly, weekly and daily newspapers,
issued in ono year by the press Of our county,
and contemplate for moment the vast. meal
culable influence which these exert upon the So
cial condition of our country.
Is there an opinion TO be formed upon any
question, social. moral or political? decision
to be given in a court of justice2 work to be
performed by the application of newly discov-
cred principles of science or art? Is there de-
sire TO learn the relations of man to man, of man
to God, the reforms that are convulsing the sew
eral nations of the earth, the habits, customs
and general character of different nations? Ex-
anime the productions of the press. Is there
great reform proposed7 Is there a railroad, q
canal or other joint stock public improvement,
to be made? Is there college or benevolent
institution to be founded? Is there law to be
passed or law repealed? Is man to be i'm
mortalized for some great act of benevolence
valor or rascality? Arouse the press! Arouse
the pressil
We are told that during the siege of Troy
when the Greeks had, under feint of going
gone around the island of Tenedos, the Troians
threw open the gates of the city, crowded to the
deserted camp of the Greeks, and pointing out
the Delops, there Archillos was encamped; here
was the place of the ships, and there the line:
were accustomed to contend. Imagine yoursel
gentle reader, Trojan,-our country, the Gre.
clan camp-the press, the Grecian army-gc
forth in fancy and let your Judgment point ou
the footprints of this modern army upon thi
modern encampment. All, your fancy vii
have wearied long ere you have visited its va
tr,,, ,bet Eor ~ &c IN, fbo
mortal mind to comprehend the influence which
the press has had in making our country wha
it is. Silently its influence moves forward, like
the first rays of morning light, conquering this
error-tearing down that stronghold of vice
building up this improvement, and moulding
that young mind. Since, then, it wields such
a mighty influence, it is truly lamentable thai
it is not dlrdys found upon the side of truth and
justice-that it has been found, and is STILL tounc
upholding infdelity in religion and politics
In many nations the press is curbed-abso-
lutely chained down. In such nations the spir.
it of inquiry is usually dampened; the progress
of society retarded; the thoughts of writers are
unprecedented with a scythe--pruned O
words that breathe bold and manly indepen-
dence. Here, however, in Republican Ameri-
ca, with joy be it said, the press is free. No
stately forms nor studied rules; no whims of roy.
atty or of lordly aristoeracy fetter the freedom
of expression or constant vigilance of this hanl.
maid of Liberty. On this account the press ha:
become more closely linked with the affairs o
government, and is the greatest lever We have
for moving public opinion.
That it may become still more devoted to the
dissemination of truth-still more active in the
cause of general education-still more vig1lan
in promoting the common interest of our coun
try-and sound the alarm at every effort to in
va de the bulwark of Liberty, should be the fer
vent prayer of every American.
XENoPHoN.