Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-02-18
Hard Times and Country Papers.

The Bosfon Chronicle, in an article on
this subject, remarks truly:
"If people only knew the difficulties
newspaper publishers had to contend with
just now. they wouli never want to be
dunned halfa-dozcn times for such a small
amount as two or thre.. or four dollars
Labor, paper and ink have to be paid for in
cash; yet we doubt very much if there arc
any establishments which could not be made
more than rclf-sustaining, if customers
would only pay what they owe, without ta-
king from one to two years to do it in
If the press of the country gradually de-
clines both in numbers. ability, and respect
ability, those who have abused the leniency
Of its pIoprictors in the matter of credits,
will be alone to blame for the unfortunate
issue. And that such will be the case we
can plainly foresce. The storm in the com
mereial world will destroy the weakest,
and many of our newspapers. Men cannot
perform miracles, and Printers have as vet
failed to discover an easier way of satisfy
ing the demands of paperdcalers and the
cravings of Industrious workmen with any
thing but the pelf And how are they to
get this, when people will not pay the
Printer, is mystery, particularly, as the
banks do not accommodate country news
paper proprietors. Few people have any
idea of the labors of an editor-his trials
and difficulties all times. but particu.
larly at periods of embarrassment. He is
compelled. particularly in country offices,
to be the general factotum Of his establish
mcnt. Not only has he to write for the
benefit Of the public under all circumstances
lin sickness of body and distress of mind
Ito be at ono meeting in therdaytime and
another at anight--to leave friends and
family at the bill of every passing circum-
stance in the public world Of his own local
ity;; not only has he to do this, and sacri-
fee comfort. health and domestic pleasures,
but he is compelled to work at the "casc"
in every spare moment-to keep his own
books-to do his own collecting; in short.
from morning till night, from week to
week, and from year to year, to labor like a
slave. to provide himself and family with
bread And if he M axes bare living after
all, he may be well satisfied. for hundreds
do less. AMI how few there are who do
more. Work their establishments as cheap
~ as possible-.ive as frugalIy and eco
nohical as they can-yet few country pub
fishers secure as much property in dozen
years as an industrious mechanic will do in
half the time. The very nature ofthc news
paper business with its long credits and
small profits and bad debts-forbids any
thing like the accumulation Of wealth, and
we have very little hesitation in saying that,
had our country brethren, generally taken
their means and labor--their patience and
energy--to any other market than one
they have found for thcm,. they would have
this day been tenfold better off. in a. pecu-
mary point of view. than they are, or have
been, since they became newspaper propri-
h, Ast the public, ponder these faw.. ", simple
truths well, and make up their minds to
case the laborious occupation Of, the Prip
{ tes, BY paying him what he is honestly en-
n