Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-13

DE DNOOOIIl UNDEh u II IN
FLUENCE OF PUBLIC OPINION,
If NOT OF LEGAL ACTION!
~Time was, when the Gazette,
had q potent voice in the affairs Of
Davenport and doubtless it did good
service in the early struggles of our
city. 1t chronicled tie arrival of
steamboats, and immigrant wagons,
published 'prlces current" and the
advance OF real estate, and hcralded
the advent of some new oyster shop,
or ice cream saloon as "city features
Of exceeding import. This was all
right aud acceptable, and as far as it
went gave general satisfaction. But
the telegraph and railroad era inaugu-
rate q new system Of public journalism,
that required degree Of ability com
mensurate with the great and growing
interests Of a metropolitan city. "Mat-
ters Of great pltk and moment were
10 be discussed, and every days events
assumed An Importance that demand
ed thought, intelligence and judgment
to cope with and clucidate. AS was to
be supposed the press became An indis-
pensable auxiliary to the well beng OF
the community, and talent and experl-
ence were not long wanting 10 render
it the essential vehicle of the public
mind. New presses were established,
and politics, and local affairs assumed
. more complicated form. Mind was
to he measured against mind, aud con
fictlng opinion, sustained and reiuted
and general intelligence disseminated
We do not pretend that the gazette
has not acted well lis part IN this IN
telleclua. strife, and doubtless it has
been encouraging J sustained by those
Of It's own mode Of thinking. But 1t
has lost lie prerogatlye OF oIacular po-
tency- and as AL equal, superior or III
ferior journal, must stand side by side
with the other journals IN the race for
popular iavor-as Its own relative mer-
it will determine. To be leading
journal involves the possession of SUI
perior acutcness and ability and power
Of glasping public sentiment and
weaving it into its columns in such
form and color as will reflect, not shape
public opinion. The public always
claim to think for themselves, and AS
the exponent OF their opinions, the
press Is ever arraigncd before that su
preme tribunal. Is, that tribunal and
that standard We are ever ready to be
judged.
The Gazette resting its claims upon
its seniority, and entirely regardless Of
the fact that the field is now jointly
occupied by respectable competitors,
assumes to wrap itself in the ermine of
self constituted authority, and de
nOCnce in unmeasured terms, any pol
icy that does not seem to it to comport
with their own judgment of what is for
the public good-and in chastizing one
recreant journal rides rampant over
the RUNS Of others; which it has
"crushed to the lowest depths of public
contempt" 1t crouches its language
in the style and tone Of victorious
monarch, who after hard fought bat
tie, sees around him the discounted
enemy and intends to show no quarter.
In abiding to the currency question"
it congratnlates itself upon the "happy
results" OF its warfare, and concludes
BY saying that "now that the struggle
y over" meaning undoubtedly that it
has done lighting, but seeming to mean
that it has achieved victory. And
in true Napoleonic style, circulates
bulletins when it has not gained the
slightsst advantage. The Gazette mis-
takes its position. 1t is not the axe of
the fasces but only one Of the rods.
II will 6nd every inch Of ground con-
tsoted Whenever it assumes to advocate
error and can never hope to arrive
agsin q that acme Of success it enjoy
odWhoa + nd noue near 70 controveEt
~ ~~rx1ASn t@&4@