Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-10-05
The Newspaper.

The newspaper. like many other permanent
and powerful things, Is Of slow growth Isor-
lgln was very humble. At first the little sheet
issued weekly, or twice a week, confined itself
strictly TO publishing such news as was allowed
by the authorities 10 be printed Discussion vas
hardly veutured on at all and y hen any editor
was bold enough 10 comment on politics and Of
fend the government, he WAS sure TO lie prose-
cuted. The newspaper was barely tolerated
ana WAS early regarded with suspicion by the
authorities If they already understood rhe
4 immense influence that as latent in the anna
rently Insignificant little folio such was .le
condition OF the newspaper in Great Britain for
much more than a century. during which il
maintained a precalloUs ana uncertain existence
supported 10y tie citizens ard country gentle
+ men who Were eaEer Tor news ~ dlstrBstcd tv
the governing classes. But all the while il was
gaining streuth, Increasing the range Of its top
les, AMI securing the night of freedom of all dis
eussion, until our time witnesses lie publication
OF 4 newspaper ike the London Times. esaploy-
ing the highest salent, and exertlnr in cornbi-
nation with contemporary Journals. an influence
in Great Britain second 10 30 power in the en-
pre-. The London Tones has been mainly in
strumental in overtlrowing more than one cab
met, and makes itself felt in the various de-
partments Of Government.
But nowhere els. Is the influence Of The news
paper 50 great rs In the United States. Eooue
press IN this country eXerts tiIhe of the power
possessed by the London Times but the united
effect Of our papers Is irresistible. The news
paper Is completely identified with the United
States. No matter how highly cultivated an
individual may be. he sill reads his paper and
TO tens OF thousands the Newspaper is Tie only
library. II must, then, be q source of con gratu-
latlon that newspaper literature is steadily I'M
prov ing and assuming higher character. Ed
liors are every day feeling more and more that
that they are the principal instructors and guide
ut very large class, and the result Is that they
labor TO place before their readers articles of a
useful nature, containing matter of speculation.
interest, or Of practical utility We know that
some persons believe the tone and character Of
the newspaper TO be declining. But We are
confident that they are in great error and that
more ability. attarments consistency and cour-
tesy are displayed by the press than al any for
mer period. Those who choose 10 amusc them
selves by looking over files of journals publish
ed thirty or forty years ago, viii be convinced
of this fact.
We do not mean to say that there is no room
Tor improvement or that all pauers published
! are possessed Of proper tone ald character
But "1r remarks apply to the largest part Of the
journals published IN this country. l+ulortu-
natcly. when newspaper is published cxclu-
Siycly IN party spirit, and j. thoroughly inn
bued with party interest, 1t sometimes is most
unjust in its criticisms and unfair in IT'S teach
iug~. 1t uisleads those that il should guide
confirms prciudiceS, and fans anger and jealousy
into a flame. Sometimes, too. a newspaper is
cases are the exception, and aS the chafac'e ar ot
( n newspaper is soon pretty generally known.
the influence of bitter partistn sheet, or a cor
rupt one, IS greatly weakened. and the mis-
chief they might do, if implicitly followed. is
les~eued or reduced almost to nothing. Besides.
/ one paper couuteracts the injurious tendency oi
another. When almost every county town las
at least two papers. the baue and aufidote are IA
ken togcthcr-erroneous teaching is promptly
followed Ly its correction.
So, after making all deductions for the aLber-
ratiors of the press. tie 7ev.=raper rcruaira
with US tie great hand book Of the multitude
giving to them al ,he knowledge they have The
time capacity. or inclination 10 acquire Ii Is
the popular exposition Of politics law, litera-
turc. science and philosophy il stands be-
tween The student in his closet the rapt astron-
omer in his observatory, the geolugi~t who IS
busted in the exploration Of strata. the natural
ISL engaged IN collecting and examining hiS
specimens, and ii is the interpreter of one 10 the
other. Aud, besides, II is 4 microco7Jn Of The
world. II reports what IS spoken and done l,y
governments. legislatures and public bodies Ii
records equally the movements Of armies and
the arrival and departure OF a mercbautmau.-
Tie newspaper describes alike battle and its
results on accident to child iu tLc streets
Il reports the state Of the markets. as well as
treaties and conventions TO which great powcr-
are parties. Aad - il has come TO hc, IN these
United States he historian and tie tutor f the
people, and an indispensable CONSERVATION ii pub
lie liberty and order.