Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-10-23
From the Philadelphia North American.
The Newspaper.


The Newspaper, like most other permanent
and powerful things, is of slow growth. Its
origin was very humble. At first the little
sheet, issued wsekly, or twice week, confin-
ed itself strictly to publishing such news as
was allowed by the authorities to be printed.
Discussion was hardly ventured on at all and
when any editor was bold enough to comment
on politics, and offend the government he was
sure to be prosecuted. The newspaper was
barely tolerated, and was early regarded with
suspicion by the authorities, as if they already
understood the immense influence that was
latent in the apparently insignificant little TO
lio. Such was the condition of the newspa-
per in Great Britain for much more than a
| century, during which it maintained a preca-
rious and uncertain eXistence-supported by
| the citizens and the country gentlemen, who
were eager for news-distrusted by the gov
erning classes But all the while it was gain
ing strength, increasing the range OF its top
les, and securing the right of freedom of all
discussion, until our time witnesses the pub
lication of newspaper like the London Times,
employing the highest talent, and eXerting, i'll
combination with contemporary journals, an
influence in Great Britain second to no pow
er in the empire The London Times has
more than one cabinet and makes itself felt
in the various departments Of the govern
| ment.
But nowhere else is the influence of the
newspaper so great as in the United States.
No press in the country exerts tlthe of the
power possessed by the London Times, but
| the combined effect of our papers is irrcsis-
tible.
| al I tlnf
with the United States. No matter how high
ly cultivated an individual may. be, he still
reads his paper and to tens of thousands
the newspaper is the only library. 1t must
then, be source Of congratulation that news
Stunning a high character. Editors are every
day feeling more and more that they are the
principal instructors and guides of a very large
class, and the result is that they labor place
before their readers articles of a useful ma
ture containing matter of speculation, inter
csts, or practical utility. We know thai
some persons believe the tone and character
of the newspaper to be declining But We
are confident that they arc i'll a great error
and that more ability, attainments, consisten
cy and courtesy arr. displayed by the press
than at any former period. Those who choos,
to amuse themselves by looking over files o
journals published thirty or forty years ago
will be convinced of this fact.
We do not mean to say that there is ne
room for improvement or that all paper.
published are possessed of a proper tone ant
character. But our remarks apply to thu
largest part of the journals published in thi.
country. Unfortunately, when a newspaper
is published exclusively in a party interest
and is thoroughly imbucd with a party spirit
it sometimes is most unjus in its criticisms
and unfair in its teachings. 1t misleads thos'
that it should guide, confirms prejudices, ant
fans anger and jealousy into a flame. Some
times, too, newspaper is open to purchase
1t may be bribed. But these cases are TIN
exception, and as the character of a newspa
per is soon pretty generally known, tn
influence of a bitter partisan sheet, or cor
rupt one, is greatly weakened, and the mis-
chief they might do, if implicitly followed i
lessened or reduced almost to nothing. Be
sides one paper counteracts the injurious ten
dency of another. When almost every coun
try town has at least two papers, the ban
and antedote are taken together-erroneou
teaching is promptly followed by its correc
ton.
SO, after making all deductions of the alb
CREATIONS of the press, the newspaper remain
with us the great handbook ofthe multitude
giving to them all the knowledge they hav
the time, capacity, or inclination to acquire
1t is the popular expositor of politics, law
literature, science and philosophy. 1t stand
between the student in his closet, the rap
astronomer in his observatory, the geOlogi>
who is busted in the exploration Of strata, tn
naturalist engaged in collecting and examir
ing his specimens; and it is the interpreter {
one to the other. And, besides it is micro
cosm of the world. 1t reports what is spoke
and done by governments and legislatures
and public bodies. 1t records equally tn
movement of armies, and the arrival and dc
parture of merchantmen. The newspape
describes alike battle and its results, or a
accident to a child in the streets. 1t repor,
the state of the markets, as well as treaties an
conventions to which great powers are partie
And so it has come to be in the United State
the historian and the tutor of the people, an
an Indispensable conseryator of public libert
and order.