The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-11
CURIOUS FACTS IN JOURNALISM,
NORTH AND SOUTH. &

NORTH AND SOUIH. 81
Richmond, in the State of Virginia, is town
of about forty thousand inhabitants, ofail shades
of color. In 1850, its population was only
1850, of which only 1924 were white and
supposing the present estimated number 10 De oil
vided in similar proportions, the whites would
fall below twenty-five thousand. Yet this small
population supports FIVE daily journals, II nc
more, and four of them-viz: the Ehqaarer, the
WHO the Examiner, and the So,th-are among
the most widely read and quoted newspapers IN
the whole Union, if we except those OF New
York 1t is to be remembered that there is
nothing ephemeral or spasmodic in the success
of the Richmond press. The Enquirer has been
in existence ffty-four years, the Wing perhaps
forty, the Erami,.er for several years, and the
South though, of recent origin, is not behind
the oldest in the mark it makes upon the poll
tics of the day. These newspapers are large
and wei! printed, and keep up with the progress
of the age by charging their dimensions and
improving their Typography.
Charleston has white population not greater
than that of Richmond, and is equally distin-
guished for the ability and influence of its
newspaper press. The whole country is famil
lar with the editorials of the Mercury, which are
quoted by friends and foes for their oracular
significance. 1t is one of the oldest and best
established journals in the Union, and bids fair
to out-last the peculiar institution itself
which at present supplies the pabulum on which
it subsists.
New Orleans is likewise distinguished, like
Richmond and Charleston, for an undue share
of editorial vitality and force. The Della, the
Picdyune, the Crescent, the Bee, and the Courier,
are all able and leading journals, whose die
la we see quoted as authorities in other parts
of the Union.
But, if we go North, we find that the press out
has an influence upon the politics of the country
far less marked than that of the Southern Jour
nails referred to. Boston, with its two hundred
thousand inhabitants, its immense wealth,
it's admirable institutions of learning, its
unapproachable literary culture so far as
paper like the Charleston Mercury or the
Richmond Enquirer, whose editorials are read
in all parts of the land with eager interest. We
doubt not that the Atlas, the Post, and the
Advertiser, are conducted with as much abil
ity as their Southern contemporaries, but they
fail to make an equal impression upon the
public mind The same is true of the press
of Philadelphia, Baltimore Cincinnati, and
scores of places whose population far exceeds
that of the cities of Virginia and South Car
DINA.
The facts to which we have called attention
Northern pride We have theory for explain
ing the anomaly, which we submit, but We
shall be glad to. see the views of others upor
the subject.
The circumstances by which the newspaper.
in the Northern and Southern cities are sur
rounded differ in the following particulars
l. There are very few daily newspapers il
Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisiana, out
side of the three principal cities, Richmond
Charleston, and New Orleans whereas, in the
free States, every town of five or ten thousand
inhabitants has from one to three dailies, ant
this excessive competition is to reduce the pric,
of newspapers below the point at which safe
and permanent investments can be made.
2. In the free States, there is common
focus of news and manufactory of opinion, New
York city, which has, in consequence of it
commercial superiority, acquired an ascendency
in this particular which is indisputable. Thi.
common centre will not answer for the South
as it does for the North and West, in conse
quence of the sensitiveness in that section upor
the subject of Slavery. The great newspaper
of New York, which, in consequence partly o
their cheapness, are a serious obstacle to tn,
success of other Northern city papers, are rare
ly seen south of Mason and Dixons line, excep
by editors and few leading politicians.
g. But third and material cause for the supe
rior success of the Southern journals, and thu
sole cause of their superior influence, is the fac
that they are identified 10Th great, though bat
cause They are superlatively and intensely OF
one side of the great controversy, and act as i
they were ready to sink or swim with it. Thei
vocation is not so much that of journalists a
propagandists of ideas, and educators of tn
people. The great facts and principles which
divide parties and sections form the staple O
their editorial comments; and by vigorous
statement passionate appeals to the prejudice
of section and caste, and eloquent exhortatiol
to action, they awaken and keep awake tina
spirit of eternal vigilance" which is the pric,
of political success. When will Northern edit
| ors loorn tho moral which these Ca orc taaob 2