The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
n,.. p...s ard Pnbl,e Morals.

Press
All admit saws the Philadelphia North Ameri-
can. the vast influence exercised by an unshack-
led nress. That this influence is altogether fA-
voyable no one familiar with the history OF
oor;odieal literature will presume to affirm
THAT the benefits, however, are out Of all pro-
norton to the evils, is demOnstrAble. We give
nm the cause of free State whea we sacrifice the
free press. If the former are not better ntteo
70 advance the national prosperity ana lhtei-
lectual development Of mankind than STATES
founded upon arbitrary principles, then tne
argument in favor of free press is at an end.
Because free press is only possipie IN iree
State and il free State is not desirable, then
we must necessarily give up the press, which is
one of its striking characteristics. But England
and the United States having strong anectlon
for the principles of political freedom, have o
equally strong attachment to an unsnackIeu
press The journals of the two countries supply
the intellectual pabulum of unnumDered Inou-
sands. They stimulate inquiry, impart KNOW
ledge, and form public opinion. Inc iieenuous-
ness Of the press is standing phrase, but very
imperfectly understood. When we denounee
the licentiousness of the press, We indirectly
denounce the licentiousness OF the public. ln Q
pure state of public morals, licentlous press is Is
imnossible. 1t could not exist. 1t would fall
from sheer want of support. A lcentious press
is the offspring not the creation, OF puollc lIn
morality. The tone of the press in England, az
the present day, is healthy vigorous, and man
lv. In the last century it was scurrilons and
inaammatory. Why was it so? The question
is answered by Massey in his History OF Eng
land during the reign of George the Third
His observations are so interesting and so just
that we may do the reader service by trans
ferrinr them to our columns, especially as his
work Is little known in this country:
in
chiefly sustained by libel, is merely to repeat
that the taste of society was depraved. Lite
rature, in a highly artificial state OF society, is
as much q matter of demand and supply as any
other article of trades and commerce whicn Is
dependent on the caprice Of fashion. Slander
and satire being called for, are produced as
ready as low dresses and short pettlcoats are
produced when called for by the arbfrators OF
millinery To praise or blame the morality or
immortality of journalists, as the case may be, is,
therefore, to fall into the common error OF mis-
taking effect for cause. II the public desire to
be instructed on the topics Of the day, men OF
character and education will come forward as
public instructors. When party spirit runs
high, an inferior class of journalists iinds EN-
ployment. Inscriptions mercenaries and dls-
appointed adventurers who will affirm what
they know to be false, or pervert what they
know to be true are the writers to serve the
turn. At this period there was little or no
demand for the higher order of political wrl-
ters.
"Party spirit outside the walls Of Parliament,
was so languid, that the public no longer cared
to read how the Ministry were saving or ruin
ing the nation. Pamphleteers, who appealed
to the country on the alarming crisis of affairs,
appealed in vain But tracts which gave the
secret of the Princess Dowager's intrgues with
the Earl of Butte. or the private life of the Duke
of Cumberland met with grand sale. The
public were much more interested in the do
mestic history Of public man, than in bis po-
litical character and conduct. Several periodi-
cal publications ministered almost exclusively
to the demand for gossip and scandal. And
these papers paid their contributors more lib
orally than the respectable journals. No great
skill or talent was required 10 please the taste
Of the public. Their appetite was not nice, and
their credulity seldom rejected any fable, now
ever gross"
The morals of mankind have their ebbs and
flows. In a long continuance Of war or of pros
perity, the nerves Of virtue are apt to become
relaxed The public taste, grown prurient and
morbid, demands at such times, a literature
highly seasoned with gossip and scandal, satire
and invective. Such literature no doubt is of
evil tendency, but in denouncing it, do not let
us forget the cause that produced it, Reform
the age, and literature will take care to reform
ITSELF