The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-10-05
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rAsrs - sonperlsiysly lev Who fbIly
eonpsshsnd how Important portion Of the
1oSAineey q eoeiev ~ pres has cone 70
- ID , - eFoas and almost cole instru-
nenaalig y vhish tie people ass broasht
tnA aeQaaintAaeo with i@poetaat public
i6oas, boding and representative men,
- vide variety Of installations, Aeeadly
ssacbing proportions and projects, and d
noet limitless scope Of public motives and
movements The press bailds up and il pulls
down. Now the header Of the popular mind,
and now it, voice and sxpositor, it 10 the
grand agent BY which mind 10 classified,
thrown into masses, fused, and brought to
bear upon given points Of political, social
and religious policy, Not an institution
springs into birth that does not tax its
friendly services. Not movement j. origi
mated that doss not rely upon Il for its motive
force IL in effect, though indirectly, makes
eOvernora. members Of Congress, presidents,
and eli public olIcsrs elected BY the people;
and Il nn.nakes thea There are none "
eolf.eu6eisot . . decline Id aid in the &C
conpliShnsnt Of their objects, whether these
objects b personal Or public. The author
saccseds Or fans - the press praises or
damns him. The politician wins or loses as
the prcss supports or deserts him. Arbiter
and servant lord and laborer, leader, COM
paniea and follower Of the people, it is to-
day, and il 10 growing emphatically more
and more % every day, the life and power
Of al popular movement Whatsoever.
Vow il 10 proper to enquire what honor 10
popularity accorded to the press. How do
leaders and people show their appreciation
Of the agency which mot only gives them
their daily intellectual feed, but moves them
b the intelligent decision Of the great ques-
tiois submitted 70 thsm7 Perhapa nothing
exhibits Tie estimation in which the press is
held By public men better than the subor-
bordinato place accorded to it ON nearly all
public occasions Men who are indebted to
the press for their positions and for all that
they are, digniraties who are the creations
holding . subordinate rank il the affairs of
society and government, are always remem-
bsred before the press. The fifteenth
toast u tossed out to working fellows who
make occasions respectable by reporting
them, and. save public regulations by sur
pressing nonsense and substituting respect
able for sxscrabls grammar.
There 10 . class of gentlemen associated
with oil live newspapers who, though they
may not bs regarded with contempt BY the
public, are still far from having the hon
orabls position which Of right belogs to
them. He may be dinsd and pstted in Ger.
tain circles for certain purposes; or, what
% better st,ll, in many instances for his res
pectabls talenss.and position, and personal
worth. But who thinks OF honoring the re-
porter? Many Q time have We seen him re-
yarded - meusing eaves-dropper, a meddler
with other peoples business, a bother o
plague, when those that condemned him
we're entirely dependent upon him for their
enterprise the people themselves relying
upon him for their information touching the |
progress Of events. There is probably NO
man in the community who works SO hard, |
aight and day, 10 subject to 90 many vicis-
STUDIES, and 10 90 important as the only
public voice Of living facts as the reporter,
yet the owner of fast horse, or an unusual
bull, Or a pretty title receives greater con.
,ideration always. More honor and atten-
lion, say We, to these faithful, laborers,
philosophical fellows who chronicle for mil
ions the acts, and paint for the world the |
acts, of the ever-present and the ever-pass. |
ng To-Day. The keenest observers and the |
'hrewdsst readers Of character America |
are among the reporters of the
laily press. There is no such ordeal for a
,ublic speaker in this country as that little
'and OF scribblers who spread his speech
,efore the world. There is no sett OF men
n the land who take public mans gauge
o readily as they.
In our opinion, the time has fully come
hat the press as an institution, and those
Who control it and contribute to it as men,
hould exact the tribute of honor due them.
Every year the press makes greater and still
reater demands tor talent and acquisition
amiliarity with the broad range OF subjects
hat interest the public mind, ON the part of
hose who manage the press Every year
nat passes increases the importance of the
ress as An institution Millions rely upon {
for their sole reading. 1t has lifted itself
ut OF the hands Of petty politicians and
official cliques, and become powerful, {
agency in the civilization OF the
GO. 1t 10 time, therefore, that the press, Z
enewed and revivifed, and relieved of these {
ervile associations, should stand where
belongs, among the foremost of institutions 8
very where, and its representatives placed
here they belong, among those men who ,
Ibor and think for their age There is no {
vanity in this. 1t is a matter s
lvolving a dignifsd selfrespect, and CON- /
ION propriety and justice; and any news
lper man conssnting good naturally, to be t
sed tor the purpose of great men or small, |
nd then good naturally to receive their
icks, curses and sights, is unworthy of his {
'sition and ssociation.-[ Springfield Re. /
ablican.