Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-06-29
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 OLD HICKORY.
From the Madison (Ark.,) Pioneer

From the Madison (Ark4) Pioneer.
 The Press
 It is a conceded fact among political economists, that the mighty engine-the press-is possessed of incalculable power for either good or bad; and it is palpablc to all. At the present time it has reached a pinnacle of greatness which casts into utter shade all past or existing institutions. And the future promises an increase of power in the same ratio that the human family progresses in civilization and, of course, intelligence, in the cause of which progress, the press is certainly one of the principal, If not the most efficient laborers Even in countries, where the press is shack fed by the fiat of a despotic ruler or gov ernment, it is still powerful. This is SC well understood that every exertion is made to crush out its inherent spirit of liberty and gain 1t over to the ranks of the powers that be: to curtail it of its brightest charac- teristic and degenerate it to a prop for their shaky, obsolete thrones and constitu- tons
 In this gIoriously free land of ours the press is all-powerful. When rightly and legtimately conducted iL is the mouth piece of public opinion; the indispensable auxiliary, and often the creator or destr oyer, of politicians, parties and cabinets. What can withstand the thunderbolts hurled by an indignant unanimous press? It is the commercial mans best friend -the surest architect of his fortmes no man or Set of men can rise to emnence or distinction without it's aid.
 We believe that the periodic press will, eventually, usurp the places of all other species ol literature, and concentrate in it. sal. the best literary talent of the age pre5oHdSra'f;nSss a'f;Ss~sitf: s..:@ for !ss;eS having | it is the most difficult and trying of any department of literature; and it is an inn ! peIative necessity that a suiiciency of tall l ent and genius should be embodied in its management to cope with those difficulties --that its intrinsic merit may be on a par with it's immense power.
 Now ;s it not of the greatest importance that the press should be controlled bv an average amount of principle? We think it is: and we would say that some purity of style and matter, with modiuum of gentemanly discretion and courtesy, would not be out of place either. How much does it benefit the readers of newspaper, { more particularly the youthful ones, whose ideas of men and matters are pow erfully influenced by the paper their tami- lies take and support, to peruse gross per sonal abuse, clothed in bad grammar and worse language, heaped upon the devoted head of some unlucky wight to whom the writer may owe some petty grudge, or for any other reason, and in some cases for no reason? Does it improve the morals of reader that he has tiradeS of low, vulgar abuse served up to him weekly in the pa ! per he pays for? whole columns of unmit- gated billingsgate? aught that is wicket and immoral in the past private actions of men, paraded Tn print, construed and com mented upon with almost satanic viNlict- iveness? the lie banded from one party to . the other, with a frequency and impunitv that makes the blood of honorable men | boil in their veins with shame and indigna- ton? This is upholling the dignity of the press with vengeancel
 l What an intellectual feast for youthful and mature minds some Arkansas journals ! too often present. Issue after issue teem- l ing with wretched, trashy, immoral per sonalities; all that can be raked and scrap ! ed, without the least regard to decency or the feelings which ought to actuate gentle men, are leveed at an opponent, to be re- turned with interest. The foul puddle of malice is spewed from the columns of jour ! nals, some of whom are influential prints, whose matter, else, evince high order of l literary talent, and from their exalted po- sition in the ranks of the press are immen' e. ly the more culpable.
 Some writers seem to be possessed of the idea, that they cannot deal with pub lie or political opponent without dragging before the people all the bad that can be 1 gleaned together of his private life. This, according to all the laws of society and courtesy and chivalry, and Christianity, Is mean puny, sinful course of action; besides. 'tis an error. We have seen, (and they can be seen, in some of our lending Arkansas journals,) newspaper articles which are complete masterpieces of satire crushing, overwhelming criticisms on the public acts of public men-but, neverthe- less, models of style and dignity, without Single iota of this literary profanity in them; and the consequence is, they fall with irresistible force on whatever they are di- Iected against This thing of vulgar per sonality carries no weight whatever in the advocacy or opposition of any principle or person. It only gratifies the peculiar dis position or spleen of the writer, and, per hsps, the vitiated tastes of some few who may be found to relish such things. But it does no injury to public man, either in his public or private capacity; it, in fact, benefits him. This can be proved by any amount of precedents. Any man who has studied aught of the history of eminent | politicians must know this to be the case
 It certainly augurs but skeleton proportion ed statesmanship, where man tries to an nihilate an opponent by making public the sins of his private life, or by any kind of personal, direct persecution. Itall, gen erally. rebounds and falls on the head of him who thus sins against manliness and | honor.
 1 We have been sickened to see this pros- titution of the press-but we might be un- l fortunate enough as to bring down an ava lancbe of scurility upon ourselves, which we emphatically declare IS not to our rel 4 isb. therefore, we forbear