, 1859-03-18
Improved Tone Of Ihe Press.

the following article:
Whoever has enjoyed the opportunity 0
regularly perusing the numerous Journals
published in the interior towns of thi
State, during the twelve months past, mus
have observed very great improvement il
both the mechanical and editorial depart
ments. Many have been enlarged; from
the columns Of Others, the old, Soru-out
long primer types have been banshed; anC
new BREWER or nonpareil substituted; TIM
combining neatneSs as au air Of increasing
business Several of the mountain Journals
will fairly rank amongst the most elegan
specimens of country newspaper typo
graphy in the United States. In editoria
management, the Improvement is quite as
apparent. Editors are beginning to con
tine their pens to the legitimate duties ol
honorable journalism, cherishing that re.
spect for the freedom Of the press which is
the chief guarantee Of its perpetuity and
the surest pledge of its ultimate greatness
They have turned their attention to the de-
velopment of home interests; the moral and
intellectual elevation Of society; aud the
statement Of the ela,est home news
Amongst the thirty to forty newspapers
from the interior Of tho State, received al
this Office, weekly, We notice with pleasure,
the general Punishment of that unpro6t-
able inVective and disgusting personality,
Which, in times past constituted the staple
newkpaper commodities. Byron was per-
haps right--it may be true that Glove Of
scandal is common to oil mankind;p but
too much Of the best thing will cloy. And
even if the public palate does thirst for It's
daily dose, it i'll becomes those who assume
the rank of Instructors to lead of in the
cultivation Of tic meanest Of passions. 1t
should be remembered that scandal spoken,
becomes libel when printed, and that the
Iibelant is guilty Of a double wroug--frst
against his victim, secondly, against the
commonwealth, the peace Of which he
jeopardizes by melting his neighbor to
aFenge his wounded reputation by force;
and that the poorest method Of giving
force to an argument or all opinion, Is by
lowering the standard OF an opponents dig
nifty. Aud if newspapers are really what
most Of them profess to be--the indices and
auxiliaries to human progress in that ex-
alted civilization which is the aim Of all
noble minds-certainly they who dwell il
malicious detail upon the foibles Of society,
and spread out, in its most Aggravated col
oring, the crimes and shortcomings Of man,
kind, to the exclusion OF mere wholesome
matter, are very poor philosophers, and
take the toughest road 10 attain the goal
Of their desires. For "like begets like, =
and the public, constantly looking into
these printed mirrors, and beholding moth
ing reflected but the hideous forms OF vice,
will gradually assume the shape and colors
Of the pictures they are forced to behold.
We hail the pleasing change which the
California press is exhibiting ii this respect,
as new aud rich fruit in our newspaper
system 1t indicates, as well, an improved
condition Of public sentiment, which refuses
the Instructions Of blackguards, as a higher
moral and intellectual standard amongst
those who control the press.
On the same subject the Sonora HsfaQ
remarks:
There is marked evidence Of improve
ment, in the btstowal Of more care in selec-
tion, aud increased labor Of mind, in the
coOdnct Of many Of The inferior papers oI
California, within the past six months. A
higher tone, and less resort TO offensive
personalities. is also observable among our
cotemporaries. IL is evident that enlnrge-
ment Of experience has a tendency to teach
journalists that it is news the reading com
munity seek to purchase when they snb-
scribe for a paper, and'not slang slandur
or abuse. We observe these signs with
pleasure, and heartily wish a aeohtinuancr
Of the improvements ia ,aI