Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-14
The Pnlnit on the Press.

The Rev. Leakin, of Baltimore, on
Thanksgiving day, thus concludes his SER
mon. The extract is very well calculated
to make those who handle the pen and
scissors feel the responsibility of their
contribution:
shall reserve the remainder of my re-
marks for a subject which is rarely alluded
to in in the pulpit, but which is exercising
most important influence upon every
State, city, village, county and family of
our Union l refer to the Press, the news
paper, which from the smallest beginning
"a luxury to the favored few-has be-
come indispensable to millions, and whose
power in forming public sentiment is inn
measurable. In 100, one paper, with a
circulation of three hundred, sufficed for
America-and it was then thought that
'the time might come when the country
would support one religious paper" Now,
in Maryland and the District of Columbia
there were, by the census of 1850, eigh-
ty-six 70 various kinds, and in the United
States, two thousand four hundred and
eighty-nine. To illustrate remotely the
influence of this power, suppose per-
son of intelligence coming to your family
every morning except Sunday. He informs
you of all that has occurred in your city, in
your country, in Europe or distant Asia.
He gathers the details of each interesting
event; he attends each important meeting,
and tells you what was said and done. In
rain and tempest, in summer and winter
does this person pay your family his daily
visit; and not only brings you informa-
ton, but gives you his opinion of each
question that arises. In time he becomes
one of you, he is identified with your fami-
", and the character ofyourself and those
around have been moulded by this constant
contact. Butthe newspaper does more
1t bringsyou one hundred different articles,
besides advertisements. 1t can be read Mt
leisure. Its information reaches children,
and is heard by servants. 1t forms the
subject of conversation, and for upwards of
three hundred days it plies its ceascless
visits to your home, instructive, entertain
ing and interesting to oil. Have over es-
timated the force of this mighty engine?-
The French Encyclopedias helped to pro-
duce the French Revolution bymeans ofpon-
derous books reaching the learned few
What increased influence must the modern
press exert, scattering its myriad thoughts
daily among the millions2 How noble the
ministry of the editor. How vast his
capacity for good or evil. He may anter
the family daily, and diffuse cheerfulness
by his diversified thoughts. He may dry
the tear of sorrow, animate the weary
pilgrim to excrtions, arrest the young man
in his downward career, and shield the
humble and dcfenceless against the inva-
sion of power. We have prayed for the
President of tho United States, and for all
in authority. We shall soon pray for tie
Senate and Representatives in Congress
assembled. And shall we forget those
who make our President and determine
our Representatives 2 Before we again
assemble on another Thanksgiving day,
we shall have passed through political
conflict which now promises to be of much
bitterness. But we trust that the influ-
encc of this sacred day will moderate ex-
IRENE views; and should we be spared to
meet again, may we then look back on the
past with increased gratitude, and antici-
pate the future of our Republic with re-
newed confidence in the protection of the
Almighty.