Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-31

4AC 4ACcc a. q m0Id1 EUglUe.
The value of q free, untrammelled, inteli-
gent and virtuous public press, in any coun-
try is invaluable. Guided by principles of
integrity, alive to the real interests of man.
kind, and ready to promote and foster the
public good, itsets up a claim for public con-
fdence andexerts q power which no other in
stitution can WELD so-successfully. Such a
press is a public blessing. |
But how different is the result, where the
public presssis under the control of infdels
and vicious infuences-when it is suborned
to the will of the demagogue-panders to the
corrupt tastes of the vulgar and the obscene
-encourages vice and falsehood, trickery and
deception-gives license and aid to all that is
hurtful to society and is pernicioss in its
teachings, and especially upon the youthful
minda Then it is, the press is a curse and a
nuisance.
We have been won to look upon the posi-
, ton of a man who controls the public press,
as one of immense responsibility. If men
must give an account to God for every word
and thought and action at the great a@ssize,
what must be the terrible and awful account
' which editors and others must render who
= write for the public press? How great the
' good or evil to be effected by the instrumen-
ftality of the press. Men, therefore, who seek
the control of such a power, should be care
full to ascertain the measure of their respon-
sibility and their ability, mentally and moral
ly, to discharge it.
No Never, perhaps, in the history of this coun-
try, has the public press been more infuen-
tial than at the present time. Never were
= newspapers so astonishingly multiplied as
now, and never were they read with more
avidity. Newspaper reading forms the staple
reading of the country. Books are laid aside
for the more easy, exciting and less laborious
short, pithY, piquant articles of the newspa
per. It forms the substratum of America
intelligence; and hence our people posses
more ready, practical information, than an
other people on the globe.
Now this fondness for and universal disp
send cd tho mou,d;n
more powerful influence which they are known
'0"~' possess, creates a positive demand for a "
'ohu' tuous, independent, moral press. fthe pre-
year. be vicious, vulgar, Incorporate and lntd
good d soon t.Los ;+s +yna from
e"''' in those directions; but if it be heightened
it's bearings, moral and virtuous in its tea'
ings, and sound and temperate in its spi
:" the effect is soon seen upon the public mi
~ Tie american press has the power
fashion the -tmcrican mind after its own
lures. Our pcoplt may in a great meas
be made industrious or idle, prudent or
ionary, economical or wasteful, see rtica
confding, ~factious or yielding to the pr
> 'o" good, sectional or national, as it may de
"eN mine. Look at the rapid spread of fanatic
~ at the North, and see with what rapid str
the public mind is marching up to the
travagant and wild positions of ultraist
the South. 1t is the potent influence of
press that has done this. The warm, clog
discourse from the pulpit, the exciting
wenty- studied lecture from the rostrum, ma,
IT own much to excite and foster error in relis
politics, science or the laws of trade; b
i'll also = IL SoAC-iCPSdteuS dpOI1HSS OIL Tie mere (
graphist, or the plausible speculations o
,r;bers, essayist, through the columns of our n
procure papers, that break down prejudices, rel
md we mountainous difficulties, and conquer, at
lie year. the most obstinate sentiments of the pu
to the 1t is the constant, ceaselesss dropping O
smiums water which wears away the rock.
intend How important, then, that the public
r these should be under the control, not only O
I'd their telligent and capable men, of good menta
dowments, but especially that our ed
should be gentlemea-men of high per.
integrity and of sound morals-men
The de. would rather be right than to be the p
yelling tates of earth. Visionary as the idea
prompt. appear to be in some minds, yet we bell,
its seat to be as true as preaching, that the de
of en9u of this country depends upon the univ
soul of support of an intelligent, rirtuous pr,
n to he Then there will be truth in calling the
Won the palladium of our liberties. H