The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-08-27

The Toledo (Ohio) Blade, in alIuding to
the Republican Central Committee of Lick
ing County, having undertaken to extend
the circulation Of their county paper, as one
of the cheapest and most ready means of
giving additional efficiency to their party
organization, INDUCES in the following very
appropriate remarks-at least they seem
such to us:
"It has thousand times been matter of
wonder and astonishment to us, that men
of the intelligence and shrewdncss which
are supposed to attach to political managers,
should pay so little attention to this subject.
They seem to think it highly essential, that
once year Esquire So-and so, 'and other
able speakers should visit every school
house in the county, and tell the people
what Republicanism consists of, expose the
corruptions of the Democrats and set right
the gross receptions Of the opposition
stumpers. Great pains and not little
money are thought to be judiciously expend-
ed in this way, because the people nced to
be posted IN regard to these things.
"But the plan Of extending the circulation
of the county and other party papers in
these school districts, as a means for doing
this very work, and doing it infinitely better,
is seldom deemed worthy of even trial.
The advantages of the two plans are not to
be compared. The speaker goes into
ncighborhood to do the work of Il year in
one short evening. b, dint Of hard work,
twenty FIVE or thirty persons are got together
IN the school house, many of them drawn
there by pure curiosity. lie has to tell
what his party's faith is. and that of his
opponents, and then answer all the charges,
true or untrue, that have accumulated
against his party during the year all in
single evening. On the other hand, by
little effort, twenty five subscribers could
be obtained for newspaper in the same
neighborhood, and that paper would be a
speaker to the same audience, not for a
single hour, or single time, but fer many
hours and every week during the whole year.
1t would give them 'hcre little, and there
a little'-whle waiting for their meals, du-
ring the leisure hours of the day and after
the days lubors. Its appeals would not
como like the speakers, altogether at a
time of political excitement, but throughout
the calmer seasons Of reflection. As 4
means for reaching the reason and judgment
of an opponent, the newspaper has immense
advantages. We do not believe n case can
| be found, in which man Of common intel
!igenco has read a week y paper of ordinary
ability and candor, for year, without hay
ing bis mind more or less affected by it. He
can't avoid it. But during the hour he lis
tens to an opponents speech, he will brace
up his preudices against its truths, and 60
away, leaving them behind, and only carry
ing with him the barbed arrows of partizan
polemics.
GA, an hid in the organization of party,
or its united action upon any given subject,
the newspaper is again the most effective
fundamentally. With general circulation
of the local paper, an important object of
u close organization and frequent personal
consultation, is at all times attaiuable with
out difficulty and expense.
blocking at the matter in any light, the
local press furnishes the best and cheapest
means for securing the united action of a
party, and at the same time the most effect
i've mode of approach to the sober judgment
Of political opponent.
awe do not mean to disparage Or dis
courage thorough organization or discus
cussions in public meetings; on the contrary
We are not afraid of having too much of
either when properly conducted. But We do
insist upon reversal of the order little,
and giving the press the first position, in
stead of the last, as is usually the case"