The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-03

VINO
have been accustomed to regard themselves as
having been ordained to be, in an especial manner
ultimate judges in responsibility, patterns of taste,
lawgivers in literature, and the only people who
could establish fashion which it would be decorous
or proper for any one who desired to be cassed
among persons Of taste and respectablty TO follow
To this class the idea of penny newspaper was
intolerable, and Of popular weekly, absolutely
for the masses; they didn't need high order Of
literature; anything would answer for them; and
as for the popular weekly it only mnistered to de-
PRAYED tastes and vitated appettes Nothing that
had not the stamp of still, dull, pretentous and
prosy responsibility upon t-nothng that had not
"a very ancient and fshlike smell about 1t, could
be tolerated by them.
Since, however, Mr.. Everett has entered upon the
career of popular journalist and given his strong
reasons therefor, q change has come over the
spirit Of this exclusive this upper crust OF society,"
as it has been not naptly termed, for the reason,
We suppose that it is encrusted with its own sell
tshness and its egotism to be the last to feel
the ameliorating and beralizing Influences that are
at work in the world. Their sudden conversion is
almost as miraculous as that Of the very respecta-
BILE Saul OF Tarsus, and we expect no less than to
great accession Of "respectabe' writers to the
popular press. They must come to it, however,
with full and entire conversion. II is not enough
that they give in their adhesion to it, because it has
become, in their view, respectable. They must not
come in patronisng way, as il they felt they
comforting favor but they must put on a
teachabe spirit and be ready to learn as TO i'm
part. new world will be thus opened to their
view. They will find that the popular heart is not
the light and trifling thing they have been accus-
toned to consider IT, but that it beats responsive to
the noblest emotions, is capable Of understanding
the most exalted sentiments; that il is moved by
the Hottest ideas and has full and instructive APP
probation of, and love for, whatever tends to
large strengthen and beautfy human intellect and
adorn human life. Were Il not so, the gospel, in
which reposes our religious hopes, were vain of
fering Of inspiration to the family Of man.
Mr.. Everett. who has wrought this revolution re-
garding popular journalism among the exclusive
and respectable class, by entering upon the career
of popular journalist, does not bring TO it new
strength, because it rests upon foundation that is
laid so deep tatno man or class of men can move il;
on base so sure no opposition prevail to startit
He, on the contrary, will receive new strength and
power and influence from his new connection. 1t
opens its wide portals to him, and he stands before
million faces. 1t gives him room in its tribune,
and his voice penerates to the farhest settlements.
He stamps his mind upon its broad and ample pages,
and they go forth like the leaves from the tree of
life, with healing on their wings" Popular jour-
nalism in England or America is the universal in
struct0r. With Lord Brougham as its representa-
tive head in England, and Everett its representa-
tive head in America, it will batter down and over
come traditional and hereditary prejudices against
It, and respectable classes will be forced TO admit
its responsibility. But whether it gains this
verdict or not it will still go on in its great mis-
sion, and will still continue to be the great ameli
Grating and instructing power of civilization.
With the new views that have obtained in cup
per circles concerning the penny and the popular
press, have come new and approaching views of
its wide and extended influence. With the Disco
very that the masses are not the dull and thought
less beings the exclusives have thought them,
comes the desire to stand well with them; TO oh
tain their sufifages in regard to character, stand
ing and pretensons, as in former times their suf
irages were sought at an election. As they gain
insight into the scope of the mission of the
penny press surprises continually arise be-
II ig fpIln IA nnfrn no &
classes" as they are contemptuously called, pa
tronize the penny sheet, but that it reaches all
classes; that in suburban towns particularly it is
the principal daily visitor to almost every house,
and that in seeking publicity that will be useful to
new works in art, in literature, in science, in
operas and other fashionable entertainments, and
in extending notices in oil branches of trade
farthest and widest, the penny paper, with its uni
versal circulation and its multitude of readers
offers the best medium that has yet been disco
vered.
from the Philadelphia United States Journal
EDwAgD EVERETT, ROBERT BONNER AND THE New
YoRV liscvR-Thcre has lately been a very small
windy hubbub was brought about though mad
vertantly and indirectly. bya gentleman who minds
his own business but more immediately by set of
Intermediates who chose to interfere with his busi
ness. Robert Bonner, the world knows pub
fishes aweeEly paper called the New York LEDGER;
with the merits and dement's Of his sheet, more
than million Of readers are familiar. Hisdevoted
to the literature OF daily life 10 the expression of
what pertains to the emotions of the heart and the
thoughts that fit the mind in its world trials,
rather than to the problems of history or the com
plextes of science II does not furnish the strong
mental food of the great British reviews neither is
it intended TO. The proprietor has his aims in its
publication. The only questions that rightly can
be asked in reference to them are:--Do these aims
commend themselves as worthy! Are they
thily pursued?
Mr.. Bonner does not profess to publish paper
fnrr anlg liz. obi 10 t,r
nsh reading for the masses, for the millions who
wonld wonder in what consists the sublimities of
Milton or the graces of Charming. In this he has
succeeded. He has given literature of the only
kind that tens Of thousands of people will peruse
and he has given the best of the kind that the peo-
pie will have. What is there wrong in this? But
more than what we have said, is in the fact which
is plain to every unprecedented observer. that every
issue of the LEDGER il in advance of the general
tenor OF light literature and is calculated to lead
the popular mind up to higher intellectual gratica-
TONS But MIR. Bonner has committed great
crime-a crime which many never forgive--lc has
been successful and his success is the of the
clamor which has lately been raised against him.
From the Richmond (va) Inquirer.l
Mr.. EvEgEIT's CONTRIBUTIONS To BONSEe's
LEDGER.-Our readers are aware that with the New
Year the first number Of Mr.. Everetts Mount
Vernon Papers will appear in the New York
LEDGER. The fact that Mr. Bonner paid Mr., Everett
in advance ten thousand dollars to be devoted TO
labor has been widely chronicled. When Mr.
Everett, after considerable hesitation accepted the
muniiicent offer, lac himself says he felt it his
duty not to ioIcgo the opportunity Of adding 80
large sum to the Mount Vernon fund" Those
only who are personally acquainted with the nm
selfish patriot can comprehend the full extent Of
the self sacrifice h has made to achieve an object
which now enlists the sympathy OF the people from
Maine to California. Three years ago, almost from
the hour the project was revealed to him. his clear
sighted vision saw the whole beauty Of this work
Of womans hands. When the success OF the enter
prise was looked upon by the multitude Us more
than doubtinl--as impossible--he openly espouscd
the cause with martyrs devotion. His hand has
piloted the gratitude freighed bark of patriotism
safe from threatened shipwrecks: his voice his la
bors (unequaed, ave by hers who originated the
scheme) have won the triumph which an awakened,
an approving nation now accords.
We have said that, in accepting Mr. Bonncr's pro-
posa, Mr.. Everett made a sacrifce-ior we know
that the kind Of publicity given to his name by Mr..
Bonners peculiar method Of advertising must be
repugnant to Mr.. Eyerett's sensitive nature. The
sarcasms and crIficisme 10 which he wockIv runses