The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-25
The Newspaper Press.

We extract the following remarks from
an article of the Ohio State Journal on
printing the proceedings of the Legisla-
ture. 1t is true, every word of it, an6
should be read attentively by everybody:
"None feel more the faults of the press
than editors themselves. That they are
grave, is too patent to be denied, and it
is constant discouraging reminder of the
philosophical truth, that no institution of
reform can progress much ahead of the
average intelligence and character of the
people. But the most patent faults of the
press are those that men in Office are
usually most oblivious to. One of the
chief of these is the prominence that the
press gives to ordinary men; giving char
acter and reputation to men who have
nothing to build these on. Men go thro'
life in eminent stations on a mere news
paper reputation. .
This does not naturally arise from the
toadyism of editors. Most of it grows
out of partizan necessities. Politicians
must be advocated; first for nomination by
the local press, their merits magni6ed;
when nominated, the party press must
unite in exalting them. In the canvass
they are attacked, and the party press must
defend them, and this defence is governed
more by party necessity than by merit, and
naturally runs to extravagant eulogy,-
When in Office, the safety of the party Of
ten depends on keeping up the bubble.
But this failing of the press often brings
it's own penalty, for usually politicians
whom the public press has created are the
first to denounce it as a nuisance. In
one respect this is fit, for they are living
evidence that it is nuisance; but this is
not the reason that instigates them. Hu-
manity naturally hates the power that
made itand that knows its sham construc-
tion. Besides, they regard newspapers
as the great engine of civilization so long
as they keep within their proper sphere;
that is to elect, them to Office; but if after
the work is accomplished and the papers
have fulfilled their mission they still as
sumo to. have opinions on public matters,
then they are nuisances. We intend no
personal application in these remarks
Instances of their truth are within the
observation of every one. and they are
quite too common to make any particu.
flar application necessary.
The editorial profession is weak, false
to itself and unfaithfnl to the public
| Still it is above the average of politicians
and men in Office. During political cam.
paigns the party journals are regarded as
valuable, especially by the candidates fol
Office. A free press is the hope of the
world.
After election it is often different
Then if journals argue public questions
that came up for action, it is called dlcta
ton, or an attempt to bring pressure t.
bear upon representatives.
Yet, why this change? The Journals
are the same. The party triumph has no
elevated them in Office. They are still
governed by the same principles and mo
; tives that made them so valuable during
the canvass. Is it not then because pol
itician experiences change after he ha
acquired position and finds these mode
of expressing public opinion inconvenien
to his personal ambition? g.
Public questions are just as much sub
ject for discussion in the public journal
after elections as before. If men in ofic
find it distasteful they had better institut
a course of self examination to find tn
cause of the change in their views. a3'