The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-03-22
Another Vermont Paper Discontinued.

The publication of the Brandon Visitor has
been discontinued. In his issue of March J..
Mr. Ford. the editor and proprietor, takes
leave of his readers in handsome valeGic:o,
ry. lie gives six reasons for the step he has
taken, the sixth one being 50 conclusive and
to the point tina. we copy it
"fnully, We have toltd at this business
as long as we can afford to wthou, pecuniary
compensation. \ man should live and sup
port his family by his toll but We have la
bored now about four years, without one red
cent for all oar labor-;ndted We have sunk
many hundred dollars in an enterprise which
we undertook not to make money, but which
We hoped might at least pay US ordinary GAY
wages.
In the same issue of his paper there is 4
table giving the names Of the papers and cd
itors, and the Years in which different papers
have been printed in Brandon, from which
we learn that there have been ten papers pub
ished there the last of which is now dead.
Under this head too Mr. Ford has some very
sensible remarks, which are are Just as true
when applied to other places. We quote
"Ihc reasons for the successive failures of
the Brandon papers we think can be summed
up IN one word, viz the want of interest ia
ken IN the enterprise by Brandon citizens
There are scores, if not hundreds, among Us
who seem utterly incompetent to appreciate
the value Of local press. CT the import
ance Of sustaining it. The riches. men in
this village are of this class, and do not take
the Visitor. We are frank to say, now that
We are through with the Visitor, that in our
Judgment man of this class, who can con-
fe.s to such a fact and not blush for shame,
is not the man to build up the interests of
society, and should never be intrusted with
the humblest office in the gift of the people
We make this as general statement there
may possibly be exceptions to the rule Ev-
cry man should take the home paper unless
II be positively vicious in tone or principles, J
and other newspapers as he may desire or
feel able to do. This is duty which we owe
to ourselves and TO The community in which
We reside. What would Bran Ion be without
newspaper A fourth rate place, at best
For this four years service, for which We
o":'ht, as simple salary, to have realized at
least $4,000, we have realized noNt,ny, ana
have paid for the privilege Of thus devoting
our humble talents from 5000 to $1,000 out
of our own pocket.
In conclusion we have only to suggest that,
should another newspaper be started among
US. let all who wish to starve the enterpris.
to death refuse or neglect to subscribe for
the paper, take what little job-work they may
have to Rutland, Burlington or Boston, ad-
vertlse as little as possible. and never give
the editor dollar for any notice he may, at
your direction, give to your business. If YOU
should want little work at the office, be
sure not to have it done unless YOU can get
1t so cheap that the publisher shall work for
nothing. because somebody somewhere else
can come to your standard of prices, or what
is just the same, they, in your judgment,
o"ght to come to it. In short, learn no les
sons from the past failures of newspapers a
mong you, but insist that the press ought to
have vitality enough to live and operate
without patronage, without MEANS"
In our opinion there is more truth and
good sense in this last article of Mr. Ford's
than all the "highfalutir" of last commence
ment's valed;ctorian. The case is not over
drawn; but there are solemn facts and home
ly truths which every one should under
stand.