Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-01-17


Ii me Press
II The follovinf nrtitle, which W clip 1om
AAlts nAshbdy cfthsl hbaaIS CsstnSfhsl,
is in the main 90 correct and 20 we'll ufiplfa
that we osdoms Il with thsp~s hearty ap-
probation. There are more false IDEAS
about tbe, Pfsssthsd almost any SlAAs bsw-
or ia the land, Such reflections % This ar
ticIs contains ought to accomplish much In
correcting them: .,.g l,,-n,o
The position which IL concededly ooeu-
pied BY the Press Of the present day u, in
the highest degree, anomalous. Held 70
the strictest accountability, both in Courts
and in the forum Of public opinion, and, ss
such, made the favorite target Of cfisicipm,
Il is, al the. same time, assigned, in the
minds Of all men, 10 high positiOn - an
engine Of power, reflector Of public morals.
1t is expected to be honest in its criticisms,
and yet not to injure the vanity or the
sensitiveness Of any one. A. yehiclb Of
Dews, it is required TO give TO itsreaders an
account Of current events, and yet 10 hold
itself pecuniarly responsible for the publica-
ton of articles which il finds floating among
its exchanges. II isalmost daily blamed
and threatened by unthiDking men for pab-
fishing matter without which il would lose
its support. As reflector of public senti-
ment, It is compelled, by its position, and
by the demands Of selfpresefvatiou and
success, always 10 be in advance Of public
Information and public sentiment. A large
majority Of the people Of this country hold
their opinions upon the great current ques-
tions Of the day 10 abeysnce to those Of tho
Press, and adopt some one Of the various
theories which arc advanced by various
journals. The early advancement Of these
opinions, by careful, well-consideEsd. editori-
els, is recognized as newspaper enterprise,
and is essential to success. The American
People, more than any other, demand these
advance Arguments, and pass upon them as
tribunal whose approval or condemnation
carries with it a verdict Of success or failure.
To this extent the Press is reflector Of
public sentiment; for il it does not reflect Il
correctly it is at once rebuked by loss Of rea-
ders and patronage. In this regard, there-
fore, the Press and public opinion are con
stantly regulating themselves, and adjusting
their relations, one tothe other. They need
no other mediation--they will brook no
other structure. Even rs public opinion,
especially in this country, is the supreme
power of the land, so the Press, being its
equal, is alike Indifferent and unaccouutable
to any other tribunal. There is no man
living, however high his position, or howev-
er seated his ambition, whose individual
4, iIaoroo.sN.o, - Hha D.ooa v,.tA "a
the weight of feather, or whose position
is independent Of, or superior to, the ipdu-
, ence ofthat Press. That man, by rebuking
or insulting the Press, is simply silly--for
he rebukes and insults the people at the
same time. .,f... -. r.. Dr..
That there are isolated disloysl journals,
scattered hero and there over the loyal
States of this country, at this time, We do
not deny. We have repeatedly said so,
and called them by name, and by our hum
BILE efforts, have sought to bring upon them
the righteous retribution of an outraged
public opinion. But the American Press
can no more be charged with their covert
treason, or their damnable doctrines, than
the American people can be charged with
national disloyalty on account of Southern
treason. The Southern Press, to-day, is
disloyal simply because its patrons and
readers are so. The Southern people are
not rebellious from any influence Of their
Press.
| We 60 farther, and maintain, that the
Press Of the North, by disseminating a
knowledge Of the enoFmities Of treason, and
by persistent exposure of the rationale Of
the war in which We are engaged, has,
more than any other thing, strengthened
our arms. ~ ' 'ro
Ithas stirred up the careless and unthink-
ing TO a lively and an active patriotism. -
i 1t has confirmed the wavcring loyalty Of
the over conservative among us. II has
checked radicslism in its path toward ianat-
icism. 1t has rebuked the leaders Of .
wicked seetionalism, until they have turned,
many of them, and throwing away their
D torches, have been forced 70 place their
+. hands upon the Constitution. By all these
!. means the Press has strengthened our arms
: tand our armies, has held up the hands Of
o our federal administration, and, by inspir.
Y ing public confidence, has iuspireda profer
' Of American gold, without which we
S should have been disgraccd and a bank
frupt nation.
And yet the Press is illuminated and
villifed as an engine Of mischief We are
: grayely told that international rsncor has
been fomented, bitterness and strife engen.
dercd, and large portion Of our national
trouble brought about by the Prsssi We
are told this too, by those who should fee
deeply indebted to that same Press, fol
their honors, their position and their iuflu
1t euce In the name Of ap outraged power
and in behalf Of an insulted brotherhood
Z we repel tho charpe with INDIGNATION. .a p