St. Mary's beacon., 1862-05-01
From the Port Tobacco Times.
THE PRESS.

The pres: is il. tlv esteemed, rs the or
gan through which We are informed ofthc
transactioesPf our own people and the
Affairs # Other nations. 1t is the chain
which joins into one community the many
countries which dot the globe. TO be
able to Judge of the policy of our anti
podrs, and to be informed of the pro-
c"ed;ngs of the great powers Of the earth
Is Il pleasure which We would very unuil-
iingly resign. Nay, it IS more than
pleasure. 1t is an incalculable benefit.
History is an oracle delivering its admo-
nltVns from the instructive tomb of fallen
greatness. Arraying before us the long
lie of ages, it shows us the road which
we should take by pointing out the paths
which led others to rum. The press is
the history of current events. just up
on the brink of IA formidable prrcipice, il
warns US that some one has fallen a vic
tim to the designs which we entertain.
Bcholding the ravag"s of war upon the
once harry homes Of neighbor, VIC
learn the priceless v'iuc Of peace.
Moreover. it is the medium through
which the ignorant are instructed. TO it,
in great measure, is due the superior
enlightenment; of the mass in this age.
The luvcAtion Of printing admitted many
to the delights of knowledge, who were
before debarrel the enjoyment by the
scarcity of the means of it's attainment
For long time the wisdom Of the learned,
being circulated solely by books, was
open to comparatively few. Since the
first periodical issued, manna-like in its
influence, from, -ihRzbress, the rapid in
crease in that hind of literature shows
the high VALUES upon it. No man now
hcan tLHk hjdaslf TOO poor to avail him
RAlf af the &1y1ntagcs and pleasure of a
Journal The farmer, free from the tolls
of the day, gathers his dear ones around
the blazing hearth, to hear the contents
of the paper. The sturdy pioneer in our
western forests, far from the appearance
Of civilized life, beguilcs the before tardy
and lonesome hours of relaxation from
his labors, by studying the affairs of the
world and particularly those of his own
country. Thus, amid the solitudes OF
the forest, where no sound salutes bis
ear save the bowling of the bear and the
boot of the owl, is he transported, by his
paper, to the company of his frien6s IL
the hustle of distant city Thus is he
enabled to weigh the lofty plans of those
statesmen who guide The ship of State.
We have not mentioned the most I'M
portant benefits Of the press. 1t is no,
too much to say that it is one of the strong.
est safeguards of nations freedom and
consequently happiness. Great are the
temptatiss OF power. The Unsuitable
heart of IMAM is ever longing for more than
it has, though its possessions be bounded
but by the horizon. When attained tc
| the apex of rcnown, the evil spirit of am
bition will project some Baoel, that, Sc
curing celebrity in life, it may proclaim by
its everlasting summit, cur fame to ctcr.
nifty. History, alas! for short-sightcd
man, is but a chronicleI of such schemes
Ia the execution of their purposes, the in.
fingcment of those rights which they hold
in trust, seldom offer an impeachment to
The ambitious / do not hesitate 10 asscr,
that the press has been an agent in re.
straining the lust of power and SECURING
/ The faithful execution of the laws, in our
days. No one would be rash enough tt
commit a crime, when he knows that he
will be discovered. The press unveils the
intentions Of those who medit,te evil and
prepares the people for resistance.
. Of;ca is the popular vice .tiGeL IL the
oppressor The people are smarting be.
heath Tic JuAe, aha taeir indignation,