The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-02-05
The Country Press----Democratic Pa
narg

PCio H....
We often have doubted whether the
value OF the country newspapers, to the
locality where they are published, is gen.
orally appreciated. When properly con-
ducted, they are indispensable to every
person who desires to be well informed
respecting the local affairs of his own
neighborhood, town or county, and this
necessity should always prompt tho citi-
zen TO give the first consideration TO the
newspaper TO which he must look for To-
cal information.
1t is too often the case, that editors of
country newspapers fail to appreciate the
exact points which give valuc to their
publications. In their very natural de-
sire to make n first class paper, they fire.
quently grasp at the great topics Of pub
lie concern, and discuss them TO the neg
lect of those subjects which impart inter
est to local paper: we mean the news
of the vicinity where the paper is pub
lished. 1t is impossible for any one pa
per to meet the whole demand for intelli-
gence. The metropolitan sheet, if il full
fills its mission, grasps the important sub
jects of national and general concern
those in which the people of the whole
country are supposed to be Interested ;
leaving TO the publications in the several
localities, the appropriate business of col
lating the local news, and presenting it TO
their readers in the form which is best
suited to their wants.
IT is pleasure to meet, as we often
do, with country newspapers which are
conducted with ability and qualified TO
discuss public questions in an enlightened
and statesman-like manner. But while
we thus express our satisfaction with and
our testimony in behalf of their ability,
we must declare it rs our opinion that a
better quality in country papers is that
industrious and judicous compilation of
local intelligence, which renders them in
dispensable to every intelligent person in
the vicinity of their publication. As
general newspapers, they can not compete
successfully with the leading city journals,
which command large circulation and
and have unusual facilities for procuring
intelligence; in their own local sphere
they have the monopoly of news, and the
means of making their influence felt, in n
degree which few persons adequately ap-
precia;e.
1t is fact beyond question or contro-
versy that those newspapers which indus.
triously and carefully gather up and pre-
sent to their readers, the matters Of local
interest in their vicinity, even if they are
not distinguished for editorial ability, are
always most successful. If only one Of
these features can be had, we would by
all means prefer the good local editor for
country sheet, rather than one qualified
only for the discussion of public qucs-
tions of a general character.
In a political light, those who desire
the promotion of party interests too fire.
quently neglect the support of the local
press. The great political discussions de-
volve largely upon the metropolitan pa
pers, and their general circulation enables
them to exercise wide influence upon the
politics Of the country. But the conduc,
of local campaigns, the discussion of To-
cal candidates, belongs TO :he country
press, whose influence is powerful in its
legitimate sphere, and often turns the tide
of success or defeat The support oi
homo newspapers should always be a
matter of principle with every public-spir-
tied citizen, and the maintenance of eff
cient, well-conducted democratic papers,
the first desideratum with every man who
desires the success of the democratic par
ty. A neglect of these important rules
of action has lost many an election, and
done manifest injustice TO newspapers
which have labored zealously and earnest
ly in the cause, without that support
which they have every right to expect, al
the hands of those whose opinions and
views they most clearly reflected.
New York Argus.