Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-06
The Press,

We learn from the Fayetteville Obserrer that
1st day of the present month Our friend, the
Senior of the Observer has been at the helm about
twice as long as we have, we having taken charge
of this journal in 1s43. At that time our crcula-
ton was about 500; now, it is more than ten times
that number. We are glad to learn that the O6ser-
is prospecting 1t deserves all the patronage be-
slowed upon it.
The following remarks of the Editors are so Just,
and embody our own views so well, that we copy
them for our readers. Our profits from our bust
ness are handsome and would be considered large in
ordinary times but if we had risen in our prices as
others have done, our clear income per annum
would have amounted to a sung little fortune. But
we are content trus! our friends are with oGr
labors. Since the war commenced, we have insert
ed without charge enough matter, for which we
might properly have charged, to amount to hun
dreds of dollars With the Observer, and others of
our contemporaries, we have "refused to slide into
the great sin" of extortion; and whether we get
credit for it or not we shall always enjoy the con-
seriousness Of having performed our duty by avoid
ing this sin ourselves, and by warning our country
men against it The Observer says:
"Thirtyeigh years ago the O5Ssrrsr had weekly cir
cuatiOn of five six hundrcd-abuut large that of
any paper the State out Of Raleigh 1t gradually and
regularly increased till year ago when had attained
much larger circulation than il had before enjoyed D-
ring the past year. however that large circulation has
been than doubled To print and despatch all these
papers regularly and time for the earliest nails appears
to be about much and every about the
establishment accomplish How it can be done if we
go for six months longer receiving from thirty
subscribers day. at present, than
teIl-though had similar misgiVings six months ago.
vhfr huah thaS
failure supply the mails But will hope for Peace
and then dimnution of course instead Of increase Of
subscribers We will hail the former with unaloyed de-
light and the latter with quiet satisfaction, reducing
iabOrs rather burdenSome.
We have been frequently asked how can afford to
print the Observer al old prices now that paper and other
things cost us much more than formerly. And good
many of subscrben have urged to increase the
prices of subscription. IL the chief object Of life
accumulate money, would certainly fnlow their advice
for they argue to why should continue to furnish
the paper at ~ or to man who charges us $l5 for
pair Of shoes $9s for bbl Of four 50 for
pound of bacon, or 81 for pound of butter2 and
through the list Of all articles that obliged buy
for consumption Or in other words why put the Weekly
OberUer at SO cents year. and the SemW eekly at 81
which is all we get when the prices compared with
those of other things? We admit force Of the argu
ment and yet unconquerabIe aversion follow it
out in practice When the broke out made up
made by the labors of lifetime This has not been
realized far but have been blessed in unlocked for
with means beyond hopes One Of these
Of increased has been from the increased circula-
ton of the O6serce which has yielded profit than
equal TO the increased price of maeras-not such profit
indeed, realized in other occupations and by the spec
uators but much satisfied before the world
infected with the passion of gain 1t shall satisfy STILL
and long print the O6e without actual
loss to print it at present prices Should begin
TO entail loss will then think about raising the price
OF subscription. We might indeed make perhaps twenty
thirty thousand dollars BY quadrupng prices
so many other people have dOne but would be ut the
cost of what value higher than money.
might have been expected well hoped that the
example set set by prominent institution the Press
which has generally RETAINED from extorton aud
when has made any Increase Of price has advanced but
trife compared with other thngs-it might have been
expected that this example would have had
effect upon The people 1t is to be regretted that such
effect is hard preceptble Almost every demands
much for what he sell be screwed out ct
purchasers he pleads that he pays high for everything
he bays may the printer If he pleads that the great
laws of demand and supply regulate prices of his produc
TONS may the printer; for while the demand for
papers far greater than before ODehaf of the print
ing offices are shut up And money is 50 abundant ana
the desire for great that people would pay almost
any price for a newspaper.
When the war is over and things settle down to fair
basis perhaps it will be remembered to the credit of the
Press" the palladium of il preached against
exorton the Of the age and what uncommon
that it practced what il preached. But whether get
such credit not nothing deprive those who have
fused 10 slide into this great SIM Of the consciousness Of
having done Their own duty"