Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-22
TEE NEWSPAPER.


Before the invention Of type means were
employed to perpetuate the most important
occurrences in the history of the human
race, and to preserve that which would be
valuable TO the generations that are 10 come
after Through nearly six thousand years
the world managed to preserve partial his
tory Of its progress, which, though mani
testify imperfect we are bound TO accept, for
want of better, as true. II has been only
since the art Of printing was invented and
applied, that the history Of the world has
had the stamp Of assured gertrude. At
great cost and labor the Bible was subjected
TO the process of mechanical multiplication
then followed the next most valuable in
heritances Of the past, the histories Of the
Church as given by the Holy Fathers; and
next the profane but unsealed records Of
men and nations, their poetry and song.
Books were exceedingly costly, and few peo-
pie could afford to purchase and own them,
and the rays of intelligence emansiing from
the press Of the printer reached the mass Of
mankind by reflection from the wealthy
Gradually, however, the boon extended it.
self, and asserted IFS right to illumine the
cottage as well as the palace.
1t was reserved for the newspaper,
ing ont Of the royal printed bulletin,-to
uniyersalize and perfect the invention of
types and presses, and to assert the full pow
er Of the art. From the beginning of the
publication Of the first weekly newspaper
by private enterprise, independently of gov
eminent, or place or power, has the pro-
gress of mankind been accelerated in an
almost incalculable ratio. The philosophic
the scientific, the moral and religious, the
social and political interests Of the people
were popularized, and then it first appeared
that the citizen or subject had a mind as
well a. the king or ruler. Mankind, at
large, then for the first time, began 10 think
Thought would not cease, and so, as men
and women aggregated in greater and
greater numbers, and came to think more
and more, the imperious necessity for daily
pabulum brought forth the newspaper, print
ed every day and delivered at certain hour
at their doors. 1t expanded from a vehicle
Of speculative reflections upon merely in
tellectual topics into something more. 1t
became a record Of the occurring events of
the day in all parts-an abstract and brief
chronicle Of the times"-and so remains
and will ever remain. But it became still
more, justly and necessarily -because natu-
rally il became not only a vehicle of infor-
nation, but an absolute power in the affairs
of government-the more powerful the
more popuiar the government. Sometimes
ii has shown itself unworthy, but even in
evil il has been in more modern times
powerful agent in all human affairs.
Like all other human Institutions, and
even like the Church of the Savior it has
been liable to abuse and corruption. Christ
in selecting his apostles included Judas in
the restricted number of twelve-not that
he was deceived, but 10 teach man a lesson
for all time. He also, brought TO his SER
vice the faint-hearted Peter-not that he
did not know that when the trial came Pc
ter would deny him, but for a lesson for
TO the latest day. The Press,
likewise, has its Judases and Peters. But it
is, in our temporal affairs, powerful and |
benefcent still. The allusion is simply to |
show that the greatest good among men has |
its evil-that otherwise the course of Prov
idcnce toward the human race would be |
foolishness.
But this is depression. The newspaper
was destined to contribute still more TO the |
interests and pleasure Of mankind. 1t
served il in all the departments of philoso-
phy, religion, science, politics, news and his
tory but it had another mission, and that |
was entering into the business of mankind
The controlling pecuniary interests of
he people, displayed in every form of
unfolding and supporting
every other could not be excluded.
They have asserted their rights to
he benefits Of printing and may be now
said to uphold and sustain the entire fabric
IF the newspaper business; and the adyertis-
,rs Of the world are now the gcnji who open
hescsamc orintelligencet to their follow-men.
They can well afford it; for their advertise
merits unaccomparied with the other recon-
of the press, other information,
would prove mavailing. The advertisers
ire not merely self-seekers, therefore, but
ire public benefactors. They not only adj
vance their own interests but if they are ho-
TEST and Just citizens, they contribute 4 fund
q the general stock of human history and
progress, which to our great grandchildren
possibly sooner-will be invaluable; and
O Us the advertising columns of the daily pa
'er sometimes possesses, even greater inter
st than their other reading. Really, and
o the thoughtful, there is not a single line
f the newspaper, from any quarter, which
not only full of meaning but of general