Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-10-18

lating in respectable quarters IN WhOse COLI
umns the reader may learn the diagnosis OF
detestable vices, the way 70 the resorts oil
basest licen,iousness, and receive encourage
ment and solicitations to the most unnatural
crimes. In fact, there is hardly monstros,
ity Of immorali,y tha. does not cunningly y
seek to accomplish its designs by using the
enormous facilities Of the press.
A year or two since there was published
in One Of the most respectable journals, an
advertisement Of striking character, worded,
however, with scrupulous proprlety, which
was the introduction to the knowledge OF oil
in.amies that could corrupt youth, degrade
manhood and blast domestic and social life
And this is only an illustration of the meth'
DDS used BY the nercsnary and hcensous
for making the journal which goes into the
family and is read By the innocent, the most
subtle and poteLt messenger Of evil.
Charity would entertain the suppostion
that those who have the management Of TIE
press are not aware Of the exceptional .snd
degrading character Of all that appear in
their advertising columns vet here is a
tremendous responsibility which can be ex.
cased BY no plea Of pressing labors or 6nan.
clal necessity. The man who would not al
low obsceni,y in bis house has no business
to send to the houses Of the people printed
matter too foul to read in decent society. A
clean heart ough, to be ambitious to produce
a clean paper.
But few readers can have failed to note an
Inconsistency in the management Of journals
which By the light OF contrast becomes pain
fully impressive. How often i, is that We
read in editorials and editorial selections es-
says on various virtues, and the severest
censurc upon gnis and its base purveyors,
And In the same sheet observe adv srtisements
whose influence is to foster and promote the
very iniquities that are unstintingiy con-
demned. How many times during The past
year have We read editorials and selections
against 8 great social crime, and in the same
paper found advertisements informing how
the crime could be committed without fear Of
exposure. Surely vice and licentiousne.s
have facilities enough to SOW their accursed
seeds without subsidizing in their behalf an
institution which is regarded and which
ought 70 be the most stalwars champion Of
public virtue. Let the whole press Of the
country do its duty ia this particular and the
result would be in the highest degree favor
able to morals. Ifa paper cannot succeed
IL
! have indicated, then the sooner it dies and
Is buried in its own pit the better.
FREE ADVERTISEMENT
But in speaking Of the revenues Of the
press, cannot refrain from expressing my
views on the subject Of free advertisements
There is always 10 be found in every consid
erAble community, set of creatures who
imagine that BY some happy dispensation,
they ought not, like other mor.als, to pay for
What they receive. Editors hare exsrsordin.
ary facilities for making their acquaintrnce,
and are kindly permitted to contribute gifts
to their support. In what other branch Of
busine would this be tolerated? ? Allowing
that one has pat the press under some obli>
gation, does be not expect generally to get
back more than the worth Of his service {? IL
man does IN editor favor Of Market
able value, let him have his remuneration in
cash. On the other hand, require him to
pay for what the paper does for him. It is
just As reasonable to expect the carpenter t.
shingle your house and the taller to make
your cloths without charge, As to expect an
esiitos 70 prepare and publish matter for an
others benefit without compen sation.
Lengthy obituaries, ornamen,ed or marred
BY extracts from al the poets, and lengthy
pufs on some ones corner lots or Improve.
ments, come under this class Of advertise.
ments. This custom Of gratuitous notice,
and advertisements from whatever quarter.
ought to cease, for the reason tha. i, would
be : benefit to the printers pocket, and
would in some degree abate an almost intol.
cradle nuisance. The printers path has
more thorns than roses, and there is no law,
human OF divine, that should oblige him tc
shoulder the burdens Of those who are too
lazy or stingy 10 take care Of themselves.
People viii come to terms when they find
their interests are involved in . reasonable
compliance.
IHDEPESpExr NAxAcExkyr.
Perhaps no man Is made the subject OF
more abundant concern, and Is Watched With
more uutiring vigilance than the editor Of :
paper. Nearly every other man seeus to
imagine he can edit paper better than the
editor himself So editors are pestered With
hangers on in the Office, ere advised by In.
competent mentors, are graeiously waited
upon BY political and refcrm comminees
are bored BY strangers and adventurers and
all Who have even any diminutive specimens
Of cutlery to grind. win not attempt to dis
turb the present serenity Of this body, which
now providentially enjoys little respite. BY
recalling. BY portraiture, the Interruptions,
the perplexities, the insane requests, the
abuse, the bores, the senseless criticism, the
vsnton indignation that an editor is liable
to suffer and has to expect - : part Of his
experience. At best bis profession is q try
ing one. But the sooner he gives all sorts
Of people to understand in most courteous
language that be is the manager of his own
paper, the better. Threats to discontinue,
affecting descriptions Of personal interests in
its success, all unkind or gushing demonstra-
tons may be safely ignored. Few men in
the land are comfortable without their "a.
per, aud the more unAinchingly indspend dent
its course, the better they VIII ike it. No
honest editor, as have suggested, loses any
thing in the long run, By his straight forward
maniiness and courage. OF al despicable
things journal that veers to each breath OF
blame, that trims its sails for the breeze oi
vulgar applause, and that sacrifices is indie.
pendence for mess Of potage, is the most
contemplate. Surely nv words viii ind
response in every honest heart here when
cay, Be master Of your own position, be lord
ovef your own domain, b. Judge ON the
bench Of your own sanctum-the jurv that
decides is the enlighseded opinion Of your
readers.
towA JOURNALISM.
A survey of the state ofjournslism in 10.
N, is encouraging in The main, to the lover
of his species, - il i creditable 10 the fra.
ternity themselves. For enterprise in the
department Of news, for literary ability, for
intelligent and comprehensive treatment Of
questions of chief utility, many Of our pa,
pers compare favorahly with we'll established
metropolitan Journals, while they are gener.
ally In these respects superior to those pub.
lished in towns Of the same size a. ours in
eastern localities. Like everything else in
the west, they are usually wide-awake and
veil represent the Industry, activity and pro
Rress that charactesizs eur youihfl com.
munities. In the midst Of such . glorious
section Of the Union - our own, where the
soil and climate present conditions fayora-
BILE TO the best human Development, where
rapid increase Of the population, aud hcili>
ties Of successfnl labor are giving vast inn
pulse 10 The various Industries, aud where in
. little time . to b the seat Of tremendous
political powss, there is open the widest aud
most invising Geld for The best aud most et{i
cieat journalism. The people which will
throna thi1 beautiful region and mould its
inssitst;ons, cannoe b mo powerfully gov>
ernsd b principles a intelligent morality
and visiue. No iussrumsnt can better pros
mete tha thas ths press, with its high aims,
its rich eppcstnnitiss, it. large inlelligence,