The Portland daily press., 1867-01-01
The Press for 1867,

Win Tue opening OIL the new year we pre-
sent to the readers of the Daily Press, pa
per enlarged to the full size of the largest
New England dailies The pressure of an
unprecedented advertising patronage has for
months eneroached upon our news columns
At time when the business of the city was
thrown into confusion and In some depart
ments seriously imperilled by the fire which
last July destroyed many of our principal
stores and warehouses, we did not feel at lib
erty to refuse the use of our columns to the
many interests which were struggling to
maintain or to recover their former footing.
Those of our readers, who like ourselves,
have suffered by the fire, have been the first
to recognize the necessity which was laid up
on us, in this respect. The rebuilding of the
city has been with every good citizen prima-
ry object since the disaster, and to that end
we have contributed according to our best
Judgment and ability. The Press alone an
peared at its regular date after the FIRE. We
have not omitted single number, though the
disadvantages under which we have all along
labored (some of them still continuing) have
been serious. For some weeks, our columns
furnishing only the barest summary of public
events, and excluding political discussion al
together, were devoted wholly to the pressing
needs, charitable and other, of the city. When
the political canvass in this State demanded
fuller treatment than we could otherwise fur
nish, we met the exigencies of the case by is
suing supplements. A steady and slightly
increasing subscription list has shown us that
we judged rightlyewhat the public would ex-
pect of us under the circumstances.
1t is now time to provide more hberally
for our readers. The enlargement OF our
daily edition is equivalent to the addition of
between three and four columns to its size.
This additional space will be devoted to de-
tails OF important events, which we have
heretofore been obliged to give in brief, and
to selections from current literature, grave or
gay, such as we have lately been obliged to
omit altogether What the character of the
paper thus enlarged will be, its past history
will show. The Press was established prima-
rily to represent the Republican party of
Maine. 1t was impossible for the controlling
party of the State to remain voiceless in this
city. The Press viii continue to defend the
principles of the Liberal party of Ameri-
lea. The war has closed one great
cycle in our national history--the cycle dur
ing which aristocracy at the South and de-
moeracy at the North grew up side by side, a
period of jealousy and conflict, resulting in
an appeal to arms and the victorious suprem-
acy of the democratic principle. We have
entered on period Of transition, which
seems likely to prove longer than most of us
anticipated. The Press will insist upon a
settlement which will secure the fruits of our
victory. Nothing is settled till 1t is settled
right. We must have democracy at the
South as well as the Nolth-;equal rights for
all secured by equal laws, freedom of speech
freedom of tine press, impartial suffrage OF
the profound convictions Of the Republican
party of Maine, the Press will remain faith
ful exponent.
The coming year will probably witness the
extension IF the telegraph around the world.
The completion of that great enterprise will
compel change, which has already begun, in
the management Of newspapers. The lead
ing features OF the worlds history will be re-,
istered from day to day by the telegraph The
expense of special dispatches from all parts OF
the world will prove to great for single news
papers, and correspondence will regain some
thing OF its old importance. Newspaper as
sociations or news agents will assume the task
Of furnishing the daily dispatches, while cor
respondents win furnish details, explanations
and illustrations, by mail. The Atlantic tel
egraph has already destroyed the system by
which our foreign news has for years been
furnished by steamer and already the Trib-
une has Its special correspondents established
in almost every capital in Europe. We cannot
rival the feats ofNew York journalism but we
must be governed by the same considerations,
In view Of the intimate relations existing be-
tween Maine and the British Provinces by
which she is environed, we are happy to an
nounce that "SPURwINK's" Canadian letters
will be continued during the coming year
We have regular correspondents also engaged
in Washington, New York, Boston and Au-
gusta, and occasional correspondents at vari-
GUS points throughout the State. During the
session OF the Legislature, we shall publish
special dispatches from Augusta every morn
ing, furnishing synopsis of the previous
days proceedings. 1
To the people of Maine, and especially 10
people who have business relations with Port
land, we hope to make the Press more valua-
Bile than any paper published outside of the
State can possibly be. We shall publish the
same telegraphic summary as other New Eng
land newspapers. We shall not publish spec
ial dispatches from Washington, but we shall
have regular correspondence from that point.
and daily summary of Maine news which
readers here would be sorry to miss. We
shall have full and accurate market reports.
forwarded by telegraph from all parts of the
United States, from Canada, and from Eng
land. A weekly review of the Portland mar
kets and an accurate report of Maine ship
ping, in foreign and domestic ports, will be
published as heretofore.
There will be no increase in the price OF the
Daily Press, For eight dollars year we ex-
| pect to furnish paper, the largest in the
State and as large as in other States is offered
| for ten or twelve dollars year.