Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-29


instructive character. These are plac-
ed in libraries, are opened occasionally
for reference; but the number is COM
paratively few-by far too few-who
devote any considerable time to the
solid reading of them. Admitting this
to be the fact, L would not discourage
the publication of good books, nor do
l claim that the habits of our people
In this respect, are correct; but treat
it as fact that exists, that cannot be
successfully denied. With this state
of things existing, it cannot be doubt
ed but the newspapers of the country,
exert an influence over the public
mind that cannot be overestimated:-
There is scarcely an individual who
does not, in a great degree, pin his
faith, In passing events, upon some
| favOrite newspaper. While few will
be willing to admit this to be the case.
! it is nevertheless the fact. 1t cannot
in the nature of things be otherwise.
The number IN community is small,
who can steal time enough from bust
ness avOcations to read and reflect snf-
| ficiently to establish rational opinions
of their own, upon the multifarious
and intricate questions that are con-
stantly agitating the world. They read
what their paper says upon them-with
the idea that the editor must know ev-
erything-and adopt its opinion as their
own; and really become convinced that
the opinion originated with themselves.
OF course, they give no credit to the
paper for single suggestion that aids
them in coming to conclusion, but a
little reflection will convince any one
| that such is the case--a fact which can
not be successfully controversial. Nor
| ia it remarkable that such should be the
case; and editors depend very much
upon each other for the conclusions at
which they arrive on these same ques-
tions.
Entertaining this view, may be par
doned for assuming that the editors of
this country stand first among the edu-
Gators of the people; and as they direct,
so, in a great degree, the world moves.
Until within some thirty to forty years,
| the influence of newspapers was much
more limited than it has been since. -
! This was from the force of circumstan-
ces. While the art of printing was
brought to a reasonable degree of per
lection Immediately after its invention,
the facilities for the rapid multiplied
| ton of books and papers were not very
fully developed till about 1885. Then
the steam power press was put in mo-
ton, and fl ON that time to the present,
very rapid progress and improvements
have been made in every department of
the art of printing.
From about the same period, it is a
noticeable fact, that an equal degree of
prOoress has been made in almost every
department, embracing the arts, the
sciences. mechanical and agricultural
operations. The inventive genius of
the country has been alive; activity has
prevailed in every department of sci
ence and productive industry, and the
result has shown to the w@ld a pro-
gress in the development of all imp, owe
ments that tend to make the people of
our country intelligent, prosperous and
happy, that has no parallel in the his
tory of any other time or nation.
People rarely stop to inquire what is
the reason of this rapid progress, in
latter over former years; or to trace
the great development of improve.
ments in all things, to any particular
cause. Nor can it be traced TO any one
cause; but 1 claim that an important
share of the credit, can, without injus-
tice to other sources, be attributed To
the influence of newspapers upon the
mind of the country. This may be
deemed as claiming entirely too much
for our profession; but let us present
few suggestions that give plausibility
at least, to this idea. That it is be-
cause of the immense ability or the
astute learning and superior wisdom of
the editors of newspapers, is not claim
ed. 1t is rather to be attributed to the
fact, that papers have largely increas-
ed III number; that they come within
the reach of nearly every member of
the community; are read by them: and
that they contain articles descriptive
of new inventions as they are present
ed to the world. These descriptions
are spread over the country as upon
the wings of the wind; they enter into
every dwelling, even the rudest cabin
in the land; they arouse the inventive
genius of the country to action; and
the result is, the achievement of the
progress, in all matters material to the
great national wealth and the prospect
ty of our people, to which allnsiOn has
been made.
With the vast Improvements IN the
various departments OF life, 1T is mat
ter of pride, that it can be stated with
truth, that the newspapers IN their
character and ability, have made equal
strides IN the march of progress with
other things. This may be doubted
at first thought, but the doubt will be
put to rest by an investigation or com
parison of the papers of forty years
ago. with those of the present day.
For the first hundred years that news
papers were published in the United
States, they contained but a very linn
tied amount of matter, and that was
confined to the merest items of news.
1t was very rare that discussions upon
scientific subjects, or upon any other
subject of grave Importance to the
world, found place in the columns of
the papers. These discussions, If pre-
sented at all, were presented in books
and pamphlets that reached compare
lively small portion of the readers of
the country. 1t follows. naturally, that
the public mind was not aroused to
full consideration of matters per-
tanning to general improvements. The
reason that scientific men did not re.
sort to the papers of olden times, is
found in the fact that their circulation
was extremely limited, and the number
of readers that would be reached
through them, did not seem to Justify,
either the labor of writing learned arti-
Giles, or the expense of putting them IN
print. The increased facilities for
printing was followed by a correspond