The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-14

Country Papers.
Nearly all our West Virginia ex-
changes come to us freighted with ap-
Peals to their subscribers to "pay up"
They complain that they cannot collect
the sums due them that they are needy;
and some even say plainly that unless
they receive better support they must
suspend. We doubt whether in any of
the other of the loyal States, the coun-
try press has az hard time, as in West
Virginia In Pennsylvania and Ohio,
fnr example, the laws require so many
more legal publications.. that this kind
OF advertising alone affords, we believe,
IA substantial part of IA support; while
here, 40. little legal advertising is re-
quired that the aid from this source
amounts to very little. 1t is true that in
those States there is a much denser
population, and the people are
more given to reading than ours.
1t il only since the war, in
deed, that West Virginia has been
opened up to the educating influences
OF newspapers. Heretofore it was rank
heresy in many parts OF the State to
read anything but the Richmond En-
qHirer, the Wheeling argus, or kindred
sheets, which devotedltheir columns,
not TO general topics and news, but to
orthodox essays on Federal relations
and States rights. These were accessi-
BILE only to the representative men,
while the masses of the ancient DEM
ocracy derived their doctrines at second
hand and did without news altogether.
The "abolitionistsr of those days
few and far between as they were
-dStested such mental pabulum,
but the rule OF old Virginia ideas was
80 rigid that they were allowed very
little else. The war broke in rudely on
this Arcudian era and now all is
changed, and newspapers OF every po-
Iiticnl complexion circulate as freely in
West Virginia AS the breezes of her hills
and valleys. Every man may read
what he likes, believe what he likes
and say what he pleases; and no Rich
mOnd edicts or grand juries "molest or
make him afraid" The changes
wrought by the war in the intellectual
character of our people have been very
great. They read twice or thrice as
many papers as before; but they do not
yet sufficiently avail themselves of the
advantages which the world of
newspapers now offers them. Nor
do those of them who do habitually
patronize and read newspapers, aPpre-
ciate the importance OF extending their
usefulness. \ good newspaper is now
"a necessity to every well-informed man
and without it he literally belongs TO
the outer world OF darkness. Those
who live in cities and enjoy the adyan-
tnges OF daily newspapers would as lief
do without break fast as miss the morn
ing paper. and to them it is wonder
how people living in the country, where
mails are infrequent and late papers
unattninhble, can content themselves.
But il is sad fact that hundreds, even
thousands OF them do content them
selves, without even weekly paper to
remind OF and connect them with the
great moving world from which they
seperaIe themselves.
To habitual readers of newspapers no
argument need be addressed to show
how great AN educator of all ages, class
es and conditions of society IL news
paper ia: but those who have the
charge and direction of public
interests, may be reminded that the
newspaper is the most potent agency
by which great ends may be accom-
plished. Our legislators seek to de-
NeloP and build up West Virginia.
The first necessity is nm intelligent pop
ulatiou. If population from abroad is
tarGly about coming in. there Is all the
greater need OF educating our own.
We do not mean simply teaching them
to ''read, write and cipher" but that
broader education which puts people
In intellectual communication and
sympathy with the world of ideas and
enterprises, of progress and develop
ment, mentally, politically and social
ly, from which West Virginia people
have always been in II great measure
cut of. Liberal legislation is good AS
far as it goes, but it needs always to be
backed up by n liberal minded people.
But what we simply intended to say
HCNbAhk ouS "Asng hAAtAb NAo RtORAe VI
the State as a whole cannot afford to
let their county papers starve to
death. There are now but about one
for every two or three counties. There
ought to be one in every county, and it
ought to afford its publishers living;
every man who works deserves
to live, and there is no man who does
better work than the editor of news
paper, whether his sphere be large or
provided always his aims are
good. As matter OF general practical
results, we cannot afford 20 have the
or usefulness of our country
papers diminished. The public advan-
tage would be promoted il both could
be increased. We legislate for schools
and very wisely make bountiful provis-
ion for the dissemination OF free educa-
ton through that medium; but here is
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