The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-26
MONOPOLY IN JOURNALISM.
From the Spirit Of the Times, August 22.l

the rebellion sprang out OF the ignorance OF the peo-
pie OF the Southern states, wherein public school
education mad always been discouraged, so the Union
was preserved by the intelligence OF the North. Our
army was one OF reading and thinking men; scholars
and students carried muskets in the ranks and
wherever camp was made the mails followed il
with thousands OF newspapers, books aad magazines
The Union soldiers understood the principles OF the
cause they dcfeaded and had faith in It's success.
We won not only by bullets but by brains
Whatever nteiieres with and embarrasses the pro-
gressve education of the people Is an enemy Of
American freedom. All organizations which are OPP
posed, directly OF indirectly, to Tree schools, cheap
postage, cheap telegraphng, are dangerous foes OF
repubcansm: and the worsC foe OF all Is that which
would make Journalism monopoly and cripple and
c0nne that great newspaper interest which to the
men OF the United States the most important Of all
educational opportunities. This monopoly does
exist 1t has been and is working unknown evils to
the country The Associated Press OF New York
city, originally established upon sound business
principles and for wise purposes has been converted
by one fatal error III It's policy, INTO vast lnstru-
ment for the suppression OF American newspapers.
That the Journals of the metropolis should agree
to combine all Their advantages aud support out OF
common lund, the expenses Of steam yachts, special
correspondents different Giles, OF teegraphing,
Is simple business arrangement to which no eXcep-
ton can be taAen they have right to form part
nership and 10 limit 1t. OF course the effect OF such
an association Is to prevent the establishment OF
new papers IN New YORK, but that Is misfortune
which can only be met by giving to new enterprises
independent opportunities Of obtaining news, not by
DENYING the right Of the established journals 10
manage their own affairs.
The grand evil OF the Associated Press is its effect
comparatively small evil that Messrs. Dana Conking
q 20: were compelled to buy ouG the sun for
$I7oOoo IN ORDER 10 start, with anv chance OF
CESS, new paper in this city; bat 1t Is public
wrong that an almost insuperab obstacle should
Exst IN every town OF the United States esab
Isnhent OF new papers, Startling as the assertion
may appear, it is the literal TRUTH as every news
paper man knows, that in Philadelphia Boston, Bal
tiIhore, Oincinndll ana all cities scarcely any
amount OF capital will justify Journalist in starting
nGfnihg paper Without FIRST buying begging adj
This admission is seldom granted on any Terms for
Sme memoers OF oaopoy are always afraid Of
courage enterprise in any great business interest
| is for the individual as well as for the
throughout the United States Veto the Ipe es.
| Establishment of new journals; they suppress the
dissemination OF inteligence they act in the inter-
ests Of Ignorance and in weakening the foundations
OF popular education they attack the republic ITSELF
Now, If these numerous local rings were based upon
the system of the monopoly in New York some de-
fence might be urged IN their behalf But they are
not. Strictly speaking there is no associated press
outside OF New York. Here Is the difference: In
New York the Associated Press, at great expense Of
| labor and time, has built and established steam
yachts, fostered telegraph enterprise and spent at
least a million and q half Of dollars in perfectinp
system by which collects and distributes the news
OF the world; but the papers OF Boston and Phiade
phia own no machinery OF the kind AS associated
presses they have no original and independent exl
| istence. They depend entirely for their European
and Cuban cable news upon the Associated Press Of
New York. and almost altogether for all the tele5
graphic news they print no matter from what quar-:
ter IT comes. They buy their news from the great
| New York monopoly and II it should refuse to sell
they would cease to be newspapers
| here we ma the reSpOn lDlllty o! the NeV YORK
Associated Press for the general depression and dis
| couragement OF journalism throughout the United
States. 1t is the original and sole possessor for this
hemisphere OF the news OF the world with the right
to sell TO all VINO would buy, yet it has permitted q
| limited number OF its customers to declare that ID
| shall have no other. In other words 1t has allowed
the morning journals OF each city OF the Union I'd
| decide whether any new papers siall be permitted
to share the news it sends and to share the EXPENSE
| of paying for it. These local monopolies which do
| not own an inch OF telegraph WIRE which have no
| part In the great system OF collecting news, which
M I man NJ II
are given the power TO practically proclaim that
| more daily morning newspapers shall be estab.
| lished.
Upon no principles of business or public morality
do we think that this system can be defended The
| eating to the local rings this arbitrary power to
| decide what newspapers shall purchase Its
news All that il escapes Is the trouble Of deciding
| local rivaries and that 1t might entirely avoid b5
refusing to De party to their creation. This 1t can
| do by laying down the just principle that any re-
| spectacle American journal which wants its news
and will pay FOR It, can nave IT, subject to restrlc.
| ton from the jeaonsies or iears OF its rivals in
New York IL can do as 1t pleases with is prop
erty but elsewhere II should not permit It's magnin-
cent news system to be monopoilzed by papers which
| Journalism throughout the United States.
If some reform OF the kind we have suggested ia
| not made the public interest Will demand the pro-
| lection OF Congress- The electric telegraph Is now
under the control of the monopoly OF Journalism and
is OF vast aid In perpeuating It's own power. 1t Is
true that the telegraph is fee To ALL but 1t Is only
nomlnay iree Tor what Journal in Boston, for in
! stance, could anori TO pay out OF its own
daily from London, Paris ConstanlinOpic, and
all the cities OF the United Statesi 1t would be
well If the government should do what has been
suggested by this Journal aud take possession OF
telegraph establishing national telegraph system
similar to postal system, uniform in Its management
and much cheaper than the present system In its
rates. But II this is not done the government OF the
United States should earnestly address itself to the
work OF protecting American jou fnalism from the
curse Of monopoly. II 10 the interest Of the people
and the safety OF the Union that newspapers should
| be multiplied throughout the land ana nothing
allowed to destroy that educational theory which is
at the basis Of the government. over thirty millions
OF dollars have been granted to tie Union Pacific
Railroad, the principle that though It is private
company Its success will be national blessing. and
| at every session OF Congress appropriations are
made for the development OF the agricultural and
commercial interests OF the country. Let something
be directly done in the interes: Of popular edI-
lutely just and impartial, and which viii have
no relation to party politics, but will serve with
perfect equality the Journalism OF the whole country
we said last February that newspapers are the
public teachers through which the mind OF tho
grown man Is TO be fed-the higher academy which
superveneS the common scnooi-dnd are as descrv-
ing Of consideration from the government as the
elementary provision for the boy" We suggested
that at might, for this purpose take upon itself tho
expense Of contracting for column oil foreign tee-
graphic news day. TO be delivered broadcast to tao
press OF the United states, through ceran specified
news centres In every state; while no nome tele.
graphic lines should helceorh he allowed charter
without guaranteeing certain amount OF public
news to be distributed among the journals In Ike
manner" Since then we have been more nrmy
convinced that such policy as thus would be ma
uOudl DentslI, hli thdt uhic>s tut New aSsus
ciated Press wisely resolves 70 put stop TO the local
monUpOies which hamper journalism In every
State and city, Congress cannot long refuse TO esaD-
lish II. The system would revive and strengthen
American journalism: u would mot Only have I'M
measurable influence In developing the intelligence
OF the people but it would be OK greatest beneft
TO the business OF the country The latest niorma-
ton OF the foreign and domestic money anu
mercial markets would be simultaneously and faith
fully published In all our towns and the humbiest
daily paper would he enabled TO give TO its readers
speedily the OF the world. As the weekly press
cannot be Justly accused OF any selfish ends In adj.
yocatlng the reform. We urge 1t In bcralf OF tho
highest interests OF the American people for the
sase OF their enlightenment and Instruction. We
know there can beiall q free people greater evil
than the success or n monopoly which discouraqes
the dissemination or popular Intelligence. Tue
of the United STATES govern parttcs con-