The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-29

uoh auu OF recognizing the necessity or
popular instruction as foundation for popular
government. This wide difTnsion of knowledge
created. OF course. a large demand for constant
information, and. IN consequence, the newspaper
system was developed In the United States
much more rapidly than among ourselves, and has
been far more widely extended. Here, again, It
would be pardonable to doubt whether their journals
reach the standard attained in this country But any
article OF use that becomes very common and very
necessary Is liable 10 he produced IN rreat haste and
with less regard for solidtv newspaper OF some
sort has long been daily necessary to every class
in the United States and the demand mas
been more than met so far as mere numbers are
concerned. Some remarks OF our American CORE
sppndeut Friday drew our attention 20 sun
Further spread IN this overwhelming circle OF IN
struction, and indicate another point IN when we
NAV take n lesson from our kinsnen. 81
When the printing press mas done its work there -
Onething still wanted before the work can be utit-
lied. The book or the newspaper must be dstrlb'
tal as the multiplication OF copies and f. In fact,
the natural complement OF that multiplication.
The various agencies OF civilization are perpetuaiy
reacting upon each other and can only be developed
simultaneously. An active newspaper press would
he impossible without railways. The public, per-
haps have little idea OF the energy and the organza
ton which are required in order TO place copy OF
their morning journal on their breakfast table. The
task OF distributing the daily papers over London
and to the various railway stations constitutes, In
fact, an immense business, reluiriog nisn
order Of manacement. Moreover, when az Is
done that private enterprise can undertake, there
remains an immense area over which the informa-
tion OF the press must be spread II spread at oil,
BY Other means No private rm would undertake n rans
NIT them to subscribers In distant country DISTRICTS
Newspapers can only reach such places through the
Post ONCE; and here 1t Is that the Americans have
made great advance upon our system. The
government regards 1t as duty to facilitate the
circulation OF newspapers IN every possible way.
and this 1t does most efectuay. FIRST OF ALL In the
United States the local newspapers are principal
source OF information between distant districts.
a regular system OF exchange papers," There are
few American editors, saws our correspondent,
who do not exchange their paper with seve.
raj hundred contemporaries. Now, the United
States government actually carries all these
exchange papers free OF cost either to sender
or receiver II is obvious that this must be enor
nous tax on the government, but 1t is equally OBJ
vious how immense boon must be conferred
on the people BY the aid Of the government the
in almost every other town. The government
itself supplies the link which unites San
Francisco to Philadelphia and New York. and
TINS insures a perfect understanding between all
parts OF its vast territory. Nearly equal facility Is
afforded for the distribution OF papers to individuals
The ordinary tariff, instead of being penny or more
for each newspaper is but penny for four ounces,
so that half dozen newspapers may be despatched
in one packet for single penny stamp. But besides
this, IL a man subscribes to daily newspaper the
Post once grants him large communication. For
about five pence MONTH or little more than penny
week he can receive his daily journal post free.
There are many other facilities for which we must
refer the reader to our correspondents letter; but
the result Is that the newspaper offices enjoy the
greatest possible facility for mutual information
ana have the whole service OF the state at their dis
posal for distributing their Impressions
Compare this with our own system. BY far the
greatest part OF newspaper transmission iS per-
formed as we have said, by private enterprise, with
the aid OF the railways. The Post ONCE, indeed
transmits newspapers, but at such rates and under
such conditions that 1t would seem the object to
perform the least possible amount OF service at
the greatest possible EXPENSE To . country sub
scriber who receives this journal by post, It's
cost Is increased by one.tnrd. and the price of a
penny paper Is Of course exactly doubled. Besides
this there are so many elaborate regulations to be
C1Ncn rVrod In trAnt oYrd nuav1 IN u
paper that slight inadyertences are constantly ex-
posing us to fines and DELAYS. The Post ONCE In
pensve and most troublesome OF all our means Of
transmission. Now we do not venture 10 suggest
that the example OF the United. States should be
followed. There has been a general I'M
ierstanding OF late years that the Post once must
be made to pay; and even in utilizing 1t for go
valuable a purpose as that OF the Savings, Banks
Mr.. Gladstone thought II necessary to insure
that no expense should be imposed on the public.
There NAV be room for doubt whether wider
economy but we need not question
It at present. II should certainly. however, be a
matter for careful inquiry whether the present high
rates OF postage and troublesome restrictions are
necessary to secure the office AGAINST loss II the post
,oud be more largely used for newspaper transmits
ZION an incalculabe benefit would be conferred on
he country. In proportion as we have extended
ne franchise we must extend the means OF using
he franchise ntelligently, and 1t may become q
question whether we ought not, even II 1t did not
paw" to bring the means Of political information
more within the reach Of all classes OF the people.
The time is near at hand when the Post ONCE viii
,e very closely united with the newspaper press.
Within a few months, In consequences OF the acqui-
ition OF the telegraphs by the government, we
hall have to depend upon the offlce at st.
for all our Geographic news.
jDlcss this business be performed in very different
pirit from that which has as vet been shown In the
york OF transmission the public will suffer greatly
" the change. The telegraph IL now az much a part
newspaper the printing press ITSELF and II WIN
the business OF the Post once authorities TO bring
themselves In harmony with the press, and to con-
ider In the first place, not their own convenience,
nut the demands Of the public. We believe, indeed,
hat with judicious management the supply OF those
the business OF the Office to discover in each case,
he method for accomplishing those two ends stimuli
aneously. In the management OF the telegraphs
hev will be absolutely compelled TO undertake this
ask; but they might usefully consider the other
ubject to which we have here called attention. The
Post ONCE will soon be OF the chief agencies for
he transmission OF news. Could II nof be rendered
lso OF the chief agencies for the transmission
" newspapers