National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-08-11
The 1Ocal ,1O,lrnal.

Iue IOcul J0uTuhIs
The local paper Of today, supplanted
~ il has been in general and political
ncwsby the great papers OF the city. Is
nevertheless neither insignificant in the
influence 10 exerts, nor without high
responsibility for the manner in which
II is conducted, for il has charge Of the
home life Of the communities through
which il circulates. This, Of itself,
makes, ITS calling honorable, while il re-
quires tact, "A fine power Of discrimina-
ton, n conscientious rcctitnde Of judg-
ment, from which, il seems to us, that
journals which feel the pulse IL little
farther away from the heart, are in the
main exempt. Sears and Geformities do
not show in Il crowd rs they do when Il
person il alone. II il one thing 10 mir
ror the rush and turmoil Of the crowded
mart another 10 vouch for the quiet
picture of the fircside. Woe betide the
editor of the local sheet il "pcrsonal'
crccps into his paper that drviates one
whit from the truth, and however eau
tious his pen, if il lose on, jot Of its alert
ness, the sacredness of home and private
life will have been invaded in his ambi-
tous columns. But it is this very sensi-
tivcness of its columns that should be,
and is the pride of the country press.
Herein lies its leverage upon the think
ing and feeling that is close to the in
most lie OF the people, and if well used
becomes n far more benefcient educator
in its own field than even the large pa
pers that oyer-shadow it in pretension.
Jut such AN organ of influence MS this
is your paper to you, its patrons. 1t
tells you OF your own local events, of
your daily life, haps and mishaps, of
your joys and SORROWS, deaths, mar.
rages, whatever befalls you, as far as it
dare invade your private life. II com
ments upon them with whatever wisdom
and discrimination it may command,
and il it does this well, with conscien-
tious interests in your welfare, it be-
comes to you necessity that you cannot
well dispense with. As identified with
your local business interests, your vari-
olls improvements and your general wei
fare, it is your co-equal, your best friend
and steady helper, early and late. If it
does not fully represent every locality
III winch 1t clrculates, a more Jealous CO.
operation of its patrons will enable il to
do SO, and doing this it occupies its
legitimate field, and is power in your
midst which it becomes you to foster
with generous hand and an intelligent
appreciation. You might nearly as well
forget your churches, your academies
and scroolhouses, as to forget or neglect
your local paper 1t speaks to ten times
the audience that your local minister
does, and if it has any ability at all it is
read eagerly each week from beginning
to end. 1t reaches You all, and if it has
IA lower spirit and less wisdom than
sermon, it has thousand times better
chance at you. Lying, as it does, open
npon every table, in almost every house.
you owe it to yourselves to rally literally
to It's support, and exact from it, as able,
as hlgh-toned character as you do from
any educator in your midst. 1t is in no
sense beneath your notice and care-un-
less You yourselves are beneath notice
and care for it is your representative.
Indeed in its character it is the summa-
ton OF the importance, interest and wei
fare to you all. 1t is the aggregation of
your own consequence, and you cannot
ignore it without miserably depreciating
yourselves. - Times, Armenia, n. Y.