The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-16
Words of Truth.

| We clip the following truthful ana
timely remarks concerning the necessity
for circulating Democratic papers from an
Ohio contemporary
Gas matter of course. documents are very
| desirable, but the man or committee that eN-
poets TO cary an election by means of speeches
and pamphlets distributed during campaign.
is painfully deceived. We repeat our remark
that these will do very well rs incidents of Il
campaign. but the great work of changing We
tiers from one party to another is done neither
by stump speeches on the eve of an election.
nor by thousands of pamphlets put atloat after
the mind of the people is well made up. Ear
lier work is needed. Changes of mind are ac-
compshed gradually. What the Democratic
party Ohio needs and requires. is an imme-
diate increase of the circulation of Democratic
newspapers in every county in the State The
winter and earlier spring months are the sea-
son for accomplishing this. These are periods
| in which the voters of the State have by far the
greatest amount of time to devote to reading.
Impressions made during this time-llne upon
line. precept upon precept-are not likely to be
obiiterated. and prepare the way for the strong
meat served i'll the heat of the campaign.
Every word of the above is true. There
is no other agency like the press in
moulding public sentiment. Its work is
constant, unceasing and never firing.
No matter what happens-though the ell
ements contend and pestilence stalk
abroad, and fire consume and war devas-
tate the land, the press still goes on with
its unseen work, scattering its leaves
abroad. as ''snow flakes fall upon the
sod" and leaving the imprint OF truth or
error upon the great scroll of the public
mind. 1t is not necessary that every
man should read newspaper to be at
fected by its teachings. In every COM
munity there are leading minds which
give tone and direction to public senti-
ment. These derive the data from the
newspapers, wherewith to combat error
and propagate truth. The facts and az
guments they so receive are spread oral
| " from mouth to mouth, make their way
from house to house, and become the
| fixed thoughts of communities. Accord
ing as newspapers are multiplied and
their circulation is extended, will the in
huence of the press be telt How impor-
tant then that every Democrat, who feels
an interest in having his principles
triumph, should exert himself to enlarge
the area of the usefulness of his party pa
pers If one-half the money spent in an
important political campaign, in man.
ner equivocally conducive to public NOR
ais, was devoted, during the year, to ex-
tend the circulation Of Democratic papers,
the result would be beneficial beyond
compare.
1t must be admitted that Republicans |
have better understanding Of these |
things than Democrats. They give their |
papers better support. They make it 4
labor of love to extend their circulation. |
As a general rule their journals have |
double the circulation Of Democratic pa
pers. During the war and for years inn
mediately succeeding. it was more than
quadruple in some States, ten |
ten times as great. What wonder that |
perncious seeds We're sown, and PERM |
cious IDEAS fructlied and brought forth |
plentiful crops of mischief? How was it |
possible for Democrats to combat the |
overwhelming tide of error which thus
swept, almost unchecked, over the land .
How have they succeeded so well in thus |
soon popularizing that great cause, which !
Radicalism had succeeded in smotherng |
beneath q cloud of obloquy and ialsehood
We answer, by the influence and untring |
eXertions OF the Democratic press through |
out the country Through all kinds of |
difficulties and discouragements the con-
.lnrtnre of thos" have steadily pursued |
their way. combating error and assallng
the enemies of constitutional government,
exposing the corruptions and usurpations
of the party in power, and calling or the
faithful TO stand steadtas.ly by the good
old banner under which in former years
they achieved so much
Consider for moment the number of
papers in the interests of the respective
parties in the State of Maine. There are
% ,avowed radical newspapers, support
ed by the national, State and county pat
ronage Besides these, there are seven
papers, ostensbly devoted to other inter
ests, which serve radical party purposes
with zeal and efficiency. To this formid-
able list, the Democrats can oppose but
seven papers. In the Fifth Congressional |
District alone the radicals have as many
newspapers as there are democratic pa
pers in the whole State. Opposed to
hem are but two-the Journal and the
Machias Union. To this great disparity
is owing, more than to any other cause,
the radical control of the State of Maine.
Should not Democrats take greater pains
to extend the circulation of papers in
their interest?