Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-08
Country Newspaper Publish
ing.

This nation - divided into States,
and each State into Counties. The
citizens are all politicians. There
are always two grand divisions, or
political parties-the conservative
and the progressive-extending over
the entire country. At the seat Of
the National Government are two or
more main political newspaper or
gans-that Of the administration, and
that Of the opposition; at the seat Of
each State Government are two or
gans Of the State division Of the par
ties; and at each County seat are two
County organs. These last are the
universal country newspapers of the
land.
1t is akin, in many Of It's compare
five characteristics, to the common
school. The common school is the
first school Of the people, the most
universal and most important, yet
the rudest and lowest in character
and capacity; SO the country neWspa-
per is the lowest, rudest, most uni
versal and most important
The common school is the lowest,
because the remuneration is 50 small
that none but transitory, idle young
people engage in it. The best talent
and culture can do better. Its teach
crs are, therefore, comparatively inn
beetle, and ignorant and inexperi-
enced.
The country newspaper is the low
est, for precisely the same reason
the remuneration will not command
the best talent, and because, usually,
none but journeyman printers en-
gage init. A man of the best thought
and learning can do better; a mere
journeyman cannot; it is to him a
goal Of ambition visions Of Horace
Greedy and Benjamin Franklin are
continually before him.
There is nothing in the eternal fit
ness Of things why this should be So
The common school is susceptible Of
becoming the COLLEGE Of the people.
1t could and should teach everything
that Is taught in any school. So, the
country newspaper is susceptible of
exhibiting as much talent and learn
ing, and as good mechanism, as the
best publication Of the highest art.
And it is the interest of teachers and
printers, and people, that both should
be elevated to the highest plane.
The reason Of the country newspa-
per being SO low is manifold. First,
the patronage is limited, and will not
. compensate the best talent. Second,
the audience is small and the appre-
citation meagre; commonplace minds
like best a commonplace newspaper;
a mere twaddling, gossipping news
paper, is better adapted to please
twaddling, gossipping readers-few
only, comparatively, can appreciate
the best vigor and thought. Third,
the conductor is not selected for any
natural aptitude, but simply because
he is q printer; and the world has
not learned the necessity, nor how to
Go it if it had, OF putting the young
and learning citizens, there to be men
and women, at such vacations as they
are by nature the best adapted; boys
are put at the printing trade as they
are put at any other, not because OF
any peculiar fitness, but because of
mere opportunity; and men are edu-
Gated to be printers who should have
been farmers, machinists, merchants,
artists, &c. The party, Democratic
or Republican, may feel a generous
desire to see established "A newspaper
advocating, in Its county, what it
deems truth. 1t subscribes literally
therefore. 1t then morally oaens the