Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-05-22
WILMINGTON, DBL.
"Wednesday Afternoon. May ~.
THE PROGRESS OF WILMINGTON JOUR-
NALIsM-OUR NEWSPAPERS OF THE FU-

The discontinuanee of one OF the Oldest news
pzpers in the city is a milestone, marking the
important journalistic change which has taken
place in Wilmington, since 1866. In that year,
upon the appearance of the DAILY COMMERCIAL,
there were three newspapers published here, all
81 them issuing semi-weelly edition for city
circulation, and weekly for the country. The
COMMERCIAL was the first daily paper, and for a
lbhg time, the only one. Its influence upon the
old newspapers, was at first slight, but as the
certainty Of it's progress and permanency be-
ctfne apparent, this greatly increased. In time,
it was perceived by all that the city's size, i'm
port ance, and extent of business interests could
oily be properly represented by the daily news
paper-that two issues week were too few, too
sh5W, too inadequate. From this conviction,
ca4he the three new dailies, enc Of which is now
suspended. -Four daily papers in Wilmington
we're doubtless too many, to be assured OF sup
p6ft, and the dscontinuance Of at least one was
a certain CONSCIENCE Of the superfiuity. We
confess our surprise, indeed, that the Journal
should have been published so long.
For the future, the journalism of this city-its
Newspaper interests, newspaper business, news
paper influence, newspaper reputation-will be
placed on new footing. tits like our new Opera
House, which succeeds our older Halls. They
served well enough, in their time, but the growth
of the city, and the expansion of its people, not
only in numbers but in wealth, cultivation, and
aesthetic tastes, demanded something superior,
and Of larger capacity. The new Hotel will be
such as no city need be ashamed to show, and is
an equal and similar growth. The daily news
papers Of Wilmington, hereafter, will be the
recognized representatives of it's journalism, and
theF will represent it on plane much higher
than the old semi-weeklies as the city is higher,
nov, in all the elements Of greatness, than it
was ten or twenty years ago.
For the future, we contemplate this change
and development, with great satisfaction. In
80 far as the natural competition Of other and
newer journals is fair, honorable and friendly,
we shall welcome it--and we trust there will be
no other. We rely, for our continued success,
upon the same kind appreciation which the city
of Wilmington for over five years and half,
has shown us, and we are perfectly confident
thatsn honest adherence to principle, firm
maintenance of the Truth, Gas We can discern
it, and steady advocacy Of liberal, progress
siye, and ciyilizing measures will insure Ills that
appreciation.
1t is not to be forgotten, of course, that the
Right, though "always expedient, =" is not always
popular, and that he who proclaims it is often
blamed But we rather choose to bear this and
to wait for that justification which is sure to
come, eventually, as circumstances develop the
whole truth, and the mind of the public takes it,
''sobsr second thought"
The COMMERCIAL is an independent nr,rs
paper. 1t believes that the best interests of tn,
State and Nation will be served by the Republic
can party, it's men and measures. 1t is sincerely
devoted to the principles that party presents
not because they are partisan, bd because Reg
are right And in so far as the people of Della
ware sympathize with these views, we claim theii
cooperation and support. But we claim more
than this A Republican newspaper, such as the
times demand, need be nothing offensive to
Democratic reader In these cooler days whel
party spirit has greatly subsided, argumen
takes the place of mere contention, and friend!
difference Of opinion may be entertained with
out quarrel or bitterness. We propose to discus
subjects to argue questions, to consider propo
sitions and not to indulge in mere defamation
and assertion.
Upon such plan, the COMMERCIAL pursuing
its course in the future, hopes to do justice t.
all classes, and to be appreciated by all. As /
shall deserve support, it hopes--nay, from tn
experience Of the past, crpecis-to receive itl /
will strive to display an enterprise equal to tn
demands Of the situation, and such as the va
n,ington Of To-day requires from those who clair
to represent it.