The New York herald., 1872-12-25

The nrHt OF these the period from 1890 to l7O4,
when the initial experiments were made In estab-
fishing new spapers. The colonial press and the
Revolutionary press follow next In order. With
the overthrow Of British domination. came the
political party press and class interest publications.
Somebody has remarked that the year 1888 was the
year OF paradoxes. 1t was year In which the air
seemed impregnated with change and marked the
transition period Of journalism. The next few
years developed the cheap press OF NewrYork INTO
the independent journal and the genuine news
paper devoted to the gathering OF news. These
SIX epochs are as f0llows:-
-l7s3-1s33-1s35-1s72.
"All kinds OF newspapers" says Mr. Hudson,
with all sorts OF characteristics, are embraced In
these ep0chs. We find every interest with its
organ-each has its circle like the oak, its strata
like the earth, its policy like the political party Its
cycle like the sum-
THE FIRST AMERICAN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The first American newspaper had name which
aptly describes the real business OF journalism. 1t
was printed at Boston and was called PuoicE Oc-
cWTences. The name Of it's protector was Benjamin
Harris and the span OF its existence one day. 1t
was issued on Thursday September rs, 1e9o and the
publisher promised to ''take what pains he can to
obtain faithful narration *** OF such consider
able occurrences as have arrived unto our notice."
What editor can promise more even now9 And the
ance is more in the facilities than the intent 1t
is noteworthy fact that this first American news
paper was printed ten years before the first at
tempt at public Journal was made at Dublin. 1t
was fourteen years earlier than the publication OF
the famous Ne,os Letter At Boston, Harris Px0lfcE
Occurrences was suppressed by the Legislative AS
sembly because IL contained reflections of very
high nature" and press law was passed as nox-
ious in every way as the censorship under Napoleon
Ill or in the Island OF Cuba Any person who has
not tried the experiment will be surprised at the
| dmculty OF procuring fitting name for new
| journal-a name at once pleasant In SOUND and
| descriptive OF the contents OF the paper. 1t is
easier to name new play than new newspaper.
| Either the title has been used so often as 10
! be threadbare, or, like Public Occurrences and
| The Ne,cs Letter 1t is cumbr0us to the tongue
| and disagreeable to the ear. In this respect, as
well as In the purpose Of ewspaper, indicated
by his first venture, Mr.. Harris approved himself
true journalist; for after returning to London ne
started paper which he called The P0st-a name
still in common use, but too often more proper for
farmyard portal than live journal. copy or
the London Gazette was reprinted by william Brad
ford in 1906, but the Boston Nesos Letter was the
forerunner Of
THE COLONIAL PREss-17O4-1755.
The appearance Of this journal, April "a, 1904 Mr.
Hudson tells as was ''sensation"-the beginning
OF sensational journalism. 1t was ''printed by au-
thority" every week. The editor and publisher
was John Campbell, the Postmaster at Boston. The
difference between his case and many OF the postal
editors OF to-day is that he was postmaster who
became an editor while now editors too often be-
come postmasters. When Campbell was removed
from the Post ONCE, William Brooker his success
sor, started the Boston Gazette, and then began
the first paper war;" ~ pity the readers OF the
new paper" said Campbell; 'its sheets smell
stronger of beer than OF midnight OIL" Like bat
ties have continued to follow each other in rapid
succession up to the present time. From lzl9 to
1889 the Gazette was owned and published by not
fewer than five postmasters The first enortat re-
porting was for the Nesos-Letter soon after
its establishment. 1t was an execution Of
six pirates on the Charles River, June 80.
1904, and even contained "thc exhorta-
tiOn to the malefaCtors," 'as near as 1t
could be taken In writing in the great crowa"
The first jenkins made his appearance also in the
NeacsL Letter, February %, 1776. 1t was a descrip-
tion OF masked ball which was to take place at
the Boston Concert Hall on the 18th Of March, In
speaking of this "grand affair" the paper said,
'ten capital cooks are already. engaged In prepar.
ing supper for the masquerade, which is to be the
most brilliant thing ever seen in America Thus
we see that even before the Revolution ..fashiona-
BILE intelligence" was toothsome, reporting had be-
come one OF the fine arts, and interviewing" was
possible
THE REVOLUTIONARY PREss-1755-1ss3.
We have not the space to treat OF matters so well
known as Franklns journalism, or to trace the
history Of the Colonial and Revolutionary press.
Both are bound up together and the one is the
child OF the other. Says Mr.. Hudson "a. D. 174s
opened the campaign for 1776" In that
year Samuel Adams. who first characterized
England .'nation OF shopkeepers," started
fha J,ld0y don't fioor
club OF ardent young rebels who gave full rein to
free thought and free speech II is said this paper
| published the sermons OF Jonathan Mayhew, the
! founder OF American Unttaranism, as the HERALD
now publishes the discourses OF all the leading
preachers OF the metropolis. But 1855 was the true
beginning OF the Revolutionary epoch, for in that
year the Stamp act went into effect. The Iade.
pendent Advertiser became the Boston Gazette and
the great organ OF the Revolutionary party. AS
years rolled on after the Stamp act was passed,
the Boston massacre the tea tax the closing OF the
port OF Boston, the letters OF Governor Hutchinson,
the measures OF the provincial government and the
conduct OF the British soldiers were topics that
were treated with much ability and gave as great
an impulse TO journalism as TO the spirit
OF liberty. The Newport Mercury. the Oldest
OF existing American Journals was early
active in the good cause, and among the most
notable 0fits Revolutionary articles is doleul ac-
count OF Arnold's treason and the execution OF
Major Andre. Charles Carroll, OF Carrollton, was
OF the journalists OF the Revolutionary period
writing mostly for the Maryland Gazette and
Thomas Jefferson was the real founder OF the vir-
gnia Gazette There were also loyal journals,
notably Rivington's Royal Gazette published In
New York, to which Andre was q frequent con.
tributor, and IN which his "Cow Chaser first ap-
peared. This paper was often very witty, and
Freneau, the Revolutionary poet, then editing a
paper in Philadephia, saiirized 1t as q badly
printed journal, in regard TO which
the people. perhaps, would be frightened and fret
II the devil alone carried on the Gazette,
And whose editor Satan commanded -
"Kneei down. ior your merits dub you a knight;
From passive snLaiern bid you to rise
The inventor as well as the printer of Hes"
As soon as the Revolution was over the party