The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-06-27
Current Opinion.
THE COUNTRY PRESS OF WISCONSIN.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel

| FROM the Milwaukee Sentinel
! The population of Wisconsin is greater
than the population of New York city.
The wealth of the state is not so great as
that of the national metropolis. Its aver
age intelligence is greater. It's ethical
condition IS better The property of the
commonwealth is more evenly distributed
than that oil the great city. Here there
are fewer very rich men. Here there are
fewer very poor men. Scholars and bril-
liant writer's abound more in the focus of
American life than in distant state.
The ignorant and the depraved are also
found there in greater abundance Soci
ETY. may be more brilliant and fashion.
able in the metropolis, but it is not so
pure in tone and sincere in manners
This contrast. will enable US to carry an
estimate of the country press of Wiscon-
sin up to the highest national standard.
The Journals Of New York are. conceded
to be the most important in the nation,
on account of their ability, enterprise,
magnitude and circulation. Yet all the
papers published in New York have a
less aggregate circulation in the city than
the aggregate circulation of Wisconsin
papers have in the state. Here, nearly q
million and half of people are brought
within the direct influence of the country
press. There, scarcely a million are
brought within the partial influence of
Der in Wisconsin receive their opinions
from journals printed in. the state than
receive their opinions in New York from
journals printed in the city. The aggre-
gate ability Of our country press will COM
pare not unfavorably with the aggregate
ability Of the metropolitan press. Some
Of the most brilliant editorial writers of
the great city have graduated here. In
originality, in sense, in expression, the
multitude Of papers printed daily or
weekly in all the cities and villages of
Wisconsin, make fair show by the side
of the more limited numbers of papers
printed in the commercial centre of the
country. He who forms an estimate of
the educational influence Of the United
States, without taking into account the
country press, omits factor Of primary
Importance. A certain polish may be
wanting in the style of rural journalism,
but it is supplemented with hard common
sense, with boldness Of utterance, with
sincerity Of expression, with directness of
statement, that more than compensate for
lack of elegance Of composition. Our
country journals have neveo learned the
low arc of concea!ing thought by words.
AS our rural soldiers were the most en-
during and fought the hardest battles in
the war, so our country journalists in q
great political campaign do the most
efficient work. In time OF trial and
temptation they are found truest to prin-
ciple. They are readiest to sacrifice per~
sonal gain and comfort to important pub
lie interests. They are slowest to ADAMS
don a cause On the account of the inso-
lence and injustice of that meanest aad
most contemplate Of human beings-the
professional politician. they will endure
the torment Of "ring" and patiently
hold their noses in the vicinity of a foul
cesSpool ofwire pullers, much longer than
the conductors Of the metropolitan press,
in order to save the country from the ca
lamlty of an administrative change in IA
vor of organized corrvptionists.
Year by year the country press of this
state improves in tone and ability. The
annual gathering of editors shows con-
slant provement in its p6rsoneZ The
number Of wine bibbers and whisky
drinkers every season become less. The
number of grave, thoughtful gentlemen
every year become more. Wisconsin is
proud Of her journalists and duly hCnors