The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-04
s. G.
wednesday, Morning, June 4. 1873.
Fewer hut Stronger Jou~nuis--Their
Proper Functions.

Southern journalism. 1t is found that
the business, in most of our cities, has
been over. crowded. The process of
thinning out began two or three years
ago, in Richmond, Va. Moro recently,
Mobile followed suit, aud the Tribune
expired, leaving the field exclusively to
the Register. A few weeks ago, the
venerable Courier. of Charleston. whose
voice has been potent and influential for
three-fourths OF o century. was sold for q
song. and the lusty young Necs (ior the
evening-morning- Bulletin. Ch,ontcis has
hardly settled ITSELF alone. remains to
tell the tale OF Charleston commerce aud
enterprise, and to reflect it's views, policy
md opinions. The Augusta Constitu-
tiomd'ist, also respectable in age and in
6uence. has likewise been compelled to
snccnmb; and now MS read that the Sa-
vannah Republicans which has been con-
Quoted with ability and spirit, has bccn
merged in the 4Atloerliscr. Richmond,
We believe, has ,threo dulles; atlanta
three; Wilmington two, and Columbia,
until recently, had four; while Charles
ton, Mobile, Savannah and Augusta
have but one each. Sometimes iu1u-
ences, other than circulation, adyertis-
ing and: job business, temporarily sus-
tain q journal, as must havo been the
case in this city, when 80 many dailios
appeared and kept the field. These in
fuences arc mostly political. and the
newspapers Which reflect only dictated
or partial views, are boIstered by par
hes, cliques or individuals Of moneyed
influence, who keep prudently in the
back ground. Resting on this 1imsy
foundation, they eau only have limited
term Of existence, and they command no
respect while thus galvanized into life.
Being small organs, out Of tune With the
great mass OF tho community, their
Wheeling u.terances are disrcgart.cd,
and soon bring them into contempt
They are OF no use even to thoir up-
holders, except for q special OCCASION or
limited tinlo. The example Of Charles
ton, Augusta. Savannah and Mobile will
have to be followed, sooner or la:er, hy
the other cities mentioned II Charles
bon. with population of 10000, Mobile
$4,000. and Augustal15, 900, each with
large advertising business, can only
afford QUO daily newspaper of good size
and good matter. OF course towns OF
from 5000 to $1,000 can do no moro
legitimatcly. The expense Of conduct
ing newspapers is considerably greater
than before the war, and these expenses
have to be met every week. They must
have large circulation. abundant ndvcr-
tising of "a paying sort, be managed with
economy and skill, and even then, in
most cases. they have to be aided by job
Offices, which are run il connection With
them.
We are not surprised. therefore, nor
need We be grieyed at the manifest ten
dency to consolidation in this business.
Where there ia not adequate support for
two or three newspapers, it is to Ste into
rest Of the community. as we'll as to that
Of newspaper men themselv vos, that only
one should continue TO exist in it. There
is but one subscription to pay instead Of
two CT three. :aud only half or tLira Of
the expenses in advertising, with Us
great and probably greater advantages
in reaching those Interested ii adver-
tIsemen!s. Rivalry in this calling, as il,
all others. ia. Of course, Of great value;
but competition, which is the life Of
trade, is hazardous where tie field and
conditions nto unsuitable. Readers and
supporters of newspapers. Oh the other
hand. can generally rely for protection
from monopoly on shc wholesome fear OF
opposition, which q failure to come up to
the highest standard will prodnce Whore
ono paper, ius.cad of two or threo or
four, represents q community, it ought
to be botter in the quality as we'll rs tie
quantity OF its matter It should become
more independent, and its energy and
enterprise must not be backward to oc-
cupy the wider fold opened to it. Fix