, 1873-01-05


responsible, and economical municipal govern
ments.
MR. HUDS0Ns AMERICAN JOURNALISM.
Mr. Frederick Hudson's long-e1pected book
on Journalism in the United states," which
has Just been published, is an exceedingly inter.
esting work. Mr. Hudson was for many years
tho editor Of the Now York Herald, under James
Gordon Bonnet, Son., and WAS chiefly instrs..
mental in bis time in the development and main.
tenance, under severe tests, of the far-reaching
enterprise in the collection Of news which hfr.
| Bennett had been tho first to iuaugurate. His
natural adaptability to journalism, the expert
once which gave him the position Of q leader,
and the many years which he has de-
voted to tracing American newspaper progress
from its earliest beginnings, are circumstances
that have combined to make his book valuable
contribution to history.
afr. Hudson defines six distinct epochs OF
American journalism. The first embraced tho
years from 1850 to 17o4, aud WAS tho initial
| period. It's characteristic struggles arc suGl-
GENTLY typifed by the first Of American newspa-
[ pers issued in Boston, on Thursday, Espt. Is,
1850, aud called Pu6Hck Occurrences. It lived
just one day. The publisher had etidontly
| counted on longer existence, Tor he
promised to "take what pains hs
can to obtain faithful narration Of
such considerable occurrences as hare arrived
into our notice." But the Legislative Assembly
found that Publick Occurrences contained "re-
Elections Of q very high NATURE" and sunamarly
choked it to death. Fourteen years later, tho
Colonial press WAS inaugu1ated With the famous
.Nc.cs Letter, also published at Boston, and this
era Of newspaper life lasted from 17o4 to 1755.
The editor and publisher Of the Nctos Letter Was
the Postmaster at Boston, and Mr- Hudson no.
tees that tho custom seems to have been estah-
liehod that Postmasters should become editors,
though, nowadays, it is more common for edi-
tors to become Postmaaters. Certain it is that
his successor in Office started the Boston Gdzetfe
as rival, which VAS successiyely edited and
published by no less than fFe Postmasters.
have the first reportorial ventures. The Ee,os
Leue. describes the hanging Of SIX. piraten, and
even furnishes tho traditional " Exhortation to
the 1na1ofactors." Jenkins made his appearance
at the same time, telling Of masquerade which
was to be the most brilliant thing ever snen in
America, /" dwelling with special unction OH the
achievements Of " ten capital cooks" Mr. Hud-
6on intimates that even s' interviewing" which
is regarded as modern invention, was not en-
tirely unknown then. From 1755 to 1888 was
the era OF the Revolutionary press which re-
ceives full credit for its large share in achieving
American Independence. Mr. Hudson sayB that
IA D. 1748 opened the campaign for 1776.'" Sam
uel Adams, the man who first spoke Of
started tho Independent Advertiser print
ed tho sermons Of Jonathan Mnyhew,
the founder Of American Unitarianisn; and
gathered about him corps Of young men, full
Of tho spirit OF tho rebellion, FREQ thought and
free speech This journal, and others which
now rapidly followed, were the vehicles through
which the people were aroused, aud their utter
anccs hernlded in advance the startling and de-
cisive steps Of those Revolutionary times. After
the achievement OF independence and the for
nation Of the Government camo the party press,
which occupied tho entire field Of journalism
from 1888 to 1833~ Tho first daily newspaper
published in the United States was the American
Daily Adce19isea, issued in Philadelphia, in 1884,
by Benjamin Franklin Bache, the uarno Of which
WIS subsequently changed to tho aurora. It
supported General Washington's administration,
and was particularly the organ OF Alexander
Hamilton 1t still abides BY it's earliest tradi-
tions, and remains party paper yet,-being
now known as the North american and Unated
States Gazette, and editedby Morton McMichael,
who WAS tho Temporary Chairman Of the Into
Philadelphia Convention. In this epoch, the Na-
tional A.tcuigenccr md Daily Globe, OF Washing
ton, wero tho great Journals Of the country.
Clay, Jackson, Calhoun, Benton, Blair, Dun
Green, Riyes, Seaton, and other men Of high
standing, we're identified with that Washington
journalism which reigned supreme during tho
era Of old party newspapers. "Juat Took at the
luck OF the Washington City editors,' says q
paragraph Of twenty years ago. SCALES has q
has Silver Springs; Rives, the Duelling-
Ground; Kendall has place near town !;
Major Heiss OWLS fne place; Alr. Richie pur-
chased the splendid mansion fronting Lafayette
square and tho White House; General Dun
Green ha, number Of places, including large
interest in the Cumberland coal mines." Tho
advance in journalism canno. be better compre-
hcnded than by comparison Of the influence
and SUCCESS OF Washington newspapers in those
days, and their obscurity and inaignidc:cce at
the present time. Tue old idea Of party journal
ism received ita first blow in 1893, at which time
the penny press took its rise. The New York
Sun Was tho first; then came tho Herald; the
Tribune, Times, and Wora followed in turn,
al Of them starting Us one-cent papers. From