Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-04-11
The COuntry Press.

A careful examination, says the Washington
Republic, of several hundred Of eur exchanges
has brought to Us the oonvietion that the county
and village weskliss have greatly improved In
usefulness and power during the ihst decade.
The journals that are not we'll printed, and
that present a rspellant appearance to the
reader, are the exception, aad srS becoming
quite rare. They all pay much greater ausn-
.iou To local affairs than in times past, and
many Of them are conducted with thoughtful-
ness aud ability. One OF the most hopeful
signs for their future is their individuality and
Independence.
The thunder Of the city press, which feels
itself compelled to treat every occurrence In
sensational and theatrical manner, falls upon
uuattentive ears. The country edlter has
learned by long experience that al the end Of
week, when his paper reaches the eye Of tho
public, a sensational article upon the same
subject would be as unreasonable as a linen
coat in snow storm.
Congressional Legislation ought not to throw
obstacles In the way Of this truly educatiOn
interest and we hope that all attempts TO
compel prepayment Of postage on newspapers
onsd. We are also opposed 10 all interference
with the free carriage Of exchanges papers,
because postage tax would greatly impair the
usefulness Of the hundreds Of village papers,
which are 80 great = convenience to our citi-
Isns. The city press would refuse to exchange
unless the county editor would pay the postage
on both publications, and thus his channels Of
Information would become narrowed down to
one or two daily papers aud a few neighbsrhosd
wsekles.
The free circulation Of the county paper
within the limits Of the county makes but littl-,
IL auy, additional cost to ths Pest Office Depart
, ment and we hope that this privilege will mel
be Withdrawn.
! II is one Of the special missions Of tho Repub.
lican party to eueOur. gs education and 70 aid
: il the Dissemination Of cSrreot political views
and We hope that its leading men will mol
sanction policy so reaetionary and unwise.
u Ia precisely in proportion that the lOca
press 10 independent and Influential, aud ou
l. citizens are fully informed, that the Republican
n party has been sustained, and, therefore, t,
strike at the press would be 10 the nature Of
r removal Of enc Of its main pillars.
Q The village paper has converted thousaud
a Of youths into readers, writer's. and thinkers
who would have bean utterly Indifferent to liz
srature IL they had not had a chance to Appea
q In print upon some local subisct In their boy
10 hood or EIrlhood years. town without
A paper Is a nonentity, 1t is sleepy hollow with
: snt poet 10 usher Il into fame. As soon a.
village becomes ambitious to attract its shar
Mt Of emigration, and TO secure to its citizen
" their share Of political inhuencs, a Pape
becomes a necessity, and q good paper ha
frequently brought inaigni6cin ant villages TO I'll
attention 81 the entire country.
he Strangers always judge the enterprise an
al business prospects Of village by the charact'
OF its papers. II iis Advertisements ennsi
chiefly Of pateHt medicine aud other fereig
~ Advertisements, and mortgage and chancer
IS sales, II 10 netce Of cha nds o =; but il its
sd umns are well filed with interesting readinI
local items, and live home advert tissmsnts, Il
verdict is at once. this must be a live plae
Id just the hone for an enterPrsinE and educate
n man.
=. One Of the chief means In secure immigrati'
10 new places is the sending ofthe village pap
81 to acquaintanees and friends in the East,
W the most snterprising citizens Of eur Weste
he villages we're TO subscribe for several hundr,
copies to be sent TO former friends they won
secure a steady few Of most valuable immigr
tion.
"a II is true the reasons we have given why Il
on country press should be liberally supported a
-. only such as have occurred 10 Us all, and ha
~ probably been stated in better form hitbsr
to but when this great and benehcsnt interest
lis threatened With adverse legislation, II is necs
,a sary to rsstate the case.