The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-01-04


expectation of high prices that may
be entertained here will not be like
" to be realized, because, as we have
already remarked, our market is
pretty much always governed by
that of Liverpool
NEWSPAPER FAILURES.
The Reason why There are SO Many
of Them.
In his recent excellent address
before the Press Association of
Tennessee, Gen. Geo. p. Jones, Of
the Nashville Union and American
gave the following account of news
paper mortality.
We do too much work without
compensation. We pay too much
money without any return what
ever. We establish an elemosynary
institution at our own expense. We
keep charity school on our own
hook. We conduct business as if
we owe everything to the puhlic,and
the public are not indebted to us
farthing. We are preyed upon by
the sharpers and innocent alike. We
advertise gratuitously every week,
when we should have the money for
it. The general public arc entirely
ignorant-we ourselves are not full
~ aware-of the extent to which
newspapers are burdened by this
insidious drain upon their resour-
ces. It insinuates itself in every
conceivable form. It does it through
agents, through reporters, through
correspondents, through editors.
through business managers, through
proprietors, and generally, too, with
as much disadvantage to the public
as to the press. There is not abusi-
ness, from the dispenser of ginger
cakes and cider to the largest man.
ufactory, which will not advertise
with you gratis-which will if you
listen to it, endeavor to convince
you that it is your duty to the pub
lie to do SO. There is not an aspi-
rant for public station-and when
I contemplate the number of these
1 experience an overwhelming sense
of commingled amazement and dis
gust-from constable to the Senate
of the Union, who does not con-
scientiously believe it to be the i'm
perative duty of the press, daily and
weekly, to speak with a pen of tel
escopic power of his microscopic
deservings. Even that army of
strollers which infest the country
and the people as a sort of vista
ton from providence for our mi
quities, from the street corner seller
of prize candy or magic oil to oper-
attic impressario, will expect you to
write an indefnate number of ed
itorials on a three square advertis-
ment inserted for five days, change
able daily without charge We
are required to write up, urge up,
and put through every entertain
ment, great or small, that seems to
have a possible connection with the
public. But we never hear of a
share of stock; or of q dividend.
The church, the State, commerce,
industry, art, invention and hum
bug alike seem to regard the press
as their SENATORS, and to be run
and sustained for their advantage
There is a line Of demarcation in al
these things between public demand
public utility, newspaper duty and
individual gain. That line should
be defined and held as it in reality
is, the Dead line. Not letter MOI
space, nor figure, nor comma
nor q period, nothing of all The
innumerable particles that enter
into the form or structure ola daily
or weekly newspaper is there thai
its picking up OF putting down doel
not cost cash money. Not revo
luton of the press, not squar,
inch of paper that does not cos
something in cash. This should b,
understood by the public. If it il
not, its correlative should be prac
ticed by the press. I do not NEAR
that the press should abandon it,
position of being the foremost char
table institution in the world. I
should hold to that, for it's munii
cent iberality after purging stsel
OF nine. tenths of the daily swindle'
| practiced upon it, will exceed tina
of any other business
To get rid of this stupendioul
fraud of gratmtous advertising
this cancer, canker-call. it anything
provided you select an epithet tina
will characterize it strongly enough
II can prescribe no other rule thar
this: Put voluntarily and withou
charge, any and everything int,
your paper which you deem advan
tageous to it in being beneficial K
the public. All else exclude, being
of advantage to those who wish t,
make money on your capital and en-
terprise. Hold your space at it.
value. Fix your rates at fair pric,
for your circulation and adhere t,
them. Fair dealing will accomplish
more than foul at all times anc
everywhere. For be it known tina
the American press is not YAM
pyre, to be constantly sucking tn
ife-blood Of the people. It has
vastly higher mission; but it shoul'
also be known that it will not long
er be made the victim of the thor
sands of vampires that come dali,
to the counters, in every concievs
BILE garb to have its life blood incor
tinently sucked away.