Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-25

TIE BANE OF NEWSPAPERS The remarks
Of Gen Geo. p. Jones, Of the Nashville Uniou
l. American. before The Press Association Of
Tennessee, arc 50 truthful and apply with such
force to this community that We insert them
for the benefit Of newspaper proprletorS and
those who thrk thy have the privilege Of
gratuitouSly using the 'lumns of d Journal TO
advertise their business Whenever they feel 50
dispo-cl.
We do too much work without compcnsl-
ton. We pay too much moucy without any
return whatever We establish an clccmo,ynaly
institution at pur owll expense. We keep char.
Ivy school on our OWL hooks. We conduct bust
ness as If We owe everything to the public and
the public are not indebted to Us u iarthing
innocent alike. We advertise gratul!ou>ly
every week when We should have. the money
FIR it. The general puulic are entirely ignorant
probably We ourselves are not fully aware
Of the extent to which new papers RE burden
Ell witt, the irl~;dous drain upon their rcsour
cas-. 1t :n>inuatcS Itself IN every conceivable
form. 1t does it through reporters. through
agents, through proprlc!ors and generally. too
with is much Disadvantage TO the public as to
the press:
There is not business, from the dispenser
Of ginger cakes ard cider to the largest manu-
f.ctury which will not advertise with y,u
gratis which will not. if you listen to it, enlclv
Dr to convlnce you that 1t IS your duty ID the
public to do So There is not an aSpraut for
public stltinn-and when | contemplate the
numbers Of these | experience an ovcrwhclm-
ing sense Of COMMUNICATED amaZ9nleut aud dis
guSt--irom constable to the Senate OF the
Uuion. who does not c0nScicltiouSly believe it
to be the imperative duty Of the press, daily
and weekly, to speak with pen If telescopic
power of his microscopic dcscrviugs. Even
that army OF strollcrs which lntcSt the
country and the people as sort of
visitation Uf providence for our luiqu-
ties. from the street corner seller OF prize
candy or magic oil to the operate impressario,
will cxpcc, you 10 write all indcfi'.ite number
Of editorials on three square advertisement
for five days, changablc daily without charge
We are required to write up, urge up, and put
through every enterprise, great or small, that
seems to have Il possible connection with the
public But We never hear Of share Of stock
or of divi lend The Church, the State.
Commerce. Industry, Art, Invcntionand Hum
bug alike seem 10 regard the press as their
servitors. and to be run and sustained for their
advantage.
There is a line of dcmarcaton in al these
thing, 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, nor Il space. nor a
figure. nor 4 COMMA nor a pcrlod-nothng OF
ali Vulnerable particles that enter into the
form structure Of a daily or weekly paper-ls
there that its picking up and laying down does
not cost cash money. Not revolution OF the
press. not square inch Of Il newspaper,
that doe, not cost something in cash. This
should he understood by the public. II it
is not. It's cclrelIativc should be by the
press. do not mean that the press should
abandon it. position of being the foremost
charitable institution in the world. 1t should
hold to that. for its munticent llbcralty, after
purging Itself Of nine-teuths Of the daily swim
dies practiscd upon it, will exceed that OF any
other business.
TO get rid of this stupendous fraud Of gratu-
itou> advertising. this cancer, caukcr-cai 1t
anything, provided you select an cplthct that
will characterize it strong enough can pre-
scribe 40 other rule than this Put voluntarily
and without any charge any and everything
iu,o your paper which you deem advantageous
TO it in being beneficial to the public, All else
exclude. being Of advantage to those who wish
to make moocy upon your capital and enter,
prise. Hold your space at its value. Fix your
rates at fair price for your circulation and adj
here TO them Fair dealing will accomplish
much more than ,ou! will at all times and every
where.
1t has recently been demonstrated that the
ii o,J ,Iiuo,n If C.,lilnrnia ara admirably