The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-04-24

and net large incomes 10 tnen enterPrisihgP pup
fishers.
The list of class publications is increasing
rapidly of late, its ratio of increase being
greater than that of the entire press OF the
country taken together, owing probably to the
fact that the increase of wealth and population
of the country make it possible and profitable
TO publish class papers where, but few years
back. they could not have been made self-sup-
porting.
The number of papers published in other
than the English language is growing rapidly,
owing to the immense immigration from for
eign countries, especially Germany, France,
Scandinavia and Italy.
The publications printed il the German Ian
guage in the United States number 341, and
the Dominion OF Canada 5, and are over three
times as many as the sum Of all the other pub
lications in foreign languages combined.
The publications in the French language are
confined principally to Louisiana and the
Province of Quebec, where The language is in
common use.
The Scandinavian publications number 1S,
and are confined entirely to the West and
Northwest with single exception, that of
daily. semi-weekly and weekly in New York
City.) The immigrants from Denmark, Norway
and Sweden having principally settled there.
Many of the thriving Western towns have
been almost entirely built up by these indus
trious and frugal people, who use their native
tongue universally, and frequently never learn
the English language.
In the Spanish language there are but z,
Dutch s, Italian 4, Welsh 8, Bohemian g. Por-
tuguese 1, Cherokee 1-none of which have a
very wide circulation or influence, owing to
the reason that the population speaking these
languages is comparatively limited and widely
scattered.
ARGUMENT view of the almost incredi-
bic circulation of the newspaper press, which
daily reaches people of all conditions of life,
from the highest to the lowest patrician and
plebeian, alike the ruler and subject, it must
be evident that newspapers are the great edu-
Gators. It is clear that the press, by imparting
that essential education which accompanies
and follows the tuition of youth, becomes its
guide and mentor in the after relations of life.
It brings to notice every event of Importance
occurring in the known regions of the earth,
and hence shapes, in great measure, the en-
terprise and destiny of the world. Nothing
escapes the notice of the press. Keenly alive
to every occurrence worthy of note, and calcu-
lated to be useful to society, it is its especial
province to make the record and to present it
to public view. In the exercise of this pre-
rogative it is without restraint; the right so to
do is tacitly yielded, and all alike respect it.
Through the medium of our schools and
colleges, we give to our children the elements
of education, as far as they can be there at
tanned. This, however. is but the preparation
for the duties appertaining to after life, for ex
perience alone can teach US those essentials
The education of manhood is peculiarly impor
tant, not only to ourselves, but to our country
and to posterity. Therefore the province and
duty of imparting education are committed to
the care of those who are deemed fitted for the
responsibility, and the capacity to perform this
devoir is acquired only by the experiences of
life The newspaper press is the main agent
whereby these experiences are obtained, and
therefore it at once becomes the educator Of ed
ucators.
This is more especially the case in the United
States, over and above all other countries; for
here the press is the most far-reaching and in
Auential of all institutions. Here the wants of
the people demand the universal circulation Of
newspapers, and forthwith the supply is yield
ed. If remedy be suggested or required for
general or local abuses, the press is at once
constituted the umpire.
No measure calculated to benefit the masses,
or to ameliorate their condition, fails to attract
the active support of our newspapers; and in
this regard the free-school system (which is, as
it should be- the pride of the people) has al
ways received the friendship and assistance of
the editorial fraternity. Our people look to
our press to give direction to their opinions,
and in the maip, this duty is justly and honor
ably performed. The newspaper communes
and converses with the masses; it is an essen
tial element in the social circle, which, after
all, is the great lever which moves the world
onward. Reach the freside and home circle
and you attain the innernlost heart of the
Tl 9. Al Nu,1 fha rph
the handspring which gives all things life and
impetus.
THE Press OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.
The press of the present is far different in its
character from the press of the past In days
gone by, it required time to receive and dis
seminate news, and pending the interim the
editors of the past were naturally compelled to
indulge in essays. Hence it has been claimed,
and with some show of reason, that in the
olden time our American newspapers were
better edited and welded more powerful in
iuence over the people-that they dictated
public opinion, and avoided catering To the
capricious tastes and ideas of their readers. 1t
has. also been urged that the early American
editors-such as Messrs. Gales, SeatoC, Ritchie,
Stone, Webb, Noah, Prentice and their con-
temporaries-were superior in intellect and in
fuence to those who now WELD the newspaper
pen.
The comparison, however is difficult to draw.
In the days when these gentlemen wrote for the
press its circulation was limited, its price ex-
pensive, and hence did not reach the masses.
The lightning printing press, the telegraph, the
railroad and steamship were in embryo. There
fore their duties and their relations to the pub
lie were far different from those appertaining to
the editors and paragraphists of the present
day; and the hstoriographer can only justly
record their eminent abilities and possible
virtues, without venturing upon comparisons
or parallels.
People do not look for ethics, essays and
miscellany in the press of to-day. Our local
interests are so diversified and outspread, cur
habits SO regulated and governed by immediate
sectional, national and business interests that
the people can only regard the press as an inn