Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-02-12
VOL. LXXV.
THE VIRGINIA PRESS.


The Petersburg Iodex- Appeal, in endorsing
the call for Convention OF Virginia newspaper
proprietors and publishers, adverts III strong
hut truthful terms 10 the evils which have IL
the past beset Virginia journalism, and which
even now bring disastrous results 10 the pub
Gsb;nv interest. The article so full OF practl-
cal suggestions that We cheerfuily yield II space,
earnestly asking for it an attentive perusal from
that large class of "patrons' who seldom re-
member the proprietor 10 the shape Of u quld
pro quo for the labor and money expended in
iurulshiog them reliable paper
There is perhaps in the United States no
Commonwealth that can boast OF more able,
honest and influential press than Virginia
Present company Is, OF course, always accept
ed The class OF meu representing the edItorl.
al departments are as rule more than equal
to the tasks that their limited sphere devolve
upon them. No people owe more to the
fourth estate" than the Virgiuians. Never au
election comes but that the newspapers are ex-
pectcd to (and do) render an amount Of gra-
,utous service to party and to persons, the
inheritance Of which will never be realized
until it is missed. Whenever any question vf
pubiic Improvement, Of reform, or Of general
interest comes up, the papers are expected to
champion it; and those persons who consider
themselves exempt from any obligation to de-
vote time and money to turtherance OF the pub
lie veal, are always prompt 20 condemn jour
nal which stints either space or expenditure IN
advocacy of measures 10 which editor and pub
Usher have no more concern than any other
citizen Of the State. The press of Virginia
discharges fully all its duty to the community,
hu il has so far failed most lamentably in es
tatlisbiDg its claim to recognition aud reward
tor services rendered to the great public it has
50 faithfully aud efficiently represented through
evil and good report
How often have we been called on to note
the financial failure of Journals which have
made the fortunes Of communities while bank
rup,ing their proprietors often passed by
in silent sadness the consignment to obscurlty
and want of men whose boidness and industry
as journalists had stood the people iu their
hour Of need 10 lieu OF armed force e,of legal bull
wark, Of the power of gold The books of any
of the famous Virginia newspapers, (such as
the Enquirer, the Wing, the Alexandria Ga
zeue. the Lyuchburg Republican, the Lynch
burg Elrgiuian, or the Williamsburg Gazette,)
will show that they purchased their lDnuence
by negecting their interests. Hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars represent the unpaid debts
that rich Virgiuians were content to owe the
oracles by which they swore.
Since the war the press Of Virginia, city and
country, has been prompt to recognize the
change Of times; the papers have adopted all
the improvements that have been made poss-
Le by the rapid application of scientific dis
coycries The merchant 10 Richmond, Peters
burg Norfolk, Lynchburg, Portsmouth, Alex
audria, gets with his matutiual coffee the
commercial and financial transactions that oc-
Cured iu Londou, Paris, Bremen and Liver
pool the day before. The anxious politician
kuvws at the breakfast table what happen
ed in Washington up to midnight The news
of the world is given in sucoinct and reliable
turm to the patrons of the daily Virginia papers
ut cost less than that demanded for the essay
vehicles Of twenty years ago. There has been
great increase of expense incurred, great
Improvement in the quality and quantity OF in
formation furnished, no dimi0utlon 10 the
amount of public service rendered, and no 10.
crease 10 the consideration rendered. ln the
adjoining State, Moryland, the press has not
ouIy kept abreast with progress, but has reap
ed the proper advantages. There, q dollar
spent to secure circulation means in business
terms relative Increase 10 charges on adver
tisiug. There, the fact that labor and paper
aud suudry other expenses must be met 10
cash demanded, have received recognition OF
tie necessity of having incoming to meet this
outgoing money. Aud in these two PROPOSE
tivls is contained the gist of the whole lDdlct-
weut against the present loose and dlJolnted
tack of system ln the conduct OF virginia
Journalism.
People get from the newspapers a supply
for which they are not willing to furnish SUBJ
santla equivalent.
People agree to pay per centage on the
worth OF what they get, and do not comply
with the terms of the contract.
People do not consent to contribute 10 legltt-
mate patronage towards the support Of paper
In anything like fair equivalent to the ad-
vautageS derived by them from It,
In other words, the public has been led to
look TO the paper pretty much as the spoiled
sou looks to an iudugent parent. The public,
as The heir, does nothing, contributes nothlng
uaScs uvthlug, pays nothing, merely expects
10 be maintained by the paper IN all local inter
es's aud enterprises. If the enterprise falls,
50 much the worse for the paper. Its bread
mas been cast on the waters, and after many
Hays may be returned to it.
HoAX-A report that prayer meeting
Eouid be held yesterday afternoon iu front OF a
drinking saloon on Baltimore street, west OF
South street had the effect of causing fully two
hundred persons to assemble at the designated
y'ace at three clock, but after waiting ioI
luiy half an hour the curious throng dispersed
Without the satisfaction of hearing arguments
sra'ast the sale of spiri,uous liquor. Upon the
uooF OF the saloon where the prayer meeting
Was announced some wag had posted the fol-
lowing Paradise Lost, the letters being 10
yyeIy large type. The proprietor of the estao-
ishmrnt upon being apprised of the Milton
Mn H, joke immediately removed the letters
" h'Ie the sidewalk in front of the saloon was
nronged with spectators an ardent crowd OF
so't,emperapce men were in the saloon, sever,
s'Of whom at first regarded the proceedings as
asood joke, but When they essayed to quit the
p, pace they observed in the crowd outside sever
q. adies and gentlemen whose presence the
.aased men did not wish to encounter, one OF
~: .a Insiders remarking, II wouldn't be seen
fo'sE out of this place now for twenty five dol
s;s' sFs' aud it was only when the crowd had been
u'>persed BY orders of Marshal Gray that the
ssns'iiVe gentlemen summend up courage
enough N to quit the saloon. The announcement
'aat prayer meeting Would be held 10 fro of