Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-13
For the VERMONT FARMER.
FREE NEWSPAPERS.
BY \. GAYLORD spALDING.


DEAR EDITOR: Since my life experience
has connected me somewhat with the news-
paper interest, allsw me to congratulate
you on the high position you occupy rs the
conductor of public journal. 1t is m I'M
portant, honorable and responsible one.
No other place is so important, because no
other instrument or institution equals the
press in its capacity for influence and power.
The good newspaper is quite Indispensable
to the permanent existence and welfare of
any right system of government or soci0y.
1t is even superior to all armies and CO.
crcive or deadly weapons, and should SUI
persede them altogether. 1t is more essen
tial than schools. colleges. aud churches,
because it is the agent or organ and motive
power of them all, and without its viblizing
and developing influence, schools, churches,
religion, aud the people themselves, would
soon sink into weakness, ignorance and
barbarism.
Where are tho nations of the past? They
are swept away, or have faded out, and VIC
know them only historically So it will
ever be without the conservative power of
active progressive general intelligence. That
and that adva ntagc we have, or may have,
in the newspaper. But not, however. with
out the largest scope of free thought, which
is its life, beauty, and perfection. A shack
led press is always the instrument of bigot-
ry and tyranny.
No free press can live in despotiC cOun-
tries. They must he under official censor
| ship, rs in France and Spain. In our coun-
| try, the sensors are not government officers.
but the editors themselves. And what is
the difference? Where is the free and I'M
trammelcd newspaper in our boosted land?
Echo answers, Nowhere! What has Yer
mont to say on this subject?
| Your gentlemany contemporary of the
| Vermont Citizen kindly mails me his paper,
/ which is n grand specimen of typographical
beauty, and IN this respect does high credit
| to himself, his county, and state. But, like
most papers, rs 10 thought and sentiment.
it seems TO be mere reflex of party and
sectarian popularity. Mrs. Grundy, old TO-
gysm, and aristocr,cy control the type, and
no heresy is allowed u hearing. Yet the
editor is no doubt very worthy man, and
deserves respect for his enterprise, and my
thanks for his kindness.
As marked illustration of newspaper
Substituting. we have n fact now in the third
congressional district in Minnesota. A
specimen brick of II republican politician
here is II candidate for congress. and he
owns, wholly or partially, II majority OF tho
newspapers of the district, which, other
things being favorable. will naturally insure
| IL OIL IL IL fhaf
twelve years ago. this same candidate stood
in the ranks of the poorest men, while now
he dimes with millionaircs, the quality of
tho man and of the politician may be
judged. lilo is n fair sample OF republican
congressman, and his newspapers represent
the general character of the press Of our
country. God save us!-lf this candidate
aforesaid shall fail to be elected it will be
due to the faithlulneSs of the grnngers
though he has shrewdly taken the precau-
ton to become granger himself, rs we'll rs
to join tho church. Such is politics, you
know.
The present effort OF the working class
SO wide and general, to assert the rights and
/ dignity of manhood and labor, is new
thing in history. 1t is n proclamation Of
individual manhood womanhood, self-hood
| independence. 1t is tho uprising of the
common people - the mudsills - which
means freedom and demands tree speech in
tho newspaper. The laborer, farmer, me-
chanic. claims the right to speak for himself
lilo has become granger or industrial SOW
: ereign, and demands II universal Overturn
, of things, This is the natural impulse OF
, every worker that opens his eyes. We are
making u new world for the workingman,
, and of course it brings discussion. Nothing
is too sacred for Investigation, and the news
paper is tho proper channel.
What is BibleP Nothing unless under
stood. Can VIC understand without discus
sion? Where can We have it but IN tn,
newspaper In the past II professional arts
, tocray has controlled this thing, Mt the ex
r pense of the workingman. Now we CLAIM
. the right to economize, and discuss for our
. selves. The salaries of professional non
! producers arc heavy burden, and we pro
9 pose TO reduce them. Tho nation of work
0 ingmen is stirring, and Vermont is part o
i it.
What is truth y religion - inspiration
a These words require simplficatIon an,
@ shorter defining Truth is bible for work
D ing men, and inspiration Is common sense
. Tho plnnest workers have common sense
d which now Is coming to the surface. Tn,
d eggs of truth are being Matched, and tn
shells are broken and thrown away. Work