Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1874-06-13

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If, dear reader, you have taken the
pains to peruse thoughtfully, the arti.
cles that have appeared in this paper
week after week, you have seen what
are the opinions of him who indtes
them, upon the political, civil, moral
and social condition of our country.
But. to tell you the undisguised truth,
we seldom feel that our lucubrations
in these columns are likely to be APP
preciated, knowing the apathy natu-
rally felt by all in regard to these
matters. But we are not forgetful
that many read the BEACON, whose
minds are yet in a formative state,
and need suitable regimen and intel
lectual food: that the unobtrusive
wife, or mother, or sister, who seldom
have opportunity to mingle in the cir
cles where they may find out what is
going on in the great world, must
look to such a source for information
Therefore we take courage, and re-
sumo the pen, to discourse, from time
to time, upon what is most likely to
benefit the one class, and interest the
other. Our purpose in this article is,
to engage the attention of every read
er to this matter. Studiously do we
watch the tenor of events as it passes
in panoramic display, steadily Selling
every salient point, so that we may
keep our readers advised. This is
not less the task of weekly than q
daily sheet. Ills true the labor is not
so great, but it requires no less care
and wise discrimination. To a slight
observer it would seem an easy task
during the week to get up suitable
subject matter for newspaper of this
size ; but it is not the case. Quality
and not quantity is the sine qua non.
Many are apt to conclude a paper IN
interesting unless it is filled with "hor-
rid murders" "sad catastrophes," and
the like; many others are not satisfied
unless at least one page is devoted to
tales of romance, wherein there must
not fail to be hero and q heroine;
some can't bear to be "bored" with
moral essays, or that which savors of
the didactic; and so, we can't please
all, unless each has his due proper
ton. This is our beau ideal of good
paper-reading matter to suit the mil
lion, or the thousand as the case may
be-fOr there are doubtless that many
who read the BEACON-and he who
fails thus to cater to the taste of the
many, will ultimately find his list de-
creasing, his advertising custom cor
respondingly diminished, and down he
tumbles. Intelligently speaking, there
is now throughout our country but one
party. and that the conquered party,
and of course, party politics are
amongst the things that were, What
influence the press may exert upon the
minds of our Northern masters, we
can't tell. How long the Editors of
Southern Newspapers may be permit
ted to speak out in defensive argumen-
tation, we know not. Whether the
humble voice Of a country Editor is
even needed by bis city contemporaries,
or ever finds its way up north, to the
amusement or ridicule of arrogant
men in power, one has this consola-
ton to know that lie may blame or
praise bis own people, commend all
that is virtuous, and condemn all that
is vicious, whether in public morals or
public measures. We do not blame
the Southern people to do the best
they can under the circumstances and
trials with which they are surrounded
but no political influence should ev-
err force them to ignore their manhood,
their lofty instincts, or be the instru-
ments of their own degradation. Yer
bum sat sapienti. May Heaven pros
per US in our perilous journey over
the stygian waves of political fanati-
cism!
CAN ANY ONE TELL?-Can any
In NH