Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-13
HRWsPApRR cORrRAcrIoNs.

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essential in the management OF newsps-
pers as in any other business. A paper
which cannot maintain its credit in bank
viii sooner or later lose its influence in
the community and become, at least a
political bankrupt The newspaper sup
ply is rather greater than the demand.
We doubt not that the people would
eheerfnlly yield quantity Tor an improve
ment in quality. The business has been
Overdone almost everywhere. Memphis,
at one time since the war, had seven
daily papers, and mighta a. well have had
seven big hotels. We do not nov even re-
member the names ofall these ephemeral
journals. 1t was only a question Of time.
Others have been started since, With q
flourish Of trumpets, to fill a vacuum in
the public heart which was knowA only to
over ~sauguine editors and publishers
and a retinue Of hsngers-on, whose
abilities we're displayed chiefly in the
consumption Of free tickets on railroads
and TO places Of amusement. These
likewise have passed away. We have
nov only three dailies, and none Of
them able to start a national bank. The
necessities Of the times have caused
some notable changes in the manage
ment Of newspapers. A goodly number
have passed away within the last few
months. The Little Rock Republican
died from starvation. 1t had been fed
on official patronage, which was discon-
tinued when the Democrats came in
power. Such journals are but bot-house
plants at best, and when exposed to the
rough winds OF adversely wither and die.
Not long since the st. Paul Press and
Pioneer, two papers that seemed we'll
established and that had fought each
other vigorously, fell into each others
arms in single night, after a very brief
countingroom courtship, and came
out as one the next morning.
The political editors retained have
been trying to assimilate their views OF
an independent basis ever since, but
with limited success. Orders 90 up
through the trumpet every day from the
Office to make things " consist" as Mike
Cluskey used to say on the Louisville
Ledger. Tha. ia a difficult task, but the
effort has to be made, however ludicrous
the result. A new set Of editors, who
knew and cared nothing about the for
mer policies Of the two papers, could get
along well enough, and the public would
o become used to it. A consolidation
is about to take place at 81. Louis, which
will be almost as great a surprise 10 the
public as the union Of the Louisville
Courier and Journal a few years ago. 1t
is announced that the St. Louis Demo-
crat, an old and doubtless wealthy news
aber, is about to unite with the Globe,
a new paper, but conducted with
marked ability and vigor, and holding
its " apparently with its more yenera-
Bile competitors. Messrs. Mckee and
Houser, Of the Globe, have the controll-
ing stock in the Democrat, and the two
papers will be merged in a few days, but
under what name is not announced.
The Democrat is in its twenty-fourth
year; the Globe in its third or fourth,
but the Globe has proclaimed its loyalty
louder than the Democrat and thereby
secured much fat advertising patronage
from the government. So the great city
Of St. Louis, with its population Of over
400. 900, will soon have but three Eng
lish morning papers, the Repub-
hcan, the Times and the new doule-
barrelled or hyphensted affair.
The Globe owes its success to the
ability of its proprietors, who gradu.
Ated from the Democrat with a fortune
apiece to invest in the new enterprise.
They also own the Stats Zeitung, a
German paper. It is believed that for
several months past the Democrat and
Globe have each lost money heavily. A
lawsuit, involving heavy damages, has
been going on between them some time.
That will stop now. Their 6ght has de-
moralized the Republican party in St.
Louis. 1t may be safely assumed that
business considerations prompts the
nnion. As the process Of wedding ont goes
on it is natural that the best talent and
experience will, in most cases, be re-
tanned. and that with the demise Of mHch
spurious journalism many adventurers,
who have brought the profession into
d~isrepate, will be pushed over and be-
yond the ragged edge, never more to be
recognized. These men have been ever
oa hasd to dispute the h~ard.earned lau-
relg Of trained Journalists, and to snatch
away the fruits Of their toll. The busi-
nsss 70 succeed peeunisrily. must be
s~SODdgcted on as strict business princi.