The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-06-19
Starting Newspapers.

The firm conviction of two-thirds of
every American community, be it large
or small, that each individual member
thereof is capable of editing and pub
fishing a newspaper of extraordinary
acceptability, is one of the chronic
receptions of popular belief. The fact
that newspapers are the product of
human thought and human labor renders
it impossible that they should be SO
perfect in every regard as to meet the
requirements Of human criticism. Am
bilious youngsters, theorizing aged
men, devoted women and solicitous
people of all conditions earnestly believe
that they are able not only to serve
themselves in the newspaper business
by making money, but advance the in
terests of their fellow men by the advo-
cacy Of especial doctrines. The re-
peated failures of such enterprises do
not shake their faith or Eelf-coI fdence.
They must know that success is the ex-
ception, and, if they stop to reason, that
skill, the result of careful training in
every branch of the business, including
the most minute detailr, is the absolute
prerequisite to that success. Friends
who may promise to yield a helping
hand to enterprises of this kind are
invariably ''unable to accommodate"
when the pinch comes, and the expert
ence of the civilized world shows that
only those journals are established on q
permanent basis which are controlled
by adroit business managers and edited
by independent spirits, who strive to
please rather than command, and who
yield personal prejudice to the evident
bent of the public mind. To do all this
and maintain reputation for consist
ency is at once difficult and dangerous
task.
Papers started with capital nearly
always fail. Year after year we see
papers started with tens, and twenties,
and fifties of thousands of dollars go
down in few short months. The Re
public, in New York, which sunk its
300, 900 IN seven months: The Paper,
in Pittsburg, which in fourteen months
lost 81 40, 600, and then died the Patriot,
in Washington, which persisted in ten
months with debt of $50, 900. These
are some examples of what papers that
started out with capital have done. The
papers that succeed at last are your
tough and spirited fellows who start
without dollar and edge their way in
by hard work and careful management.
The New York Herald started without
dollar, and found no friends until it
didn't need them. Mr.. Greeley started
the Tribune when he was as poor as
church rat. Prudence, care and system
are needed. Add to these brilliancy
and Judgment, and success is certain.
And while it is true that capital alone
cannot establish a newspaper, neither
can it establish any other legitimate
industrial pursuit requiring business
skill. The same energy, toll, perse-
verance aud ability that gave success to
Bennett, Greeley and Raymond, in the
publication of newspaper, would have
secured them prominence in any other
calling. Stewart, Clafin and other
merchants who have risen to the head
of their business enterprises, owe their
success neithev to capital nor its absence,
but to those personal q ualities OF energy
and ability which secure prosperity
everywhere and there is no royal road
to fame or success in the publication Of
a newspaper that does not apply equally
to every other profession. 1t requires
the same careful management, prudent
economy, untiring industry and fair
ability which is required in commerce
or in the learned professions SO that
those who embark in these enterprises,
lured on by some hopeful confidence in
political or religious enthusiasm, must
always meet with disaster Washing
ton National Republican.