Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-09-18


TINS number closes the fourth volume Of
Tie JovENAL.
Daring lis career it has probably gone
through al Tie Stages to which newspaper
experiments aYc from The condition of
things ncccs.arially subjected 1t began
amid surroundings SO disCOura@ing that lis
establishment became at once the topic Of
uniayOrable prophecy and advice on the
part of many who, ConsCicntioHsly doubt
less, cn,lcavorcd to thus subsvryC our inter
csis. 1t went on somehow p2riurcC, prob
ably, of biting economy and bard work.
The first SIN mouths came very nearly
measuring lis career The spare cqllipmcn,
of materials was well nigh covered 10y debt
and the old wood press quite ready for use
as kindling wood. At this juncturc, how
ever, a few faithful friends came TO the res
cue and our enterprise bounded into life and
prosperity.
With more or less of success it has since
gone on. Fat takes have occasionally
blessed, and at other periods tight times
have laid heavy hands on our progress.
This is the rule Of ordinary life, however,
and probably We have fairly won our sue
cesscs and deserved oul failures
The .]orENAL live, to day. 1t might be
healthier and ADLER; it might have accom-
plishcd more for those it represents could
it have been made a more valuable medium
of thought and general intelligence; or if
it had avoided its errors, or, having com
miltcd them, had it always protitcd thereby
AT any rate, it lives, Despite prophecy to
the contrary; despite all its shortcomings
in every way-cncrgy and enterprise not
cNceptctl--it exists we think, soundly and
safely.
With more or less energy and kindness
our offences and dclinqucncics have been
charged to us. To some we have honestly
plead "guilty;' to others knowingly and
conscicntousy, mot guilty" In all lines
OF public business these are the incdcntals,
especially do they comprise the experience
of newspaper publishers. 1t has been said
We are "too much of Il democrat" or that
we 'pandcr too much to republican tastes;'
that we Glove the coal companies too WELL"
and that we are "too liberal to the miners"
and altogether 'tOo ready To critcsc any
thing and everybody and so on.
Now, it is plain tc see that such talk
proceeds from that polyglot parsonage
"cyeryhody.' He is the individual Of all
others hardest to please, and the fac. that
the muiiiform sides or parts of him are i'm
pacabe and eternal contradictions, serves
to demonstrate his inability to smile all
over The ncwspapcror individual there
fore, who sets to work to propitiatc the
perennial favor of this god, will surely win
the crown of unblcsscd ma,tyrdom
Herein we are justified, even though we
have not Intentionally misrcprcscntcd any
man, class or party; nor closed our col
umns to any superintendent or miner or
denied space for yindication We have
thus cndeavorcd to please everybody by
impartial accommodation of their wishes.
Besides, we have always aimed at the inn
provcmcnt of tie town in whatever we
i''' ! nav ~ Va i'N N'iillpI ~ SiIliIEilt
public pride and promote growth, enhance
ment and security. We have condemned
the evil and encouraged the good DISPOSE
ton Of municipal affairs because the public
interests seemed TO require it, If we lave
not accomplished more in this way, it has
been because the occasions for use did not
come under our observation.
How far this paper has been influential in
the proper development Of the town we are
unable to say, hut the frequent suggestion
by citizens of topics for favorable and un-
friendly mention shows that the people
possess strong faith in the potency of opin-
IONS promulgated by the press. BY this it
is to be fairly presumed their own CON
seriousness and experience testify 10 the cf
ticaCy of the public prints in moulding and
rounding popular sentiment. At any rate,
in the which odd things" and Old styles of
procedure in architecture and materials of
cdiccS, 'arc passing away" the streets
are undergoing extensive improvements,
properties are the rules
BE it little or much, as the readers own
Judgment and disposition will decide, the
paper claims Il share of instrumeEtalitv in
promoting this dcyclopment--a larger one
probably, than even the most reflective
will imagine For two hundred and eight
weeks ii has encouraged and commended
these various stages of growth and set them
up as examples for emulation. Is it likely
these repeated instalmcnts of cheers and
congratulations have been always without
effect? Is it not mere than likely they
have inspired and animated plans for i'm.
provement which otherwise would have
remained dormant or dead.
We will continue this subject next week.
EARLY CLosTSG.-Thc announcement