The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27
VOL. XI---NO. Al.
Newspapers.

Newspapers.
| We copy the following pleasant news
paper gossip from the New York cores
pondence of the Rochester Democrat:
/ At present every city in the Union
issues daily papers. Even little Della
ware has three, while the still more petite
Rhode Island has six. Arkansas and
Oregon each has four, while California
has thirty-six. This indicates the fact
that the emigrants to that country en-
brace some of the most intelligent of the
national population. Massachusetts, has
twenty-six, being only six more than
Texas, fact which speaks well for the
latter. Pennsylvania has seventy-four,
while our own State can show the proud
number of ninety-eight. There are in
all 687 dailies issued in the United States
and territories. Also 1854 weeklies.
Well may one exclaim what a profession
has journalism become!
There are 80 German newspapers
issued in this country, ffty-eight of
which are published in Pennsylvania and
fifty in this State. The French tongue
is maintained in twenty-eight papers, of
which five are in this city and more than
twice as many in Louisiana. Scandi
navian is big word and the language it
signifies is very strange one to us ma
tives, but it has its place in journalism
to the extent of nineteen papers, two of
which are in this city, while eight are in
Illinois. There are seventeen Spanish
newspapers in this country, seven of
which are in this city. The Importance
of the Dutch population of Michigan is
shown by the fact that five newspapers
are there published in that tongue, while
New York has only one.. While this
city was a Dutch settlement it had no
Dutch paper; how curious it is to
observe that at this late day it should
make up the deficiency. Other languages
are represented in the journalism of
America and even the "heathen Chinee"
has an organ published in San Francisco.
The Cherokee tribe of Indians also has a
small paper issued in its peculiar tongue.
There is a paper in this city devoted to
the Jewish interests; but this is issued
in English instead of the original Lam
guage of the Hebrew. "E
It is curious and instructive fact that
the press from its very earliest day has
been feared by public rulers. This is the
very best proof of its power. The first
American newspaper was issued IN Bos-
ton on the 25th of September, $780, The
titleS was tPublic occurrences, both
foreign and domestic" Only one num-
ber was issued, for the colonial authori-
ties at once suppressed it.. The sole copy
of this sheet in existence is said to be in
London. In 1722, Franklin's paper, the
Cburant, came under the government in
terdict. From that time to the present
the press has been the master of those
who ruled the destinies of nations. One
of the most striking illustrations of this
was given in Junius, whose letter to the
king is the most tremendous -invective
ever leveled by the press at crowned
head. Even Napoleon was afraid OF
British newspapers, and during the brief
peace which followed the treaty of
Amiens, he caused a prosecution to be
brought against London journal for
libel. This case made great excitement
at the time, and the editor beat the
greatest soldier of the age. During the
Crimean war Queen Victoria was making
q visit to Balmoral of more than usual
length, and the London Times rebuked
her majesty for this unsuitable absence
at a time of national calamity. The
Queen accepted the reproof and returned
as soon as possible to Windsor.
The thrilling pamphlets which Tom
Paine issued during the revolution were
the best journalism of that day, when the
leading presses were in the hands of the
enemy. After the revolution the power
of the press was shown by the fact that
Hamilton employed it to induce the peo-
pie to accept our present constitution.
His best writings were published as news
paper articles. Another illustration OF
the power of journalism was furnished by
the war which j. Fennimore Cooper
made on the press by his libel suits. He
won a few cases, but he lost his reputa-
ton as an author, the sale of his novels
was stopped, and was compelled to feel
the penalty of his folly in contending
with so vast power. Speaking of libels,
the first that ever occurred in this coun-
try was in this city in 1885. 1t was re-
garded by the people as an attack on the
| freedom of the press, and the jury acquit-
ted Zenger, the editor of the Weekly
Journal, who, had thus been prosecuted.
Zenger deserves statue for his nerve.
In all conflicts with other powers the
press has thus far came out victorious.
| It is also to be observed that all great
writers have to greater or less degree
contributed to the press, and in most in
stances without pay, considering the use
of public columns suitable compensa-
ton for their articles. Il .i's