The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-18

about 100000 It is::now about $4,000.
The Tribune in l847, had circulation OF
l1,453, and has now about $4,000, Inc
Times largest circulation was in lo7!
and 72; it was then more influential and
profitable than before or since. Its cir
culation is about 10000. The New York
Ereninq Post has been the most success
full evening paper in the world. It's
average circulation is from Ii, GOO to H.
600; often twice as much, and occasional
ly $4,000 or 10000.
NEWSPAPER INDEPENDENCE.
Formerly few leading politicians, gen.
orally from the South, controlled the ac-
tion of the political parties, OF the press
and of all legislation; but this is changed.
The war, followed by relaxation OF all
party ties and a growing independence
in thought and action, led to the transfer
of the power held by politicians to the In
dependent press. This growing tendency
to independence of party in journalism
must soon reach its climax. The people
following their temperament and educa-
ton divide into parties, the press divid-
ing more or less sharply between
them. Some of conservative spirit are
jealous of this growing and the wide,
spread circulation OF our journals, and
believe that they form too large part OF
our reading and effect our independence
of thought. On the contrary we believe
there is no power for this popular educa'
ton, for the awakening of thought so
mighty, so far reaching, extending over
the length and breath of our land,
touching every class of our people, as our
newspapers. They are the pioneers OF
education, followed by the schoolnaster,
the reading room, and the circulating
library. Observation shows that the in
crease of the newspapers Is
accompanied by a like increase OF
books, and that free public
libraries and reading rooms unknown to
our fathers, have sprung up in great
numbers all over the country, and are
freauented more and more. Not only do
the newspapers influence public opinion,
but they are the exponents OF the public
feeling, and their power depends upon
their representing truly and intelllgently
the public thought. Many look to inde-
pendent journalists and independent
statesmen as the saviors Of our
country, but the world always has
been, and ever must be, divided into
two parties, representing the radical
and conservative phases Of the mind
and the press must represent the
one or the other. Independence
BECOMES NEUTRALITY
when principles are at stake, and Will
not then be tolerated. At the present
time parties do not represent principles.
This cannot last old parties
cannot be recognized, or new ones formed,
and the Tribune and the Republican will
be found under party banner. There
will always be independent papers, but
they will not be strong leading papers
Many of the existing papers
will undoubtedly ia Is; the re nainder. ca
larged and improved, will become more
profitable and independent; their
co.unns will contain concise state
ment of the previous days news from
every nation on the globe. condensed ar.
ticles from men OF the highest at.
tainments in science and arts, or in every
department of knowledge sacred or pro-
fame, that can interest and beneht man !.
kind, with truth on every subject and
impartial justice to all. The press will
be less partisan and more Independent:
So though perhaps IN less degree, will
be our politics and politicians; so, GER
tainly, The people are and will be. This
will realize the present ideal of the inde
pendent Journalist.