The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-10

but il is yet a sort Of common, unfenced
by established rules, and marked by none
Of those precedents which make It's fellow
toilers so venerable aud 50 revered.
4 ,
Mr.. Watterson devoted considerable at
tention to the county press" instancing
many men connected with obscure county
papers who had risen to distinction BY their
good character and positive abilities, aud
said that many small newspapers could be
named, conducted by such men, which
welded powerful influence. But county
editors and publishers know and
feel the tendency towards Capitalization in
this country, The great centers Of trade
and commerce almost monopolize the
newspaper business and render the county
paper weak thing, struggling for life.
1t is so in all the professions, and in man
ufactures. and in business. Capital con-
centrates and draws to the great centers
Of commerce the ablest aud most enter
prising men. These centers are strewn
with the wrecks of those who did not sue
coed, but still the tide sets to the great
marts of trade, aud ability, backed by cash,
wins.
Returning to the county paper, one or
two more extracts from Mr.. Watterson's
address are here appropriate. Of the
county paper" he says:
To be mighty, it must be free and TO
be free, it must be selfsustaining and self
respecting. There is a great fight be-
fore US for liberty; fight as old as the
hills. The fight of the poor against the
rich; the fight Of the weak against the
strong; the fight of the people against the
corporations. The corporations just now
hold the vantage ground. They begin
by corTuptlng the newspapers; aud they
have gone so fast and so far that they are
able at last to buy up legislatures. to COM
mand the services Of capable and astute
politicians, aud even to shape the course
Of parties. The people are becoming
aroused, and, becoming aroused, they
look around them for weapons Of defense.
Thus seeking the means of war, they
haYe taken hold Of the press as the most
warlike enginery within their reach, and,
country, it is because the people, control
ling the press, engage it in their interest,
supporting it with a reserve power Of
public opinion. The silly old notion OF
writing down to the people is exploded
The effort now is to write and act up to
the people; for the people, in the aggre-
gate, are wiser and purer than any one
man, even though that one man should be
the editor Of a newspaper.
THE EMANCIPATION OF THE PRESS.
Pray do not think | am striking too
high. These are but simple and easy les
sous 10 human nature. the source and re-
source, the buttress and the bell-tower of
journalism and a free press. They are
attainable by the smallest journalist Of the
smallest village, and not until they are
learned, and we'll learned, by the lesser
journalists of the country, can we hope for
that journalism which, ideal now, is des-
tined to win the fight OF the people against
| the corporations; to substitute national
and popular spirit against mere demagog-
ism and party spirit; and, if such be God s
providence, to establish that universal re-
public which, based on universal inteli-
gence, is to bring US peace on earth and
good will among men, Emancipate the
press from its thralldOm to Mammon by
making it self-sustainingl Bind it with
hooks of steel to the service Of the people
| Acknowledge 10 master except that OF
which you yourselves are component parts
"a board Of which you are members
a cabinet Of which you are ministers-the
mastership Of public opinion. 1t is the
only service that gives plenty of pay aud
honest pay; 1t is the only service of which
a man may be proud and 10 which he may
feel happy. Throw off the old execrablt
badge, faded and tattered and worm-eater
by its dishonoring memories and iuscrip.
tons, for that other Lbadge, that insignia
Of rank and independence, which says
Il am no mans dog, | am a mar
among men. The roof above me is my
own. This threshold is mine; and, hold
ing no commission but that which, sent
from Heaven, makes me a spokesman for
my fellowmen, and having no weapons ex.
cept handful Of types, am able to defy
the world that proposes, unbidden, to cross
it, being supported by an army, numerous
and powerful. which is ready to rally ut 8
moments notice for the defense of itself
which is my defense" | believe in thai
sort Of journalism, and believe that that
sort Of journalism will come to be believed
in by every man who edits and reads a
newspaper.
The foregoing extracts,i setting forth
principles which should govern a self-re
specting press, and the duties it owes t.
the public, will be recognized by all a:
coming from a master-hand, and vii
command respect They leave the door &
/. little bit ajar so that the struggles, and
disappointments, and hopes, and am
bilious, and triumphs, however small, OIL
those who conduct the county press,
even the pioneers, can be appreciated
The first paper published in this region
Of country was
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