The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-22

rze-sxzounsusssusEsxssr1E 1 the House in relation to the printing 1 b;lk which had passed Che Senate uuan- ;mcusiy, deserves the srverest eondeni- nation. The action in killing it was unjust to the press of the state, prejn- dicial to the interest of the people of the State. We trust the press will keep an eye on those members who would not see the iru h, but in violation of prog rcss and common-sense, struck bloW that must rccoil on every interest or l the State.
 We are amazed that so many crea- lures Of such little minds should float i into the Legislature.
 l Hope City Times: The printing bill I was Killed, of course, and civilization is thereby set aback for the season. The people are left for yet little while longer to revel in the luxury of reading legal notices on trees and blacksmith shops, and the like out-of- way places, and can sleep without be- ing haunted by the hideous nightmare of progress-- who, d learned legislator ! averred would come, under the provis- ions of this printing bill, to the house l of every fir se American ill the land, lay the strong hand of tyranny on his throat an there hold him till he sub scribes for every newspaper in the State and pays for it in advance.
 | Van Buren Argus. The Gazette of March 10th, contains humorous dia- logue between two colored individuals who propose to open Il blacksmith shop for advertising purposes, following ont the hint given by a member of the late l House of Representatives. This mem Der expressed strong faith in the etiica- ! cy of advertising on shop doors-in fact, greatly prefers it, in this progress sive age, to the old fogy notion of pu g. fishing in the newspapers. This is the only sound argument that can be used against the bill offered ill the last House. If it be true that the shop door plan is the best, then, by all means, let us move back the finger on the dial, and abolish the press, as we have all been deceived in its power.
 l Southwestern Press: The masses of the people do not, if they can, read one-iifth of the written notices that are stuck up at cross roads, school houses, blacksmith shops, groceries, &c. If, however, they are printed, they attract attention and people are snre to read them.
 If those gentlemen who so vigorously opposed this bill lived ill the midst of newspaper facilities, we can but express surprise that they were so successful in becoming members of the recent legislature.
 We are glad to see the press through out the state give such a full and free expression Of their feelings on the sub- ljoct. And we say let us look out !n the formation of the next legislature, and see to it that men are selected that will not be so tenacious for economy, when that economy is false and detrimental to the public interest.
 Arkansas Vidette: The failure of the printing bill in the lower house of the Legislature, on the ground, that public notices are more likely to be seen by the people, when posted on blacksmith shops, fences, trees. &c., than if pub shed ill the county papers, appears to us a sad commentary on the constituents of the forty-seven members who voted to lay the bill oE the table. The press and the blacksmith shop have been placed before the peo- pie, from which to choose for them selves a medium for the conveyance of most important information. and by their sapient representatives they nave choson the latter. We are sorry of this not on account of the pccuniary profit which is lost to publishers of newspapers. by the failure of the meas ure, but because the importance of the press is shown to be underrated and undervalued, by those who are suppos- ed to have been chosen by the people, to carry on the law-making branch or tba -tnta Uoynrnmapt on arcOunt of some known or supposed talent in con- ducting public ais.irs.
 Weekly State: The Russellville DEMOCRAT publishes the names of those who voted against the bill. It was hardly needfui to name parties of so much obseurity. We observe that nearly one half of those who voted against the bill are from counties in which no papers are published. The others we suppose represent the more ignorant portion of the voters of their several counties. Let them pass. Not long since an execution was run against property in this county. The owner was on his sick bed, death bed, ill an- other county, and is now oead. The sale was advertised according to GUS tom. A large lot of corn was sold, at from II to l6 cents per bushel! This is not a singular case. Notice as now given is too much like that fot a Chi cago divorce-notice that Is no notice.
 The printing bill had no more of in- terest to the newspapers than that it would slightly have increased their legitimate business with an incidental advantage to their exchequer. News paper men, who spend their lives in preventing people from lapsing in.o barbarism, and strive to lift the masses out of the darknes of general ignorance, are not the people 10 beg any subsidy from the ignorant iicompe- tents, that little more ignorant constituency will send to make laws. : No, brethren, of the press, let us still wage war on ignorance, and pity the , people whose interest is in the hands , of ignorant men.
 : Gazette: From the action of the House on yesterday we are led to be- leye that the bill providing for the , publication of legal notices will be de-