Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-08-31
Z. Y. Graphic.

1t is not every village, not even every
central and growing place, that affords suf-
ficient field or ought 10 attempt to maintain
a newspaper. small, poor paper, with
limited resources, is not a credit, but, on
the contrary, is at once a discredit and a
burden to any town. Better, by far, let the
newspaper business, like any other busi-
ness, or like water, find lis own level. 1t
viii in time, most assuredly, no matter
how much forcing any scheme may have
Ifthe editor of a well established paper is
fair and liberal, giving all sides a chanceto
be heard, regardless of his own views, then
there is no interest Of rival villages, or ofa
country or section at large, or of trade, ag-
riculure. manufactures or railroads, aye,
or of politics, that will not be far better pro-
NOTED by using that, with its large circu-
lation, as a means of public information,
influence and favor, than it can possibly be
by starting new organs or encouraging dis
astrous competition. There are to-day in
Vermont, at least tvs ice as many papers as
there ought to be, either for the public good
or for the moderate prosperity oftheir own
ers. There is more money sunk in new en-
terprises, and in the strfes which they en-
gender, than would suffice TO run lunatic
asylum, or to speak more understanding
ly, enough is thus wasted to make dozen
good papers a credit TO the State and
means of education TO her people, with
which nothing but her far more expensive
schools are to be compared.
And the worst of it is, nobody is benefit
ed by it. Local advertisers must carry
double burden, and so must, or often will,
the mass of subscribers. The editor is not
benefited, for he wears out with unrequited
toll the best years of his life. Even the
patronizing politician is not benefited, for
his little organ reaches comparatively few,
and when it does it is weighed for what 1t
is worth. There is not public man of ex-
perience in this country who would not far
more highly prize the privilege of having
his cause represented by himself or friends
in the columns of one newspaper of large
circulation and established character,
though it be an opponent, than he would
TO have one or dozen starvelings in the
newspaper world devote themselves with
suspicious zeal entirely TO his service.
Besides, the business is deceptive. Start
in1 newspaper is a comparativ ely cheap
and easy undertaking. But the first ex-
pense is only drop in the bucket. This
is consideration which ambitious editors
and scheming projectors seldom realize un-
| ill they experience 1t. Once started, the
paper becomes a constant expense. 1t does
not mount to popularity with bound.
Confidence is plant of slow growth. The
patronage that comes because of Its own
merit is meagre aud tardy. Meanwhile the
patronage that brought 1t into being be-
comes tired, querulous, reluctant, and by
| and by hostile. Tho paper has become an
elephant on the hands of its owners. Pride
| will not allow them 10 suspend II, and re-
| sides, they are not quite prepared for TO-
| tai sacrifice. During all this time opposl-
| ton has strengthened with their dlscomht-
ure, and especially II, as oilen happens,
| thew have undertaken to bolster falling
cause of any kind, then they find them
selves doubly condemned-losers OF money
| and losers ofgood opinion. The final strug-
| ole cannot long be postponed. The prob
| lem presents itself whether they will con-
| tinue to sacrifice on the altar OF error or
| foolish pride, or whether they viii NOT
rather, stop where they are, manInily pay
| every bill, honorably assume and acknoWl-
| edge the consequence of their own error,
not undertaking to charge it upon lhsit
| subordinates or perpetuate IL upon some
simpleton who may help them TO unload
by taking their burden as gin, ana Whetn-
ef they will not then, by every iair Dusl-
ness means, strengthen the one youL1nSSi ,'s 81
ability and It's right to live, aud thus, II
thew care to appeal to the public at all, hon
| or tha nublic by going 10 them where they
are. rather than Insult and repel them by
DESPERATE Inducements or dlshonorabie
cOnsralnt.-iH. ADans Messenger