The Russellville Democrat., 1878-03-21
The Power of the Printing Press
A. l. U., FAYETTEVILLE, ARK,
 March 9. 1873.

This power is almost beyond our conception, in that it is so extensive and great, and we feel that 1t is ut terly impossible for us to exhaust this very important subject now be. fore as. We shall first notice the power which the press exerts through newspapers. These are published at almost every hamlet throughout the land, and sent, as messengers of joy and intelligence, to every neigh boring cottager. They are read by his children as well as himself, and thus the papers are training the minds of both parent and offspring. The man who would have his sons become men of intelligence, men of understanding, men of sound jndg ment. and men of brilliant talent and strong minds; and his daughters be come women of refined manners, acute tastes, and cheerful disposi- tions, should by all means subscribe for the papers of his country. Again, the press is shaping even the destinies of nations; for it is through it we hear from the greatest literary men of the land. Every item of in- terest, every change in the affairs of State. and, in fact, every act of great ness is borne to us through the press of our country. The press is mighty ocean of intelligence. As all the waters of the earth flow to. ward the sea, and are borne back upon the gentle breezes to moisten, Iby delightful showers, the parched fields of the globe, and cause the dropping flowers to raise their heads and smile again; so all knowledge flows to the press, and is sent out again upon the breeze of civilization, to cultivate the fields of learning, and cause smiles of intelligence to | light up the faces of those once bow ed down with ignorance.
 The press is powerful because 1t ia ever active. The constant wash
 ings of the river carry hllls and val leys to the sea; so the press in it's constant action is mighty power in moulding the destinies of kingdoms and republics, The press is not only powerful in the United States, but in many other countries. What but it causes Germany to stand to the front ill literature and learning What would be the condition of our country to day if there were no print ing press? In the place of the great civilization and enlightenment you now see around you, ignorance and superstition would reign supreme, Where would be your colleges and universities, your great libraries, your men of science, your great lit erary men, your religion? They would still lie far beyond in the misty vales of future years, among those things which are yet to come With the press, the mighty engine of intelligence, '.the polar star Of commerce and civilization, we have influenced and are now influencing the destinics of heather nations. It | speaks to these with "a stlll small voice." but with. as much effect as if it pealed in tones of thunder. The quiet stream does not need to make much noise to shape the granite rock, nor does the press need to make noise in shaping the desti- nies of nations. By means of 1t we are now enabled to send thousands of literary works, and above all, the Bible, to China, Japan, and the isles of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
 Tens of thousands of books, maga
 zlnes, and other periodicals arc now flying, like balls of light, from shore to shore, from continent to conti
 nent, to drive away the clouds of ig
 norance, and direct the nations on their way down through the lapse oi ages. Truly yours,
 SOPHOMORE.