Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-07-24
sentiment, and therefore liable

monwealth? There are journals in
st. Louis as truthful as are those of
any other metropolis, whose CONNER
cial and financial columns give the
latest business information and whose
political views are in the main correct.
In giving this advice however, we
have no design of intimating that
metropolitan news a supercede the
information and counsel that flow
like perennial fountains from the
country newspaper. If the rural
editor has his imperfections the con-
ductors of city journals have theirs
also. If the patronage bestowed on
the former is too scant, that given
the latter is too vast. On this ac-
count if for none other, the metropo-
Titan press is dictatorial and aims at
leadership. When not followed it
assails party and politicians. While
it puffs infidelity it sneers at religion
and temperance. At times nothing,
no matter how offensive, is refused,
that is needed to fill up Its columns,
and often scavenger-like, it drags up
to daylight the fostering garbage of
the sewers. In all these particulars
the rural is superior to the metropo-
Titan newspaper, and on this account
it exerts, and so long as this condi-
ton exists ought to exert a greater
influence in directing sentiment,
strengthening parties, supporting cam
didates and guiding every depart
ment of society to it's highest devel-
opment. Besides it is near its readers
and knows their interests and advo-
Gates them. 1t has n deep stake in
pure morals, good habits and free
institutions and in the personal wei
fare of its neighborhood. 1t is faith
full to party and politicians, so long
as they are faithful to society because
that is its highest duty.
In his address to the Press Asso-
citation at Columbia, Hon. B, Gratz
Brown declared that sit was begin
mig to be realized each day more and
more, that the immense increase in
the extent of journalism has been dis
tinguished rather by a falling away
than airy corresponding enhancement
of control over opinion. At least dis
tinctively ruling journals are becom-
ing fewer in number and their lead
more remote and inappreciable to the
masses and their dictd received often
with doubt, and at times with deri-
sion, even by that most impressible
man, the constant reader" There
was Il time in this country when sat
the appearance OF a leading article il
particular papers. almost at the
stroke Of a pen, great states were
transferred IN their attitude upoI
pending controversies, petitions were
involved in defeat or victory by de
l lection here or adhesion there, adj
ministrations were wrecked on the
' point of a paragraph and Congress
itself consulted constituencies through
: these organs Of opinion" Virtually
these papers ran the party and the
\ government.
The newspapers that seemed to cX
, ercise such powers were mainly locat
ed at Washington. In point Of fac
however, what seemed to eninat'
from was only reflected by them
I They did not manufacture public
sentiment. Much less did they die
tate it. All this existed before TIN
{ era of electricity when the main pc
: litical organ were conducted at tin
seat Of government. E~verybod.
subscribed for these papers, and ever.
i body correspondent with those tina
: conducted them, and hence tlei
ability to discriminate.
, The introduction of the telegraph
D transferred the political journal fror
. Washington to New York. Tht
D speeches made In Congress are re
e produced in the metropolitan news
l papers of that city, and reach til
capitol next day in time to be perrls
S ed by Representatives and Senators
: There is no such thing as a pape
q possessed of influence conducted a
r the seat of government 9nd there j
: no probability of getting one y
there 1t could not be made to pa,
expenses.
P The New York press is increasing i
g its efforts to control Congress, bu
s neither the Democratic or Republi
: can portion of it can be followed b
their parties. The devotion of thes
newspapers to eastern interests unfit
e them for the guidance OF nationa
l. legislation. Without exception the
e advocate resumption and still insis
e on the gold basis and national banks
Disappointed in their designs upo
congressman they now aim to operat
on their constituency but to be fore
Is warned Is to be forearmed.
q If our fathers were right in remos
'e ing legislation to a distance fror
great commercial and industrial Ger
tres, we ought to be the more watcl
full against an influence whose ar
proach is SC insiduous and which bu
for advance in scientific discover
20 could NOT aviat