The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-03-20
THE COMET.
A Few words with its Friends.

The revival of THE COMET in Jacl
son, little more han year ago, WI
hailed by considerable number
partial friends throughout the Stat
with pleasure and confidence. On I'll
other hand, the number of those VII
wished it well, but were unable to b,
lieve that success was within its reacl
was probably largely in the majority
There was still another class NOR
numerous. perhaps, than both th
first named added together, who too
no stock nor interest in it, and VIII
gave themselves no concern whateve
about ii, seemingly impressed witt
the belief that its existence was no
absolutely necessary to the genera
equilibrium of politics, religion o
society.
The outlook did not present per
fectly smooth grade. There were
serious breakers on the track, anc
formidable obstacles to be overcome
A glance at the history of journalism
in Jackson opened a book with nothing
in it but Encouragement. Within the
last fifty years there have been about
one hundred attempts to print news
paper at the Capital without the fos-
tering impetus of "public pap" and =,
without an exception, they have all
proved failures. Before such a start
ling array of newspaper wrecks it was
counted arrogance or hardihood to ex-
pect success. Jackson was freely
quoted as the graveyard of news
papers," and the man who engineered
a new organ upon Jackson, with
nothing to back it but the voluntary
support of the public, was himself re-
garded by many as fit candidate for
the tomb. The idea was very general
that paper could not be sustained in
Jackson without drawing upon the
State Treasury for support
No one unders TODD these stubborn
facts more fully than the conductor
Of THE COMET, and no one weighed
them more carefully ard accurately.
But obstacles generally melt away be-
fore determined will. 1t was this
very understanding, perhaps, of the
hot nfIn i1I 70 In Il
baffied, that gave the key to success.
and we claim that as far as it has gone
The COMET is a decided success. 1t !
haps, than any other paperpublishedIh
1t is the most universally
read newspaper in the State. 1t is
more generally quoted from than any
other Mississippi paper.
Commencing with consolidation |
If the material of the old Meridian |
5azette, the Jackson Times, and
5mylie's Job Office, it has gradually
moved on, and as it's earnings brought |
The ability, the old material has been
'eplaced with new, until the whole
Interior has undergone complete
,hange. The old type and the old
presses have been sold or exchanged
or new, and the office is now nearly
complete, with abundant facilities for
my kind of work. 1t is not claimed
hat the office has earned enough to
Jay for the original cost and all these
but it has materially
essened its obligations, met its notes
and shaped its debts so that
hey can be met without difficulty.
We may add that the hope or pros
,ect of becoming State Printer cut no
igure whatever in the original pro-
ogue or argument in the COMETS
programme. 1t has not considered
tself strong enough to decline the
lonor and emoluments of that re-
ponsible and lucrative office if they
to fall within it's reach, but
t never banked on it, nor grounded
lope upon it. Its original intention
vas to build up a newspaper in jack
on which would be useful in the pro-
notion of the solid interests of the
State and able to stand on its merits
IN interest which did not depend upon
he contingency of an election for its
'xistence-an organ Of the people,
ather than the mere mouth-piece Of a
,arty-a paper that would win its way
O the firesides of most of our reading {
md enterprising citizens, and hold its
lace there by virtue of the intrinsic :
ealty and interest which it bore to
hem.
Possibly the narrow escape of THE (,
,oMET from being made Public I
'rinter by the last Legislature may J
urn out to be lucky thing. If it {
it undoubtedly Wilt I
vill demonstrate the fact that news :
aper can be successfully published in
ackson without State patronage, and =
his demonstration will be worth a
to Jackson, but more to !
s, as it will put the business OF THE c
,oMET on an enduring basis--on solid !
likely to go up like 5
ite or fall like a piece of lead, upon
he smile or frown of future Legis- j
ltures.
We are very sorry to have to record 2
he continued ill-health of Hon. III. ID. d
Toney, Chairman of the House Com b