St. Landry democrat., 1880-09-04
Increase of the Newspaper
Press.
EPriuters' Circular.l

public, where journals have become
! only an important but an indis-
pensabfe factor in the founding of
every town. In the front ranks of
the ever westward-pressing pioneers
Of civilization now marches the edl-
tor, generally a practical printer,
ready to set up the press as the
blacksmith does his forge, knowing
that he has become quite as highly
priced a person in new communities
rs once was the latter stalwart work
or. Nor in Europe, where newspa-
pers increase in spite Of arbitrary ru-
fers; the despotic, irresponsible Gar
Of all the Russias fears nothing SO
much as the journals that oppose his
despotism, and are published in de-
tiance of his commands, to the dis
comfture OF his army Of all-powerful
and keen-witted policemen. There
is really nothing surprising in the
steady growth Of newspapers in Eu-
rope. because the liberal govern
ments Of that quarter Of the globe,
in granting freedom OF the press, in
directly encourage the establishment
ofoutspoken journals where they are
most needed.
In Asia it is. where the multiplica-
ton Of newspapers is q marvel. In
chat vast, heathenish quarter of the
globe, the printing press is not only
new conner, but it is all innovation
on the customs, beliefs, and tradi-
tons dear to every Oriental. With
out any assistance from the Euro
pean invaders and rulers, newspapers
are spreading over British India at
a wonderfully rapid rate. In the
two northern presidencies, Calcutta
and Bombay, the native press, free
from English influence, is power,
and in Madras it is rapidly gaining
strength. In the city of Calcutta
the Bengalese have a daily paper.
edited by their own people, printed
in their own language, and sold fol-
one-quarter anna-rather less than
one cent a copy. And yet we Ameri-
cans boast long, loud, and untiriDgly
Of our penny press, generally obi
vious of the fact that the pagans Of
Calcutta every morning buy live
newspaper at less than one cent
The sedate Parsees of Bombay &C,
tually have a comic paper Of theil
own, modelled after London Punch
it is true, but entirely in the hands
of Hindoos.
A recent official report from g
British officer, detailed by his gov.
eminent to examine this interesting
and important subject, says ''The
number of native journals in British
India, of every kind-daily, weekly
and monthly-is increasing SO fas
that, were the complete statistics O
the Hindoo press to be published to
day, they would have to be corrected
and expanded tomorrow Coming
from any other source than a British
official, this language would be
deemed grossly exaggerated.
In explanation, it must in fairness
be stated that the editors and con
tributors Of these Hindoo Journals
are all young Indians of fortune, whe
have spent several years in England
and familiarized themselves with the
details Of the organization and work
ings Of the foremost dailies, weeklies
and monthies of London returning
home, they utilized their knowledge
So popular are Hindoo journals that
luxllriant as is their growth, it mus
be regarded as still being in its cal
low infancy.
Asia contains hundreds Of millions
Of people. 1t is the place, Of al
others, where cheap papers can sue
coed /; and the time may not be yer,
far off when more dailies will be cir
culated in Asia than in the United
States. What are 100000 Of PEG
pie in comparison to 100000, 900
And those hordes Of heather real
with the avidity of Americans. VIVA
q widely extended daily and weekly
newspaper press may do for Indi'
and all Asia every reader may, if III
chooses, think out or imagine fol
himself; sufficient for us to have
shown that newspapers are fast in
creasing in q part of the world where
a score OF years ago, it was take1
for granted that the successful pub
LEGATION Of a newspaper for the na
tives, and in the native tongue, woult
be an impossibility. Before TIN
close of the present century Ameri
can printing presses, American print
ing inks, American type, and Amer
lean printing Office furniture may b.
shipped to Asia, just as American
textile fabrics are being sent there
now. Does this seem visionary? /
so, reflect on the surprising growth
Of newspapers in British India pom
der over the official report on tn
augmentation of Hindoo and Parse
journals, which says that no list 0
published papers would be accurat'
for d single day, because it woule
have to be expanded in the cours'