Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-29
Increase Of tho Newspaper Pross.

Not III the United Statcs--oh dear no.
every one knows how fast newspapers mul-
tply ia the great Republic, whore journals
have become not only an important but an
Indispensable factor in the founding of
every town. in the front ranks Of the ever
Westward pressing pioneers of civilization
now marches the editor, generally practi-
cui r. n;cA- rea',y to 81 Up the Iress IS the
blacbstath does his forge, knowing that he
has become quito as highly priced person
in new communities as once was The latter
stnlwart worker. Nor in Europe, where
newspapers increase in spite of arbitrary
rulers the dcspotic irresponsible Car Of
all tho ltussias fears nothing so much as
journals that oppose his despotism, aud are
published in defiance of his commands, to
the discontinue of his army of all powerful
and keen wittcd policemen. There is really
nothing surprising in the steady growth of
newspapers in Europe, because the liberal
governments Of hat quarter Of tho globe,
in granting freedom of tho press, indirectly
encourage the establishment Of outspokcn
journals where they arc most needed.
In Asia it is whcro tho multiplication
OF newspapers is marvel. In that vast
hcnthenish quarter Of tho globe, the print
ing press is not only newcomer, but is an
innovation on tho customs, beliefs and ira
ditions dear TO every Oriental. Without
any assistance from tho European invaders
and rulers, newspapers arc spreading over
British India at wonderfully rapid rate
In the two Northern presidcucics, Calcutta
and Bombay, the native press, free from
English Influence, is u power, and in Mad
ras it is rapidly gaining strength. In tho
city of Calcutta, the Bensalcsc have daily
paper, edited by their own people, printed
in their own language, and sold for one
quarter anna---rathct less than ono cent
copy. And yet VIC Americans boast long,
loud and untiriugly of cur penny press,
generally oblvious Of tho fact that tho
pagans of Calcutta every morning buy
live newspaper at less than one cent Tho
scdatc Parsccs OF Bombay actually have
comic paper Of their own, modelled after
London PuncA, it is true, but entirely in
tho hands of Hindoos.
a recent Official report from British
officer, detailed by his government to cx
anime this interesting and important sub
jcct, says: "Tho number Of native journals
in British India, of every knd--daily,
weekly and monthly-iS increasing 50 fast
that, were the complete statistics of the
llindoo press to be published today, they
would have to be corrected and expanded
to morrow" Coming from any other source
thGna British official, this language would
be doomed grossly exaggerated.
In explanation, it must in fairness be
stated that the editors and contributors of
these lliudoo journals arc all young Indians
Of fortune who have spout several years in
England, and familiarizcl themselves with
the details Of the organization aud workings
of tho foremost dailics, wccklics and month
l'cs Of London; returning home, they
utilized their knowledge. So popular are
lllndoo journals that, luxurant as is their
growth, it must be regarded as still being
III its callow infancy.
Asia contains hundreds of millions of
people. Ii IS the place, of ali others, where
cheap papers can succeed; and tho time may
not be very far of when moro daily papers
will be circulatcd in Asia than in the United
States. What arc 50,000,OOO of people in
comparison with 500, 100000? And those
hordes of hcathcn read with the aydity of
Americans. Whata widely extended daily
and weekly newspaper press may do for
India and all Asia every reader may, if ho
chooses, think out or imagine for himself;
sufficient for us to have shown that news.