The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-02-14

could not appease. Tiny books slipped
out from garrets and cellars, and be-
came the weapons alike Of patriotic de-
votion and of private vengeance. Very
ugly weapons, they often proved ugly
in paper, ugly in type, and often still
more ugly in language. They became
the recognized means for the public ex-
preston of individual thought, and we
find the American colonies inheriting
them from the mother-land. The an
onymous pamphlet offered a method of
expression so convenient, andthe growth
Of the editorial was so slow, that even
Benjamin Franklin habitually resorted
to these paper missiles, instead of seek
ing expression for his very vigorous
opinions in the columns of the news
papers of his time.
Just two hundred years ago, Andrew
MARVEL was writing with vehement elo-
quence against the two evils which he
feared for his Countrywide growth of
popery and of arbitrary government.
Through the whole extent of England,
there was no means of publication open
to him except the anonymous pamphlet,
and the only newspaper notice that his
book received was that in the Gazette,
offering one hundred pounds reward
for the discovery of the author, and
fifty pounds for the apprehension of the
printer.
In that very anne year of 1879, the
doughty Benjamin Harris was printing
in London. His modest little venture
vas entitled, "Domestick Intelligence,
or News from City and Country, pub
lished to prevent false reports" That
his path was not smooth may be guess
ed from the fact that the next year APP
peared: "a short but just Account of
the Tryal of Benjamin Harris for print
ing a seditious book; an appeal from
the country to the city," Some sub
sequent numbers of his domestick intel
ligence were announced as published
gratis for the promoting of trade"
which awakes n suspicion that clever
Ben, was smart enough, at that early
day, to invent an advertising sheet.
Having borneh his share of fines, and hav-
ing stood in the pillory, Harris fancied
that there might be more liberality in
the new world. He was mistaken, the
conditions were there the same, and the
law was as much opposed to journalism
in tltn maui continent nc i'm thn old iC-
land of England. He had published
but one number of Il newspaper in Bos-
ton, when the magistracy sat upon it as
a corners inquest. According to their
verdict, it came to its death for ire
Elections ola very high nature" This
was neat and conclusive, and complet-
ed the humiliation of the paper, but it
was an entirely unnecessary piece Of
p%oliteness for the magistrates to give
an excuse for their action; the law of
the land was opposed to the existence
of the press, and those officials were but
doing their duty, who crushed Harris
in Boston, annoyed Bradford in Phila-
delphia, and imprisoned Finger in New
York. Harris had blundered, his paper
was an anachronism,- 1T was an early
rose, that had bloomed much, very
much, too soon, and met its fate when
nipped in the bud.
Much history was crowded into the
years that elapsed before Boston ventur-
ed upon another newspaper. The lady
Queen Anne was sitting in the sun of
royalty when the next essay was made.
Very dull, and very decorous was the
Boston Newsletter. 1t confined itself
closely within the limits of its title. 1t
offered no reflections, either of a high or
low nature; and, serving dutifully as a
mere Gazette enjoyed governmental favor
aud with due propriety shook the dust
of the naught and ungrateful city from
its sandals, and retired safely with the
British troops to Halifax, remaining a
gazette to its dying day.
Slowly. but surely, did the Gazette of
the past grow into the newspaper of the
present. as the editorial was painfully
evolved by generations of true and vail
ant men
who were willing to sink
their present repute for the reedom1
TO think;
And when they had thought, were their
cause strong or weak,
Would risk t'other half for the freedom to +!
speak.
Branch after branch grew upon the par
emit stem, until art, science, and every
department of knowledge finds its ap-
pointed place in the ~compendious his |
tory of the current life of the entire
globe, which is embodied in the Jour
nails of this generation.
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