Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-01
The PRESS:
Its Mission, Its Workers and
Its Status.
Address Delivered Before the Ark
ansaw Press Association,
searcy, June 2Sd.
By j. Harvey AIathes, Editor OF
the Memphis Public Ledger.
Little Rock Gauetts, June Is.

The Gazette invites attention to the
thoughtful address on journalism de.
livered at Searcy before the Arkansaw
Press Association, by Captain }.
Harvey Mathes, editor of the Mem
phis LEDGER. To the general reader
there is no subject more interesting
than that which treats Of the press,
whose influence has become so wide
spread, and we can safely promise that
none will rise from the perusal OF
Captain Mathes' address without
learning something not known before |
of journalism.
On being introduced to the audience
By DR.. NJ. NJ. Mcclure, Mr.. Mathes
said:
Gentlemen of the AvkAnsaWP ressAsso |
Ladies and Gentlemen OF Searcy;
After listening to the annual address
of President Mcclure, the eloquent
address of welcome bY the Hon. Mr.
House and the ferEid and heartfelt
response of my young friend from
Hope, Mr.. Lowery, | feel that the
orations Of the evening have already
been delivered and are fully worthy
of the occasion. To be invited from
another State to speak before the
Arkansaw Press Association, and the
good people of the delightful little city
of Searcy, is an honor ofWhich any man
in the land might be prond, and it
is no affectation to say that in the
midst of other scenes and trying du-
ties, l have looked forward to this
hour with mingled feelings Of pleasure
and dread.
ARKANsAw ABROAD.
The outside world is beginning to
regard Arkansaw as the coming State
of the South by virtue of her geo.
graphical position, climate, topo-
graphy, variety of products, mineral
resources, wonderful healing springs,
accessibility by rail and water, and
above all, on account of her public
spirited, intelligent people and pro.
gressive press. In this materialistic
and practical age there is not much
time seemingly for sentiment, idealism
or speculative thought. Life is short.
and with most of us, full Of earnest
effort, leaving less time than others
have enjoyed for preparing or listening
to finely worded speeches. | under
take only to make a very plain talk.
The press, viewed in any aspect, is a
we'll worn and well misunderstood
theme. Yet it seems natural and
almost inevitable upon such an coca
sion as this to say something as to its
origin, its progress and power, its
uses and abuses and its relations to
society, to government and TO the in
stitutions of the age. Very few news
paper readers stop to inquire when
the first papers we're started or how
many are published now.
INFANCY AND GROWTH OF JOURNAL
ISM.
A reference to few landmarks and
facts in the history OF journalism pre-
seuts at a glance the tremendous
progress that has been made. Looking
back no great way we discover the
day Of small beginnings. The frs
paper in the United States was pub
lished in Boston in 1890, 1872 year
ago. 1t was a brief record of foreIgI
and domestic affairs. without editoria
comment. Any intelligent fifteen yea
old schoolboy in Arkansaw could &c
up better paper now. The histor,
of English Journalism dates back a
far as 1922. The first daily wa
issued in 1909, the London Courant,
single page paper with two short CO.
umns.
In this country the number OF dali
and weekly papers had increased U
to 1910 to 1853, with an annual issue
220OO,000. 1t was not until abol
1850 that the American press began
throw off its swaddling clothes ar
put on the toga of manhood. III
number had then increased to $50
There were 254 dailies, with a tot
circulation of over 100000. No
we have over 1l,000 publications, i
Guiding 90 daily papers, with
aggregate circulation OF over 81 ,00I
600. In the State of Arkansaw the
are, according to the census Of l8s
100 periodicals, with an aggregate @
culation of about 100000 per issJ
Yet there are men living who C
remember when the first type and t
first printing press came from IL
nessee to Arkansaw Post, where I
first paper in the territory was start
and it continued to be the first a
only paper until 1895. The her
pioneer in the cause has lived to
the wilderness reclaimed and occup
by a busy, prosperous populate
engaged in various industries, and
see the paper he founded grow W
the State until it ranks as one of
Foremost metropolitan d0ilies of
Mississippi valley. Such are some
the achievements of journalism VIII
vet has so much to accomplish. Lo
ing back to that canoe load of t
and an untoward beginning in
forest, and then at the ever widen
current Of events down to the pres,
Mr.. Woodruff might, in the langu
Of the first message the immo
Morse sent over the telegraph wi
exclaim. "See what God b
wrought"
Here in comparatively new B