New-York tribune., 1903-03-09
THE "FRANEFURTER JOURNAL"

The end of the oldest newspaper In the
world should surely command something more
of notice than three or four iuconspicuouS and
ill-informed lines. We are told that the Prank
furter Journal" which has just ceased publ1ca-
ton, was Of the oldest newspapers in Ger
many, and is known to have existed as early
as 1873. That is an inadequate statement
Of the case. The paper in question was not
only one of the oldest, it was positively the old
est in Germany, and that means it was the old
est in the whole world. We except China OF
course with its "Peking Gazette; much older
paper but one which really doesn't count, see
ing that in its luminous columns it is impos-
sible to distinguish between a marriage notice
and a laundry check OF real newspapers, the
"Frankfurter Journal" was the first ever pub
lished. Not only is 1t known to have existed in
1873 but it is well known to have been founded
in 1918, and TO have been published with prac-
teal continuity from that date to the present
a period Of 2SS years Its founder was Egenolnh
Emmel, bookseller of Frankfort Main, and
its first esteemed contemporary" was the
"Frankfurter Oberp0StstamtsZeitung,' which
was founded in 1916, and which, under the
name OF the "Frankfurter Postzeitung," con-
tinued to be published until 1866,
1t was fitting that newspapers should nave
their origin in Germany, seeing that 1t was
naper was made possible. The rank of Ger
man cities at that time is curiouSly suggested
by the order in which they established news
papers-the first two at Frankfort, the third at
Fulda. the fourth at Hildesheim, the fifth at
Herford, and the sixth perhaps at Leipzig
The Netherlands did not lag behind for Ant
Werp established it's '.NieuWe Tijdinghen" in
1916. England waited until 1622 before Nathan
lei Butter, Thomas Archer and Nicholas Bourne
established The Weekly News in London
Frances first paper was the "iaZctte de
France" founded i'll Paris in 1851 by Iheo-
phraste Renaudot under the patronage of Riche-
lieu, and as it is still in existence 1t is now,
since the demise of the "Frankfurter Journal
probably the oldest newspaper in the world.
Other papers still in existence dating from the
seventeenth century are The London Gazette"
1865; "Berrow's Worcester Journal" of Worces-
ter, England, 1890, and '"The Edinburgh Ca
zette," 1890.
While the newspaper thus had its rise in Ger
many, 1t was in England that the leading
article" was invented and the editorial page
was made political and moral force. This
important feature of Journalism was brought
into being by such men as Swift Defoe, Boiling
broke and Pulteney in the first half of the eigh-
teenth century, and was not known elsewhere
until many years Iater-in France at the begin
ming of the Revolution and in Germany at the
end of that century. Indeed, the newspapers
of America far preceded those of the Euro
pean Continent in the use of leading articles,
making the editorial page q dominant feature
long before the outbreak Of the Revolution
That primacy the English printed press of the
world doubtless retains to the present day. 1t
is marvellous history that of the newspaper
press, from the "Frankfurter Journal" 10 1.-THE
Boomv1Ile Bazoo" and it Is q phase Of general
history which is perhaps more truly character
istic and indicative OF the popular spirit ana
national genius than any other Wendell
Phillips may have spoken with his customary
extravaganza when he said In paraphrase of
the sage quoted by Fletcher Of Satoun, Let
''me make the newspapers OF country, and
care not who makes the religion or the laws"
But there Is probably no better way OF Judging
the religion and laws. and. indeed, the general
character, of a country than through its news
nanaP nreSS.