Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-14
A PATRIOTIC EDITOR.


Isaiah Thomas, Who Started he
Worcester Spy-Its Origin.
With the recent suspension of the
Worcester Spy, one Of the few news
papers in the United States that has
been in continuous publication for
over a century, the last publication
Intimately associated with the name
Of Isaiah Thomas has ceased to ex-
list. Isaiah Thomas is scarcely re-
membered at the present time, al
though during his active years he was
recognized as one Of the leading prin-
ters and publishers In the country.
Though less well known than Benia-
min Franklin, he did fully as much
as the latter for the encoura cement
Of printing in the United States. The
History Of Printing" in two large
volumes, by him, is now one of the
standard works on that subject, and
the original book is SO rare that q
few years ago the Massachusetts
Historical society reprinted the work
with later additions.
Isaiah Thomas was born in 1749
and died in 1881. He is best remem-
bered in Worcester. Mass, where the
greater part of his life was spent as
the founder of the American Anti
quarian society, which was estab-
ished in 1912, and to which Isaiah
Thomas contributed generously in
money, besides giving it 5000 vol
umes, comprising the greater part of
his library. That was large coll
lection for those days, and among the
books are some exceedingly scarce
books on early Americana
-. -
Spy was the Massachusetts Spy. It
| was started by Thomas in Boston in
ITO and within few years the
| paper became known throughout the
entire 13 colonies from it's fearless
utterances against British oppres-
sion. So bold was the editor In this
respect that Governor Hutchinson,
one year after the appearance Of the
paper, ordered that Thomas be prose
cuted and the matter was brought be-
fore the grand jury in Boston, but no
cause for Indictment was found. Just
| before the battle of Lexington, now
| ever, Thomas considered it wise to
move his press to Worcester, Mass,
and there. with the exception of two
or three years the paper Continued to
be issued until financial reverses
caused it's suspension recently. One
| of Thomas notices during the revo-
/ luton was "Unanimity at home and
home and bravery and perseverance
/ In the field will secure the fndepen-
| dence of America Another motto,
and to which he rigidly adhered, was
4 .sOpen to all parties and Influenced
j by none"
i In 1886, the Massachusetts legisla-
ture imposed duty on all advertise
i ments published in the newspapers
i of the state Thomas thought this
act an improper restraint upon the
press and he stopped the publication
of his paper for two years, until the
obnoxious law was repealed. When
he resumed publication on April 2,
1888. he made the following editorial
explanation to his readers:
seThe printer has the happiness of
once more presenting to the public
4 the Massachusetts Spy, or worcester
i Gazette. which at length is restored
to its constitutional liberty thanks to
orr present legislature) after a sus-
pension of two years. Heaven grant
that the freedom of the press, OH
which depends the freedom OF the
people. may in the United States. be
ever guarded with q watchful eye
and defended from shackles of every
form. and shape until the trumpet OF
the celestial messenger shall announce
/ the final dissolution of all things"
On the last page of his paper at the
time. the editor published the follow
ing notice:
NPrinted ait Worcester, Mass. by
Isaiah Thomas, printer, bookseller and
stationer. Has a large inland circu
Iation in this commonwealth and IN
the states of New Hampshire and
Vermont. Nine shilllngs per annum
Advertisements not exceeding L
lines inserted three weeks for shil
ungs and three weeks longer for
shillings."