The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-12
THE woRcEsTER SPY.
How Isaiah Thomas Fought AGAINST
Many Dfflculties.

How Isaiah Thomas Fought Against
Many Difficulties.
With the recent suspension of The
Worcester Spy, one of the few newspa-
pers in the United States that has been
In continuous publication for over a
century, the last publication Intimate
ly associated with the name of Isaiah
Thomas, has ceased to exist. Isaiah
Thomas Is scarcely remembered at the
present time, although during his act
I'VE years he was recognized as one of
the leading printers and publisher in
the country. Though less well known
than Benjamin Franklin, he did fully
as much as the latter for the encour-
states. The History Of Printing in
of the standard works on that subject
and the original book is so rare that
q few years ago the Massachusetts, His
torlcaI Society reprinted the work. with
Isaiah Thomas was born in 1749 and
died In 1881, He best remembered in
part of his life was spent, as the foun-
der of the American Antiquarian So
ciety, which was established in 1912,
uted generously in money, besides Civ
ing 5000 volumes, comprising the
greater part of his library. That was
a large collection for those DAYS. and
among the books are some exceedingly
scarce works on early Americana.
The original name of The Worcester
Spy was The Massachusetts Spy. 1t
was started by Thomas in Boston in
1870, and within few years the paper
became known throughout the entire
thirteen colonies from its fearless ut
terances against British oppression.
So bold was the editor in this respect
that Governor Hutchinson. one year af-
ter the appearance of the paper. or
dered that Thomas be prosecuted, and
the matter was brought before the
grand jury In Boston, but no cause for
Indictment was found. Just before the
- 4 IL
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 finan-
week ago. One of Thomas's notices
during the Revolution was Unanimity
in the field will secure the independ-
ence of America Another motto, and
to which he rigidly adhered, was open
to all parties and Influenced by none.
ture imposed a duty on all advertise
ments published in the newspapers of
the. state. Thomas thought TINS act
laid 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obnoxious law was repealed: When he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 explana-
ton to his readers:
The printer has the happiness of
once more presenting to the publick
The Massachusetts Spy, or Worcester
Gazette, which at length is restored to
it's constitutional liberty (thanks to
our present Legislature) after a sus-
pension of two years. Heaven grant
that the freedom of the press. on which
depends the freedom of the people, may
In the United States be ever guarded
with a watchfuI eye, and defended from
shackles of every form and shape until
the trump of the celestial messenger
shall announce the final dissolution of
all things"
time, the editor published the follow
ing notice:
PRINTED at Worcester, Mass, by
Isaiah Thomas, printer, bookseller and
stationer. Has large inland circula-
ton in this Commonwealth and the
States of New Hampshire and Yer
mont. Nine shilling per annum. Ad-
vertisements not exceeding twelve lines
and three weeks longer for two shil-
The paper remained a weekly pubIi-
cation up to 1S45, when II was issued
as a daily. In point of continuous pub
lication The Worcester Spy ranked
fourth in the list OF newspapers orig
inaIly started in the colonies. The
three older publications that are still
in existence are The New Hampshire
Gazette. started in 1856: The Newport
Mercury. started in l75S and The Hart
ford Courant. started IN 1864, which
has practically been the leading Con-
necticut newspaper from the time OF
its initial number.
The early files of The Massachusetts,
Spy during the Revolutionary war
times are now extremely scarce. but
a good collection OF them may be found
both in the Lenox Library and the New
York Historic Society