Year: 1868

Dor.


From the Memphis Public Ledger


The action of the Legislature, In the
matter of the legal advertising was expressly
intended, not for the public and common
benefit of the State, all legislation should
be, but for the purpose Of OF rewarding its
tavorites, strengthening its party, and crush
ing especially the country press, which IN
great part, aud more than that Of the cities,
depends up6n taat kind of patronage for its
support The fact that weekly papers have
IN our prosperous times been supported in
almost every county of every State, is con
elusive as to the fact of their utility, thus
recognized In the public demand for them
They are In truth a necessity. The chief
and perhaps the IN S interesting part of the
daily occurrences in the country Of local in
terest will reach the people through the
county weekhes, or not at ali
The thousand items with which the
city papers now TEEN and give the people Of
the counties Information, would never be
seen without the press In the country locali-
ties, from which they are taken From the
city press alone what is going on IN the
great hearts and centres of the world NAV
be learned. But great deal of what Is Of
still nearer interest and home concern will
never see the light If the country press Is
allowed to 20 under 1t is therefore
matter of great moment that press should
be sustained as the vehicle of information
giving as it does all the substance Of the
more vitality Important news, besides faciIi-
tating trade, a knowledge Of the courts and
their proceedings, the execution of process
and sales Of property, and furnishing a vast
amount OF valuable and interesting informa-
ton. And now that we are on the eve of q
great election, on which hangs the destines
Of the country for years, we need every aid
possible, and not single Democratic candle
should be allowed to 90 out


The press as a moral lever is one of such
infinite potency that even the Nashville
blockheads fully appreciate its importance.
And they are seeking, accordingly, with the
skill Of fTstrate rOgues, to build it up In
their own interest. And when they have
done it, if they could fully succeed, it would
be better that a wet blanket was put over
the sun, and that all light should be shut ont
by the edicto deposit. The information
they give may then suit slaves, but it will
be food on which men cannot live freemen.
The Radical interest in this matter is three
tolds that Of rewarding men fit only to be
tools Of a Tyranny, of Furnishing its most
effective antagonists, and of hiding the truth
and their own infamies from the public
scrutiny. The Conservative interest is also
threefold, that of jus tice TO friends and de-
tenders, Of protecting the true interests Of
the whole people In possessing a full knowl-
edge of what concerns them at home, and of
defending the great principle of the patriot
the Constitution and true liberty


1t Is, therefore, a plain duty and wise di-
rectiOn that the Conservative Democratic
press Of the South should be sustained, even
in a time of common distress, and if need
be at heavy sacrifices We trust that our
country friends will not falter in this matter,
and leave the victory to the despot It is
the despot's death blow to liberty, If it sue
ceeds. 1t must not be ignored as an unim-
portant consideration. 1t is one of nagni-
tude so great that he who has but his own
hands and his plow should give or promise
each his mite with the energy and resolution
of a patriot who, resolved TO be free, will
sTare no exertiOn requisite to the protection
Of the means to freedom. When the enemy
has suppressed the country press, and sub
stituted his OWl given to lying, a pail of
darkness viii enshroud this land, and we
shall indeed be no more a free, intelligent
and governing people.


These thoughts are suggested by reading
in several of our country exchanges com
| plants that they are but poorly supported


and the indications that many may have tc
/ succumb. Let every noble, whole-souled
! and generous Conservative and DemOcrat
| swear to sustain against the instruments o.
! tyranny the free press of his State sThs
| following we take from the valuable weekly
! the MorrlstOwn Glenn Gazette Let no


such appeals go unheeded:


+. If our people-the white men Of Ten


nessee, we mean-are not wholly unmindfu


Of their interest and duties, they will civ


an immediate and liberal support to thei


newspaper presses. The Radical Legisla


ture has done all in its power to crush on


Conservative papers, by forbidding the pub


lcation of all legal advertising In any excep


a few papers Of their own stamp, whic


have no circulation in the country, ez


cept among their own bummers and caFpe
bag men" It's effect has been already


stop the issue of one capital paDer at Wiz


chester, and we hear of others which wi


suspend unless they are better backed b


their people. And it VIII be so all over tn


State unless our white people open the
purses, and give them paying support Ol
upon the narrow stinginess Of withholdiu
the paltTy sum Of two OF three dollars fro
r the maintenance OF q county paper. 1t Is
parsimOuy which is shameful in the extrem


and will return and plague the one who


gully of 1t. There Is not a man in Il
= country but is able to pay for a years su
scrIptIon to his county paper, and when tn
g class come whining around us. pleadir
/ poverty as reason for not taking q 2
S per, and =" wind up their tune by begin
5 Us for an old exchange" we put him dow
l. as man who would not hesitate to stint Il
/ "rations of his wife and children V
t say to our people, in all seriousness, thel
!. IS great danger TO the permanency of c
y Conservative press in Tennessee, which e
t only be averted by their active support.
d the press is worth anything to a people It
o worthy Of a liberal backing. We hope IL
$ our friends who feel an interest in {
d course Of the white mans party" v
y take these facts into consideration.


il -@'-"''-'--


e The KeHtuckiaa, printed at Paducah,