Year: 1878

No one of the institutions of this
country has increased in value more rap
idly than the daily newspaper. 1t is some
times said in the way of bare statemebt
of fact. or as matter OF complaint, or as
pointing out the subtle changes in social
and political life, that the daily newspaper
anticipates the discussions in legislative
assemblies, supplements them. occasion
ally directs them And this is so far true
that it may be said that not an argument
has been addressed to Congress. on the
one side or the other of the silver bill.
which had not before been adduced and
illustrated in the papers. And the same
is true substantially of all other questions
and all other deliberative bodies. not ex-
Guiding altogether, either, the discussion Of
theological subjects. The range of debate
is as wide. in the papers, as are the oon-
Germs OF the citizen, or the interests of the
State and nation. As to the knowledge
of subjects and ability Of treatment, the
press may, certainly must, submit to the
judgment of a reading and discerning pub
lie. rH


But this phase of the duty and opportu-
nifty OF the daily paper is not that which
first attracts, and permanently secures
patronage. The daily newspaper must be
a newspaper. SO accustomed are We In
these days to read in the morning the
news of Europe of the day before, and Of
the whole twenty-four hours, In matters
OF Importance, that we forget how recent
ly it is that the telegraph enabled US 70 do
this; and still less do we reflect that inn
mediately upon the success of this scien-
tific art of so communicating, every i'm
portant journal had added to it necessi-
ty as onerOus as 1t was costly, just 90
fast and so far as facilities for obtaining


information are opened up, just so speed
lily and extensively must be the adoption
of them. sru


The daily newspaper must give the lat
est news or die. OF the intenseness OF the
lite within the establishment itself, no
mere recital or statistics would give any
adequate idea. When now and then an
editors epitaph is written, "died of over
work. Il glimpse is given to the reader.
which. suggestive as il is. makes as little
impression upon him as il does upon the
thousands who contribute to the interest,
and usefulness, and manuel and mental
labor necessary to the publication Of
daily paper. "A woman's work is never
DONE" is the wailing proverb; and sad In
some aspects as it is, it is even more appli-
cable and intensive in its relation to the
employees of a newspaper


Nor is this true merely in the same sense
that 1t is true ofs other kinds of business
requiring capital. energy and industry.
There is, in addition to the known
and regular work, that which can
be foreseen and provided for, an
unknown and unforeseeable ele-
ment, which may at any moment
intrude imperativey. A sudden and ter
rible calamity; extraordinary news from
abroad; thousand things may happen,
compelling unusual and exhaustive labor.
AS TO the mere matter OF money, the In
crease of expenditure has been on scale
corresponding to, and going beyond, the
additional space Tor and variety OF matter.
That there are cOmpensations is as true
in this as in all things, and in all spheres
of action, and in all worlds, and as to oil
persons. If the compensation has not
been largely of pecuuiary nature of late
years, taking the press Of the country as
u whole, it has been found In the constant
ly advancing influence OF the press. That
influence is not confined to any one. nor
to circumscribed number of topics.
Whatever either does or should interest
the public, is illustrated in the daily paper.
and that too, in a way to show both sides
OF any question OF consequence, The
educational force of the press is probably
greater than that of all other. agencies
combined, il we except only the public
schools. -Prortdence Journal! ls rnz