254 Political Journals. 



effects, the conductors of public prints ought to be 

 men of talents, learning, and virtue. Under the 

 guidance of such characters, every Gazette would 

 be a source of moral and political instruction, and, 

 of course, a public blessing. 



On the other hand, when an instrument so po- 

 tent is committed to the weak, the ignorant, and 

 the vicious, the most baneful consequences must 

 be anticipated. When men of small talents, of lit- 

 tle information, and of less virtue, undertake to be 

 (as the editors of public gazettes, however con- 

 temptible their character, may in a degree be con- 

 sidered) the directors of public opinion, what must 

 be the result? We may expect to see the frivoli- 

 ties of weakness, the errors and malignity of pre- 

 judice, the misrepresentations of party zeal, the 

 most corrupt doctrines in politics and morals, 

 the lacerations of private character, and the pol- 

 luting language of obscenity and impiety, daily 

 issuing from the press, poisoning the principles, 

 and disturbing the repose of society ; giving to the 

 natural and salutary collisions of parties the most 

 brutal violence and ferocity; and, at length, con- 

 suming the best feelings and noblest charities of 

 life, in the flame of civil discord. 



In the former part of the eighteenth century, 

 talents and learning, at least, if not virtue, were 

 thought necessary in the conductors of political 

 journals. Few ventured to intrude into this ar- 

 duous office, but those who had some claims to li- 

 terature. Towards the close of the century, how- 

 ever, persons of less character, and of humbler qua- 

 lifications, began, without scruple, toundertake the 



e This has not been, generally, so much the case in America as in 

 Europe. From the earliest period too many of our Gazettes have been 

 in the hands of persons who were destitute both of talents and literature. 

 But in later times, the number of editors who fall under this description 

 i^s become even greater than formerly. 



