Political Journals. 255 



hi^b task of enlightening the public mind. This 

 remark applies, in some degree, to Europe; but 

 i! applies with particular force to our own country, 

 where every judicious observer must perceive, that 

 too many of our Gazettes are in the hands of per- 

 sons, destitute at once of the urbanity of gen- 

 tle nen, the information of scholars, and the prin- 

 ciples of virtue. To this source, rather than to 

 any peculiar depravity of national character, we 

 may ascribe the faults of American newspapers, 

 which have been pronounced by travellers, the most 

 profligate and scurrilous public prints in the civi- 

 lized world/ 



H the foregoing remarks be just, then the 

 friend of rational freedom, and of social happi- 

 ness; cannot but contemplate with the utmost soli- 

 citude, the future influence of political journals 

 on the welfare of society. As they form one of the 

 great safeguards of free government, so they also 

 form one of its most threatening assailants. And 

 unless public opinion (the best remedy that can be 

 applied) should administer an adequate correction 

 of the growing evil, we may anticipate the arrival 

 of that crisis in which we must yield either to an 

 abridgment of the liberty of the press, or to a dis- 

 ruption of every social bond. 



p These considerations, it is conceived, are abundantly sufficient to ac- 

 count for the disagreeable character of American newspapers, In every 

 country the selfish principle prompts men to defame their personal and 

 political enemies ; and where the supposed provocations to this are numer- 

 ous, and no restraints are imposed on the indulgence of the disposition, an 

 inundation of filth and calumny must be expected. In the United States 

 the frequency of Elections leads to a corresponding frequency of struggle 

 between political parties ; these struggles naturally engender mischievous 

 passions, and every species of coarse invective; and, unhappily, too many 

 of the conductors of our public prints have neither the discernment, the 

 firmness, nor the virtue to reject from their pages the foul ebullitions of 

 prejudice and malice. Had they more diligence, or greater talents, they 

 might render their Gazettes interesting, by filling them with materials of 

 a more instructive and dignified kind ; but wanting these qualifications, 

 they must give such materials, accompanied with such a seasoning, as cir- 

 cumstances furnish. Of what kind these arc no one is ignorant. 



