Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Dilutions, and Historywriter is upon the ground, a witness, often a participator, and always a faithful chronicler.In looking over an old newspaper I see the dawn, rise, growth, and progress of somegreat question which in its day convulsed the state or nation, and in its settlementsecured greater liberties to the mass. We read of these events in history, but it oftenfails to give the causes in detail that operated to bring about these revolutions. Weknow from history that it did occur. We know from the files of old newspapers, howand why, and the causes that led up to its rise and down to its final settlement. Historyis but the aggregated acts of individuals. You gentlemen of the press are the realhistorians of your age. Who in the future will attempt to write the history of thepresent, without consulting the newspapers of today? It is your province and duty torescue from oblivion the acts of the individual and mass, pass them infrequently yourideas, collate and arrange them, and will then label it History."The pioneer press of the state differed from the press of today in just that proportionas other institutions of today differ from those of the past. Then there were norailroads, no telegraphs, telephones, ocean cables and steam presses. Nothing but theslow-going stage coach to carry the news. The news from Washington was often threeweeks in reaching the west, and from New York and seaboard cities, from four to sixweeks. News from Europe was five months old. It is said that the battle of Waterloowas fought and won. Napoleon sent into exile, and the recollection of that great eventhad begun to fade from the memories of the inhabitants of the old world, before thenews reached the great west. News was scarce, the country sparsely settled and nocountry correspondent at every cross road. Paragraphing was unknown and 'PersonalMention' was never thought of. There was but little money in the west and the editorseemed to get the least of it. Behold the present. How great the change. The editor wasthen the publisher, compositor, pressman and devil. He frequently called to his aid somelawyer, who assisted him in writing the heavy editorials. Indeed, it was supposed fiftyyears ago, that none but lawyers and ministers could wield the editorial pen, consequentlytheir services were in demand. This delusion resulted in heavy, ponderouseditorials, columns in length, which treated of every conceivable subject, abstruse andotherwise, and which often interested the writer but little and reader less. The ministryof the olden time was a fruitful source of copy. Articles emanating from that sourcewere read by two classes—the very devout members of the minister's particular church,and the disputants of a rival church. When two rival ministers got tangled up in areligious controversy, the copy hook was full to overflowing. And yet, strange as it mayappear, I have never heard it said or claimed that these religious discussions were productiveof any great amount of piety in the offices through which they passed. The riseand progress of newspapers are governed by the law of supply and demand, very muchlike all other industries. Great excitement and discussion of moral, religious or politicalquestions, adds more newspapers to the world. It is the shortest and most direct routeover which intelligence travels to the people. There are marked epochs in the historyof every state or nation. Everyone notes great activity and growth in journalism."Civilization came to the west from the east and south and with it came theprinting press. The first newspaper established west of the Allegheny mountains was atCincinnati in 1793. Its founder was William Maxwell. It was called the Centinel ofthe Northwest Territories. The first issue was printed November 9, 1793. In 1796Edmund Freeman purchased the paper and called it Freeman's Journal."The first newspaper published in the territory of Indiana, was founded by ElihuStout, at Vincennes, July 4, 1S04. The material was brought from Kentucky on jackmules. It was called the Western Sun and General Advertizer. The paper has had acontinuous existence and is now known as the Western Sun. The second paper estabn