The Free Press

he dissemination by frequently and regularly printed sheets

separately, though they merge in this: that false ideas are suggested

, of

gs which affect us but which are not within our own

p, the universal means of propa

ill that upon which all reasonable men act, whenever they can, in matters most nearly concerning them) two novel features, both of them exceedingly corrupting. In the first place, it gave to the printed

on this last point. It is litt

sten to the accounts of dozens of men. We rapidly and instinctively differentiate between these accounts according to the char

. But the Press cannot of its nature give a great number of separate testimonies. These would take too long to collect, and would be too expensive to collect. Still less is it able to deliver the weight of each. It, therefore, presents us, even at its best when the testimony is not tainted, no more than one crude affirmation. This one relation is, as I have said, further propagated unanimously and with extreme rapidity. Instead of an organic impression formed at leisur

iation through the Press, it is still

nion with the more force. The idea is presented in a sort of impersonal manner that impresses with peculiar power because it bears a sort of detachment, as though it came from some authority too secure and superior to be question

elect and in some measure able to criticize whatever was presented to it. But though present they had no great force; for the adventure of a newspaper was limited. The older method of obtaining news was still remembe

of news, of his opinions, or those of his clique. There were hundreds of other men who, if they took the pains, had the means to set out a rival account an