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468 pioneer of the forest. Therefore, I regard the Press, in the hands of the negro, as one of the most potent levers in assisting in the total destruction of American slavery, that existed in the ante-bellum days, which is the greatest achievement, to my mind, accomplished in the history of our country, and fully answers the second question.

At present, I do not think the Press has the proper support that it should have from our people. This is a question that has many attributable causes, if one is allowed to judge from the environments of special sections of the country where such periodicals are issued. Of course we must speak of this matter in a general or national sense. As a rule, our people are poor, earning a precarious livelihood, which demands the last penny to meet the necessities of their families. We are not yet educated to that spirit of appreciation we should possess for those who are struggling to perfect themselves in journalism. The great mass of our people do not look upon our Press as educators, or even truthful reporters or delineators of the live issues of the day. Most of our papers are issued weekly, generally containing news read in the daily Press, and many things are found in them foreign to a well-conducted newspaper, which some denominate gossip; and again, there is a demand for light reading matter to the exclusion of all other. How much foundation there is for these reasons, all of which I have heard mentioned, I leave for others to decide. My opinion is this, and it is given frankly, without reference to any particular person or paper:

First: We do not yet possess a paper that we can call a national organ; if we did, it would demand national support.

Secondly: Most of our editors are comparatively young men, who have lately entered the field of journalism, often without the experience demanded, which, before they gain, their efforts are of that kind that alienate rather than draw. Although doing their best, they find themselves in debt, and