THE AMERICAN PRESS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3482, 4 September 1882, Page 4

THE AMERICAN PRESS.

An American correspondent of tbe Nelson Colonist writes to that paper as follows respecting American newspapers : —' The Americans are extremely liberal in their support of newspapers. Each little township has its paper, and all the business people patronise them freely. Tbe borrowing and exchanging of papers does not go on to the extent in this country as in many others. Each head of a family particularly appears to consider it his or her duty to subscribe to a local newspaper. The newspaper proprietors prove, by their surprising enterprise, that the support accorded them is not thrown away. Here, the Niagara Falls Gazette, a paper about the size of the Nelson Colonist, is published daily during the months of June, July, August, and September, the busy season, and every week during the remainder of the year. The people are not so thin-skinned about libel, and consequently the criticisms of the Press on the actions of public men and public measures are much more lively, and sparkle with much more sarcasm than the editorials in our colonial papers. There is no mistake about it, the Press has great freedom in this country, and consequently great abuses, jobbery, and frauds, are brought to light, and are exposed without any mercy. The Americans have learnt that the best and truest friend and safeguard to the people's rights and privileges is a free Press. If a newspaper proprietor be mulcted in damages and costs for a libel, it is very rare he has to pay one cent himself. The hat is passed round, and not infrequently enough is collected to pay all Court demands and to allow a presentation to be made to the dsfendant ill the case.'