The American Newspaper

The essay treats newspapers as private business enterprises whose primary motive is financial, while acknowledging rare exceptions guided by ideas or causes. It argues that pecuniary independence enables accurate reporting and editorial courage, whereas reliance on party patronage, advertisers, or sensationalism leads to manipulation and decline in quality. The author defends editorial discretion over content and letters, limits subscriber and advertiser rights to paid space, and calls for reliable legal remedies against libel. He also outlines the practical strain of keeping papers affordable while serving readers and resisting advertiser pressure, and criticizes the expectation that newspapers must provide unpaid charitable services.