Kaneville Bugle began printing in May, 1851, in competition with the Guardian.

The Annals of Iowa
Volume 18 | Number 1 (Summer 1931) pps. 3-11
The First Printing at Council Bluffs
Douglas C. McMurtrie

Recommended Citation:
McMurtrie, Douglas C. "The First Printing at Council Bluffs."The Annals of Iowa 18 (1931), 3-11.
Available at: http://ir.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/vol18/iss1/2

http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5473&context=annals-of-iowa

Frontier Guardian , February 7, 1849, Vol. 1, No. 1.

In a.ssuming the duties of an Editor at this period and under existing
circumstances, in a region remote from the usual eireles of intelligence,
where the facilities for interchange are "few and far between,"
particularly in the winter, when the snows are so deep as they now are,
and have heen sinee the 20tb of November last, the ditficulties and
obstacles that we must, of nece.ssity, contend with, are not a few. In
assuming the duties of Editor, we must also assume the responslhilities
of the same. The press is a powerful engine, for good iir for evil, and
calculated to make a deep and lasting impression u|)on the community
where it is. The actions of botb old and young, male and female, to a
great extent, are directed and controlled by this agent that speaks with
a thousand tongues. A wise bead, a mind that knows not fear, and that
will not be fettered, and a heart stored with "good will to man" should
be the fundamental qualifications of him who is destined, through the
press, to give tone and color to publie sentiment. Feeling our own
2In this and nil other 'luot.itiims from the Frovtîer Gvnrdinii, we follow the
original in its peculiarities of spelling. capitalization, punctuation, and so forth.
deficiency in this respect, it is with n trembling band and a faitering knee
that we step forward to our seat in the Kditurial Cbair.
The matter that flows from our pen will lodge in the Columns of our
sbeet to meet the eyes of tbousands, and pass under the scrutiny of
botb friend and foe. It will be regarded, and justly too, as a facsimile
of our own heart, and will form the basis of that sentence that will be
pronounced upon our bead iit the bar of public opinion. Were this,
however, the only ordeal that our words are subjeet to pass, we should
rest comparatively easy. But there is yet another and higher tribunal
at wbieh all men must appear and be Justified or condemned by the
words wbicb they have s]H)ken. It is, therefore, not without the most
aident wish., and sincere prayer that the words we employ, and thoughts
we record may be the dictation of that Spirit, that is destined to bless
the world, make an end of sin and trinniph gloriously over all things,
that we engage in the arduous lahors that onr station requires us to
perform. Sliould we fail to realize this, in eonseciuence of any momentary
excitement or vexation, we hope to find forgiveness with botb Uod
and man.
Thf principles of our religion will always bave a consi)icuous place
in our columns. And we shall labor with all care and patience to illustrate
and enforce them by every reason and argument that we can
bring to bear on the subject, botb original and borrowed. With us,
this is a matter of conscience and not of speculation. We desire to
discbarge our duty a.^ a faithful wateiiman, and to elear our garments
from the blood of souls. Whritever motlvi' others may ascribe to us for
our course, it matters little to us; but it is highly satisfaetory to know
that our Supreme Ju<lge knows ami understands our motive, and can
appreciate the causes of our action.
We sball spare no pains or lahor to keep up a bealthy moral atmosphere
so far as our words and influence may extent, ever bearing in
mind this noble sentiment: "His religion cannot be far wrong whose
actions are right," and his religion can never save or benefit him whose
aetions are wrong. Still, correct views are more likely to induce just
and proper actions, and when the mind has given birth to a noble
thought or a just jirinciple. it sliould be as euger to adorn it with a
chaste and virtuous life, as the mother is to adorn ber newly born infant
with fabrics of the finest texture.
Being situated upon the extreme borders of civilisation, in a wilderness
country, wbere the means and facilities for improvement in science
and learning are not so available as in many other scetions, it will give
us great satisfaction to aid, hy all laudable means in our power, in an
enterprise so important as that of the education of our youth, it afford
us unwearied pleasure to see the favorite results of some limited
exertions not long since made in favor of education. Two flourishing
scbools in our little town of about eighty scholars each, conducted by
a principal and au assistant in each one, with many others in various
parts of the county that have sprung into being, and may be continued
Ö ANNALS OF
with increased zeal and numbers, by giving to the subject of education
that attention which, we trust, it may he in our power to bestow. On
the rising generation will rest the responsibility of completing the work
which we have begun. How necessary, then, that the juvenile- mind be
fed with food to cause it tn expand, flourish and become qualified, not
only t(» meet, but to remove those obstacles that muy oppose themselves
to their carrying forward t!ie designs of their parents to perfection
and glory. The history of the world has icft this Kiid und mournful
truth on record, iu hold relief, that where education has heen a minor
or secondary consideration, tyranny and oppression bave been the primary
objects. True light and knowledge are most fatal to all the selfish
schemes of worldly policy, and will expose to view every dark and
intricate spot in the science of government.
With political questions it is not our present design to interfere to
any great extent. Still, when duty calls us to raise our voice upon this
subject, we know our constitutional rights and privileges, and we dare
to assert them. It must needs he, however, that offences come; and if
our law makers will take away our rights, or deprive us of tiieir enjoyment,
(which we are unwilling to believe of them,) because we have
conscientiously voted for General Taylor, and if, for the same cause,
they have magnified our faults with a malicious spirit, only surpassed
by that of the tragedy at Carthage Jail in '44, we must submit to it
because we cannot help ourselvt-ü; and in turn, public opinion will
compel them to submit to the disgrace of making us the objects of
their vintlictive displeasure, and sbear the locks of their power like a
Samson was shorn in the lap of Delilah. Generosity extended to an
opponent when in your power, not unfrequently disarms him, and converts
him to be your friend; but oppression, never! We feel to be
content, however, let these matters turn as they may. It is our firm
conviction that all earthly government will soon be laid aside like a
garment that is worn out, and the kingdoms of this world become the
kingdom of our (Jod, and lie alone reign King of nations a.s he now
does King of saints. Why, then, should ¡lliherality exclude a portion
of human beings from behig shielded from a thousand disadvantages
by the waning-folds of worldly power?
It is our intention to spare no pains or lahor to make the Guardian
both interesting and useful to all classes of our citizens, by giving them
the foreign and domestic news, and publishing all matter that may be
offered which we may esteem interesting and beneficial to the community.
The season of emigration wilt .soon open, and outfitting for the mountains
and "gold regions" will SOON commence. Our business men in all
parts of the county would do well to advertise their business and prices,
and if possible, put them so low as to induce new comers to postpone
their purchases till they arrive at the Bluffs. "A nimble sixpence is
better than a slow shilling," and we would gladly encourage the home
trade, if we can do it without doing injustice to the new comer and
emigrant. We are willing that the trade of one part of the county
should succeed and prosper just as well ns that of another, provided
it is honorable and just. Farmers that wish to go west can avail themselves
of the opportunity of advertising their farms and property fur
sale,—cattle, horses, mules, wagons, &c. &c. Corae then with your advertisements
and support the Guurdian! Come one, CDine alll^I.end
us your aid, and in turn the Guardian will sustain you.
It is desired tliat every person who feels interested ¡n the foregning
sentiments and jirincipU-s should become a subseriber to the Guiirdiim.
We shall lahor incessantly to {rive all a word in due season, and we
trust that nont; wiit feel that their mont-y is tbrowu away or lost hy
patrtmizing this sheet; und it is hoped that few are so poor that they
eannot, in some way. pay for the paper and have it to themselves without
being under the disagreeable neeessity of horrowing from their
ncighhors.