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KNOW THEN THYSELF, PRESUME NOT GOD TO SCAN ! THE PROPER STUDY OF MANKIND IS MAN . . . . . . . . Pope. NO. L __________________ PALMYRA, W AYNE CO .— w ED N E S D A Y , SE P T E M B E R 2 , 1829. ____ VOL. I. TRINTED AND PUBLISHED W e a k ly BY O B ADI AH D O G B E R R Y , JU N . Editor and Proprietor , At his “ B o w e r ” on W i n t e r G r e e n H i l l , to whom communications mubt be addressed, through the Post Office. TO T H E PU B L IC . No part of the habitable earth is better sup plied with the means o f information and men tal improvement, than our own dear country. The multiplicatoin of books and newspapers, can only be equalled by the fecundity of the in sect tribe, under the plastic power of a refulgent aun after the vernal equinox; and few there are at this day of civil as well as religious liberty, who have not the means (provided they possess the inclination) o f procuring at a cheap rate, useful know ledge. But it cannot be denied that there exists a want of candour and independence in most of our public journals, however they may, in many instances, possess ability and talent, they are nevertheless the engines of party and are frequently tendered the supple tools of fac tion, whereby truth is often sacrificed at the shrine of Dome political Idol, while modest merit retires confounded, and spotless inno cence is trampled in the dust. It is true that w® live under a government of tows; yet those laws, so admirably calculated to catch and[punish the smaller fry, often allows offenders of a larger growth, either to tear or slip through its meshes ; besides tlfere are ma ny offences against the well-being of the com munity, which, from their undefinable charac ter, are not strictly cognizable in a court of justice ; there are also many vices, not to say crimes, of the higer order, and whose effects are extremely injurious in their consequences, to sound morality, which come within the per* view of the above definition, and are often more pernicious in their tendencies, than all the petit larcenies which give such infinite trouble to our inferiour courts of justice. Courts of con science, so much revered by our sturdy ances tors, are unknown to the genius of our free con stitution, and as its principles never had much root in the human heart, its power and influence has at this day become obsolete. In our hum ble opinion, however, there is yet a remedy for the evils so generally complained of, and it is to the bar o f public opinion that we shall appeal for the redress of the numberless infractions of the rights and privileges of a much injured community. The pulpit may thunder anathe mas against the “ hydra-headed monster’* de nominated Intemperance, as if it concentrated all the evils our frail natures are subject t o ; while on the other hand, the gate$ of paradise are almost gratuitously opened to all such as shall piotisly give ther substance into the “Lord’s treasury,” to be diawn from thence by its agents, who, after prudtvtly satisfying their own wants, appropriate the residue to the edu- tion of “ poor and pious” young>men, and the running of ‘‘Pioneer Stages,” while the real poor and needy o f our cities and villages are allowed to perish for lack of sustenance. Still the evil remains: superstition and bigotry, in the company of sordid avarice, rolling in the lap of luxury, parade our streets at noon-day, and haughtily demand from the most griping poverty, its scanty pittance; for the sole purpose of increasing an influenc<**already too powerful for the security of our liberties. Impressed with the importance of the subject, and with a strict regard to the public morals, “ T h e R e f l e c t o r , ” with all its imperfections, will be ushered into this “ wicked world,” under many disadvantages—as its friends can only be sought for amongst the more liberal and virtuous part of community, (in times like these,) numbers must of course be few, while the armies of the aliens will stand in countless myriads. We shall however, arm ourselves in the simple habiliaments of the young and hum ble shepherd of Israel, and combat most man fully, not only the champion but the whole host of the uncircumcised, displaying aloft the sacred banner of all-powerful truth, nothing doubting that in the end we shall come off victorious.— Morality and vital piety we shall always rever ence, while bigotry, hypocricy, and fanaticism will receive no quarter ot our hands, and we shall ever glory in lifting the veil, tearing off the mantle, and stripping the cloak from the vain pretender, and hold him up to public ridi- culc for the finger of scorn to point at, so that in due time, (within our sphere,) no rogue shall go “ unwhipped of justice,” as our business will generally lay with the transgressors, who have in some way em oiled themselves under the wide spread banners of vice and folly. The G o o d , (should any such be found in these de generate days,) must expect little commenda tion—Virtue is its own reward, while on the other hand, Vice also receives its wages, and will require much of our attention to mete them out as delinquents may severally deserve.— Nor will our labours in the cause of truth be exclusively confined to the narrow precincts of our own flourishing village, which ere long is to form a focus, from which diverging rays will be emitted over a wide expanse—and we most cordially invite the friends of r e f o b m in the neighbouring v i l l a g e s to aid us in the cause, and assist us with their talents, by giving us early tidings of such passing events as may re quire our chastening hand. The innocent will have nothing to fear, even should they, through mistake, inadvertence, or malice, bccome con spicuous; they will reflect that it is only “the galled jade that winces,” besides, we shall al ways be us ready to redress a grievance of that description as any other, and our columns will always be open for that purpose. In politics we belong to no particular sect or party, and shall never interfere, any further than may (at the time) suit our own whim 01 * fancy ; and we shall, atfcL'nll times, assume the prerogative of taking under our fatherly care and protection, any political demagogue, with out distinction, who from turpitude, may re quire chastisement. The cause of the widow and fatherless will claim and receive our peculiar care and atten tion— * ‘Who beg the gods to turn blind fortune’s wheel, To raise the wretched and pull down the great.” The arts and sciences, together with all use ful knowledge, shall receive our feeble aid in their support and promulgation. Biographical notices and copious extracts from rare history shall find a place in our columns. The Poets’ Corner will not be neglected. And finally, if we cannot claim any thing new “ under the sun” we shall endavour by industry and perseverance, to claim a share of patronage from a liberal public. M ISCELLANEOUS. M a x im s. — He who keeps his pockets well filled with small change can never be with out------ -money. He who marries for riches alone, without any genuine affection, is sure to get hims&U into ------ matrimony.
