Page:History of the newspapers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.djvu/31

CHAPTER II. EARLY DEMOCRATIC PAPERS. The journalistic ventures that led from the "Minerva" in 1807 to the "Western Argus" of 1818, when a perma- nent name, paper and policy were established, were similarly followed in the establishing of a Democratic journal. From the "Republican" of the Logans in 1826, came eventually the "Western Star" of 1843, which be- came measureably permanent in name, and certainly so in politics. It was a long and hard struggle, blasting the hopes of many good men, and depleting the purses of all who had anything to do with them in a practical way. Some of the brightest men of the county took part in this evolution of a Democratic paper, but all came to grief, and even in the "Western Star" many long years elapsed before permanency was in view, and then only after many strong men and able writers had failed in their efforts. There were some bright rainds in the roll of the editors of these papers, whose editorials were as merciless as they were able and brilliant. It would be very interest- ing, as well as of historic value, to know more of the life work and characteristics of all these Democratic editors, but we will have to content ourselves with what is given in these pages, as it is all that could be obtained after the most careful inquiry and search.