Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-03-15

parsiies You c'osely III your daily waiks.fs aftI
Observes ' and solves ~ every word and VI
iror. 'ine to time be roughly scribtles thcsc, +.
For his "a cnento. and for your comment.
The PRINTER and the general charac-
terisiic OF his craft, will be the object of the
present number of these sketches.
The printer--thcre he stands at his case
ills eyes are fixed on his copy, while his
fingers, obcdicnt to his will, collect the let.
tiers from their various boxes, and place
them together so as to form words, sen
tences,-comple articles of news, politics
or literature. The musician 10 the piano
can hardly compete with the printer in the
rapidly and precision OF his digital motion
like the pianist who plays with his music
book and instrument before him, the prin-
ter secs and comprehends at ,glanco, the.
ever varying result his fingers u,ustt rodtice;
and does not hesitate a moment 10 perform
The accessory action, with the rapidly OF
lightning. Like notes from the instrument,
every letter, every pause, every stop is call
ed forth, in Its proper place, ill a complete
ensemble is formed, which the memory can
treasure up, and which the mind can con.
ceive and digest. But how different are
the final effects produced in these two in.
stances! The musician creates a series OF
melodious and harmonious sounds, which
pleascs the ear for a moment and die away;
his feelings, gay or sad, Responding or
enthusiastic, mild or violent, arc excited for
a moment: but the charm soon ceases; and
nought, but the recollection of past pleasure
or pain remains upon the mind. But The
printers labor bears everlasting fruits-he
spreads before mankind the arcana of know
ledge, and works with the laboratory Of rea-
son--he sends messengers to every one of
the human family, he invokos all men, TO
behold the beauties of truth, and seek to
make the mass of mankind conscious of
those mmuiablc rights with which man is
invested, at his birth, by nature and by ma
lures God. The printer has been since
the 18th century, the faithful and most ac-
tive auxiliary Of learning. The day the
printer first struck off sheet from rough
block of types-from that day we may date
the universal spread of knowledge, and the
gradual disfranchisemcnt of mankind from
the bonds Of ignorance, superstition and OPP
preston. From that day has man gradual.
ly advanced to the general enjoyment of
free, enlightened and republican institutions
from that day, royalty and its concomi-
tants began to decay, and fair liberty TO
grow in their place.
might continue TO show, in detail the
correctness of the general outline have
drawn but the immense benefits which the
art of printing has conferred upon man.
kind have been described bvabler and moro
eloquent pens than mine. Let me present
a single hypothesis Suppose that the
great pro.cctress, and teachers Of all arts
and sciences--suppose that the art of print
ing had never been discovcred--at what q
stage of progress would we now find natural
philosophy, astronomy, mechanics, navga-
ton and many arts which conduce so eflec-
mankind-wherc would now be those liber.
ties we hold so dear!-Yet in the womb of
futurity. The discoveries of Newton
would have been the treasure Of an exclu-
siye few. Watt and Fulton would perhaps
have never learned the first principle of
northumberland Franklin might have never
read book, nor published single principle
tending 20 the Independence Of his country.
Ancient Greece and Rome certainly mum.
bcred some great and wise men; but be.
! yond the circle in which these learned men
moved, how few received glimpse Of
science? how few ever learned TO read? and
how difficult it was to obtain Instructions or
books? Now, through the agency of print
ing, our means of acquiring knowledge is
unlimited, and its dissemination is univer-
sal. The consequence is, that greater
number labored to unravel and make useful
the secrets of nature and the progress Of
mankind towards perfection is thousand
times more rapid.
The printer as an individual, comes di-
| rectly under the constant influences of the
instructive and liberal art he Processes
| The printer reads more md possesses more
varied and general Information, than the
| theologian, lawyer or ayowed philosopher.
| 1t is the printers trade to read constantly
day after day--during his whole life--he
earns his daily bread by reading, aye, and
carefully, for he must follow and put the
words he read, letter by ettcr-hc must
dwell awhile upon every sentence. Does
the merchant know the price of cotton and
other goods in distant countriesl the intel.
ligence is perused by q printer before the
merchant touches it. Docs the politicians
discuss the affairs Of nations!--he owes his
knowledge to the printer who is always
ahead of HIM in point of Information. Does
the physician study the work of some pro.
found Esculapiusl--let him look at the title
page, and he will see that he owes the work
to printer who has read it over and over
TO see that not letter is wanted, not COM
ma out of place. The same may be said
of the lawyer, tho minister, and the scien.
tfic mechanic. The printer stands at the
door of all their learning and holds the keys
which open it. ot
The printer is great traveller. There
are few printers in the United States who
have not visited every state in tho Union.
They are sure of finding printing office
in every village of note, and consequently
do not hesitate to travel wherever their
fancy may lead them, sure of finding in
their brother typographers, friends ready to
assist them, give them work, or obtain q
situation for them. The printer is consc.
quenlly thoroughly acquainted with his coun.
try, in general and in detail; none can
know it better or speak OF it more correct.
ly. Sometimes he crosses the Atlantic,
and while he prints biographies and books
of travel, he takes occasion to view with hs
own eyes evory part of the old and new