The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-02-01
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA. FEBRUARY 1855.

the liberty he toIed for. and the discoveries
that have made his fame as immortal Us those
, skies which his genius enabled him to read,
and as those electric fires which he deprived
g of terror, and prepared for the future dscov-
erer to apply to the uses of mankind. Am
not justified, therefore, when | speak OF this
rare individuality as an eloquent encourage
ment TO the printers of the present day-and
not to them alone, but to all that class OF
young men, who look to this country as the
field where Energy, Integrity, Perseverance
!, and Patriotism, are the bright oracles that
promise and ensure success? We'll may the
people of the old world turn to the antiquated
and dustry records of European history, and
toll through pages stained with blood and
crime, to find one such example for their
children; and we'll may they look forward,
with beating hearts aid hhin1iing eyes, " that
Country which Franklin aided to build up as
the grand threatre where mingiing races, and
creeds, and ideas, are at last to harmonlze III
the vindication and establishment of the truth
that man is capable of selEgovernment!
The American Printing Press has not only
been fruitful of advantages because of its re-
lations to Commerce, to religion, and to good
government-not alone in the general justice
of its views, and in its fearless assertions of
broad and powerful truths, but because at edu-
Gates class of men, ,oho, IN their time, may
be called upon to educate and direct public
opinion In the printing Office the mind in
stinctively grasps the great thoughts which
the hand puts into solid shape. The hours
passed swiftly and sweetly as Benjamin
franklin, printer" gathered his store of
knowledge for his daily task, feeding his
mind and his body at the same time. Thous-
ands are now alive fired with the same emo
tions; and. who knows. marching forward to
the same dazzling destiny! But how widely
different is the condition of the 'printer boy"
now, compared with the days when Franklin
struggled along the rugged path of his early
trials! The education of the masses is at
once the iuty aud the glory of our Country.
New fields of enterprise are discovered with
marvellous rapidity, new sources Of informa-
ton opened for the common welfare, our ter
rtory advances upon the receding footsteps
of barbaric rule and decaying customs, our
flag, like the Roman Eagle, flies in the utter
most quarters of the earth, and our name
penetrates into those regions where even. the
sun himself refuses to shine for half the year.
But the Press-the Press is everywhere! 1t
travels with our armies and unfurls itself
simultaneously with our flag. While the
forest falls before the axe of the pioneer pro-
: gress and even before population has found
spot whereon to lay its weary head, the
Press proclaims the opinions of the day, and
fights the battles of truth, even as man con-
tends against the obatacles of nature. In the
crowded City, in the quiet village, on the
broad prairie "for which the speech of Eng
land has no name," on the deck of the gal
liant ship, which cleaves strange seas and
floats to undiscovered climes, in the cottage
and the palace, you will find the American
press 1t is not too cheap to be luxury TO
the rich, nor too dear to be burden to the
poor 1t speaks to distant friends at the same
: day and almost at the same moment 1t fills
the public mind with the elements of con-
, scious independence and power. 1t revives
the public spirit, and brghtens the pathway
to honor and to fame But gentlemen, while
these things are so, let us not forget the start
: ling responsibilities devolved upon the future
conductors of the American press. To be e.
quail to these is to be equal to most try
ing and exacting vocation. Excuse me iol
: an allusion to my own humble experience
: | know how deficient am in many of the at
+. tributes of the editorial profession: for to me
the printing Office and the worlds battle have
been the only schools. Yet know also the
trials and the tribula;ons that attend upon 1t
. There is much however, in Enthusiasm, Ap
: plication, and Perseverance-and; above all
L in the fearless faith which disaster canno
!, subdue, nor slander overcome-and he wh'
makes these his guiding stars cannot readIl!
G be driven from his course. But l have al
|. ready said more than enough.
When the death of Benjamin Franklin wa
announced in the French National Assembl
. in June, 1890, the President of that grave as
! semblage, spoke of the departed Printer Il
: terms historical and memorable eloquence.-
e borrow his language, in the following sen
= timent, which you will please re2d 10 you
n assembled company:
n BENJAMIN Franklin :-"Great men are the
h fathers of universal humanity; their loss ougf
;. to be felt as common misfortune by all IN
!. tribes of the great human family; and 1t be
~ longs to a nation still affected by all the ser
&c timents which accompany the achievement
their liberty, and which owes its enfranchlst
r. ment essentially to the progress of the publ
20 reason, to be the first to give the example
IUc Ulldl VI pSOPiN w @'4N', -
benefactors."
Your friend and fellow w-craftsman.
re J. w. FORNEY.
N Col. w. Hutter, and others of the Con
or mittee of Invitation, for the Printers
n. Easton, Pa.
IN The President proposed three cheei
10 for Col. JOHN f. FoRNEY, which W.
- heartily responded to by the company
r. Music by the band; after which the reat
il ing of the regular toasts was resumed
m
III Our Republica7e institutions. MI
II. cheers.)
"a Ou Country: With free Press, fre
oS oS dom of Speech, and freedom to worsh
q. God. May these ever abide with her.
D. (Threc cheers.)
ch VII
er- The Constitution b1rtOtate. (Six cheers
nd VIII
PENNSYLVANIA: Rich in iron, coal, al
,e '.e agricultural wealth; advanced in the m
" obon;o orts and manufactures. she Is nc