The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-02-09
WASHINGTON, Jan. ;, l85:

WAsHINGToN, Jan. >, 1890
Gentlemen 1t would give ne sincere plea
sure TO meet YOU on the 18th OF January, but
am compelled to remain at my post IN Wash
ington. This must be my excuse for declining
your warm aud pressing invitation.
There is much in the career Of Benjamin
Franklin (whosp birthday you propose 10 com
memoratel which may be contemplated with
| interest.
Who can faithfully describe his character,
his progress, and the trophies of his experience!
In his high individuality have an example
eloquent Of encouragement to all ages and TO all
men. IIe educated himself. In early life he
disclosed those elements which, ripening after
wards, gave to the world statesman, natriat,
a sage He began his struggle with fortune
/ penniless and poor, and subsequently baiiled The
/ ntrigues of the English Court, and aroused all
L France to that appreciation al himself and his
! cause which made bin the embodiment OF the
/ great American idea that finally electrified man
! kind, and made us an independent nation.
/ RecoIect that all this occurred before science
/ had covered our Continent with hlessings-be-
! fore the application ofSteam as propelllng pow
pr-whilp our communities We're few and fee
/ bIe-whie oppression hung like a midnight
/ pail upon our horGerS-while the savage roam
1 ed the master of our then limited frontiers, and
| even carried his barbarc warfare into our infant
| SettIements-and long before Education had be-
1 come q common adyantagp-briore the printing
rress had become a necessity-even in advance
I OF the liberty he toied for, and the discoveries
that have made his fame as immortal as those
/ skies which his genius enabled him 10 read
and those electric fires which he deprived OF
terror, and prepared for the future dlscoverer
to apply 10 the uses of mankind. Am | not
/ justified, therefore, when | speak of this rare
| individuality as an eloquent encouragement to
the printers OF the present day--and not TO
them alone, bnt to all that class OF young men,
| who look to this country as the field where En-
prgv, Integrity, Perseverance and Patriotism,
are the bright oracles that promise and ensure
success Well may the people Of the old
world turn to the antquated and dusty records
of European history, and toll through pages
stained with blood ard crime, to find one such
example for their children and we'll may they
look forward with beating hearts and kiodIng
eyes, TO that Country which Franklin aided to
build up, as the grand theatre where mingliug
races, and creedS, and idrQS, are at least 10 bar
monize in the vindication and establishment
ofthe truth that man is capable Of seiI-goveIn-
nent.
The American Printing Press has not only
been fruitful of advantages because Of lis re.la-
tions 10 commerce, to religion. and to good gov
ernment alone in the general Justice OF its
views and in its fearless assertions of broad and
powerful truths, but bccoase it educafes class
of men, ,rho, IN their time, may be c1i{ed aPon
to eaucafe and direct pu6fc opinion. In the
printing office the mind instinctively grasPs the
great thoughts which the hand puts into solid
shape. The hours passed swiftly and sweetly
as sBrniamin Franklin, printer" gathered his
store of knowledge for his daily 'ask, frpdIHg
his mind and his body at the same time. Thou
sands are now alive fired with the Sanse emo
tons; and, who knows, marching forward to
the same dazzling destiny But how widely
different is the condition Of the 'Fprnter 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 duty and the glory of our Country. New
fields OF enter prize are discovered with marvel
5 louS rapidity, new sources of information open
, ed for the common welfare, our territory ad-
vances upon the Teceding footsteps of barbaric
rule and decaying customs, our flag, like the
Roman eagle, flies in the uttermost quarters oi
the earth, and our name prnetrateS into those
, regions where even the sun himself refuses 10
shine for half the year. But the Press-the
, press is everywhere IT travels with our ar
mics, and unfurlS itself simultaneously with
: our flag. while the forest falls before the axe
} Of the pioneer progress, and even before popu-
( lation has found spot whereon 10 av its weary
) head, the Press procl2ims tie opinions of the
day, and fights the battles of truth, even as
, man contends against the Obstacles Of nature
f In the crowded city, in the quiet village, on
? the broad prarie 'Eior which the speech of Eng
! land has 10 name," on the deck Of the gallant
ship, which clpaves strange seas and floats to
undiscovered cIimes, in the cottage and the pal
I ace, YOU will find the American Press. IT is
not too cheap TO be luxury TO the rich. nor
too dear to he burden TO the poor. it speak.
to distant friends at the same day and almost al
the same moment. II fills the public mind
with the elements Of conscious independence
and power. 1t revives the public spirit, and
, brightens the pathway 10 honor and 10 fame
But, gentlemen, whifp these things are so, let
US not forget the startling responsibilities de-
volyed upon the future conductors ofthe Amer
ican press. To be- equal to these is TO be equal
to a most trying aad exacting vocation. EX-
cuse M for an alnsion to my own humble ex-
pprience know how deficient | am in many
Of the attributes 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 tribulations that attend upon
, 1t. There is much however, IN Enthusiasm,
: Application, and Perseverancp-and above all
in the fearless faith which disaster cannot subdue
f nor SANDER overcome-and he who make these
his guiding stars cannot readily be driven from
his course. But | have already said more than
. enough
When the death of BENJAMIN Franklin was