Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-03-03

G-Tn our Philadelphia exchanges we
find an account OF meeting of the Penn
sylvania State Editorial Union, at Harris.
burgh, on "Wednesday last. Our brethren
Of the quill and scissors turned out hand
somely-thirty-n counties being repre-
resented, and considerably larger number
of papers. Gov. Packer was present, and
delivered an excellent address,. His expe-
rience is another proof that merit will meet
it's reward, even if found in printers
"imp." The Governor, in the course Of
his remarks, said:
Nearly forty years ago entered a print
ing office. when was small boy. went
through all the grades, from the lowest
printers apprentice to that OF the conductor
of public journal. and published paper
f1r some fifteen or twehty years. | GER
,ainly did not distinguish myself as an edi-
tor, as my friend on my left has done, al
though believe he never was a practical
printer.
The resident--I never had that honor,
and an ver, sorry that had not.
Governor Packer-Brother editors: 1t is
the highest honor that has ever been con-
ferred upon me, and look back to it with
pleasure. Ipdssed through the pour boy 5
college, in making my way through life
My first place was that in which many OF
the editurs here present have made their
first appearance. Printers and editors have
a ri?ht to be proud of their art. need not
say to you, my fellow-citizens, that did
not come here to make a speech, because
you will learn that before am through
Printers, ] say, have light to be proud OF
their art. Cast your eyes back for a few
centuries, when there were no printers, and
you " i'll find that the whole world was ell
reloped in darkness, and that to be poor
man was TO he a sere and q slave. Now,
civilization, and the arts and sciences, march
behind The printing press. Wherever you
send your army, the most potent machine
that goes with that army, more formidable
than the cannon, more terrible than the
sword, is the printing press that is carried
| with il; every platoon contains a printer,
and in every battle that has been fought Cu
this contipent, The printers have not only
done their part with the sword, but with the
printing press; and to-day tine printing press
is most feared by the tyrants of this world
for it is the tyrant's foe and the peoples
friend. The printing press is more feared
this day, among the old rotten aristucrBcy
OF Europe than all the armies Of the word.
What i, it that Louis Napoleon most fears
| If TWO hundred thousand resolute soldiers
were to appear in Paris tomorrow, they
would not alarm him half SO much as the
news that two hundred-.luusand news
papers, containing the true record of his
government, had been circulated within the
city CT Paris. Only four hundred years ago
there were no printing presses. Cont-as,
that period with the present, and see the
advancement that has been made in all the
elements of greatness. How do you ac-
count for it. Do you think at this day
there is more patriotlsm-that the country
is more enlightened since The invention
of he printing press! Certainly not. 1t
is that the sheets that come from of the
toiling printing presses enlighten the world
and in enlighteBing the millions, YOU pro.
mote their welfare and comfort.
Mr. President, do not come, as | said
before, 10 make speech. | thank my
brother editors for doing me the honor of
inviting me here--I thank you from the
bottom of my heart. Whatever affects the
printer affects me, for feel myseli printer.
| 81 III
have been myself an editor. again thank
you, gentlemen, for the honor you have
CO Inferred on me.