The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-06-14
A Ciergymam's view of the Press

Rev-Dr Fuller,of Baltimore, at the
meeting of the American Tract Socie-
ty at New York, lately, spoke as fol
lows
| have no sympathy with those who
give The pulpit precedence over the
press? An ounce of lead moulded into
a bullet, and put into a Minnie rifle,
with few grains of powder beneath
it, will 60 two miles and do its errand
in an efficient manner, if it encounter
no obstacles. But that ounce of lead
made into types, and put into one OF
Hoes lightning printing presses, will
go thousands of miles and do its errand
effectively, not on one man merely, but
on millions, and that though oceans.
mountains and rivers may intervene.
A steam printing press! Did you
ever 60 down in one of the rooms
beneath your sidewalks here and watch
the monster? Why, my friends, I feel
something like awe in looking at them.
l feel ike taking off my hat at the huge
machine. Laughter. 1t seems to me
to be living thing-one of Ezekiel's
living creatures with the head of man
and the sound of many waters, and the
living eye in the wheel. 1t asks no
nourishment, koows no WEAKNESS, How
it strips itself to it's work and tolls on
with strength that mocks to scorn!the
might Of giant, and with clamor as
if it W aid shiver to pieces every sub
stance within its grasp.
And yet, with a delicacy and pre-
cision unattainable by human muscles
it receives fabric so delicate that a
rude toch would rend it, and imprints
upon Is in the twinkle of the eye that
which costs hours to compose. 1t
filings off sheet after sheet to entertain.
instruct. regenerate and bless the earth.
none Of us have yet begun to appreciate
the influence OF the press as an agent
for the diffusion of knowledge, whether
it be in volumes, pamphlets, or above
all, through the daily newspaper, that
moral institution that has revolutionized
not only the literary, but the communi
ty and political world.
If you can read the Constitution, YOU
will remember there are only two es
tates in Congress-the Senate and
House Of Representatives but a third
has sprung up, occupying during the
seaso. of Congress, seat higher thar
that occupied by the Senators and rep
resengatives themselves, and which
continues in session long after Con
gress adjourns, everywhere and al
times. 1t is composed of the Repre-
sentatives of the press. There are
some of them down below here-(point.
ing ID the reporters)-making my
speech for an hour. Sometimes they
make one much better than l do my
SELF = which | have been surprised
but sometimes they clip it worse thar
their bowels. They would fashion pub
lie sentiment; and at this day, when the
worla is as never before, under the in
fuen of public opinion, they yield &
power ISL transcending Both of the con
stitutional bodies combined.
wish | had time to speak to you Of
the power with which the press has in
vested a public speaker. From child
hood we have been in the habit of de
claiming about ancient oratory. What
could the ancient orator do? Athens
was lutte place of 1900 inhabitants
Demosthenes ascends the rostrum, and
pronounces one of those Orations which
[ can only call logic set on fire. Yet
how many has he reached? Eight OF
ten thosand people at the tarthest.
There were no reporters and no tele
graphs. How different now! While
some of you have seen man get mp il
Congress or in Parliament, and speak tc
the presence Of fifty or sixty sleepy, PEG
| pie, and yet uttering words which next
day shook the natlons.-He has ad
dressed million in a few hours.
But, my friends, | need not tell you
that the enemies Of Christ have over
flowed this medium against us. Que
most respectable booksellers are cater
ing to the disease appetites of the pub
lie for dangerous novels, and the press
groans in the production of works open
y and insidiously assailing the Gospel
Of Christ | say, therefore, that it would
be Delinquency on our part if we die
not employ the same powerful agent
for the dissemination of truth as the
antidoto to this wide spread poison"
----S-o -