The semi-weekly mountain Democrat. (Placerville, El Dorado Co. [Calif.]) 1860-1860, 1860-08-25

The address Of Samnel Williams, ES1,
Of the Utica Hsuhi. before the meeting
Of the Editorial Convention at Buffalo,
was an eloquent production. His subject
was the Newspaper. lie said:
best minds and Sturdic>t hearts Of the age,
Through it flows the deepest, widest,
purcSt currents ofmcntal life. In it every
noble enterprise finds its sturdicst cham
pion and most faithful 1ly Among It's
contributors are found at once the most
giftr'l and most pure men Of the day.
PrCmicrs aud members Of Parliament
historians. novelsts and poets whoever
has achieved the most brilliant fame
whoever has attained the most day
heights of glory, is proud to rank himself
among its contributors. Whether Glad.
stone, varying the labors of the Chanccl.
lorship Of the EAchcqucr, by writing lead.
crs for the .SttHr'0y Rcrien Napoleon
the Third airing his imperial wit in the
.N""ifeur-Cobdcn charging at the head
Of statistical squadron through the London
EronomiSt-Elward Everett disputing the
palm with the "Gunmakcr of Moscow, v
in Banncr'S Lciq(r-IIildrcth abandoning
the pursuit Of historic fame for subor
linatc post in the staff of the Tribune -
each anu all pay eloquent tribute to the
dignity of new elnpoli ial labor. From the
most diSrcputablc, journalism has become
the most honorable Of the professions. To
stand at the head Of an influential paper
To speak daily to thousands of ears, eager
to catch the lantcst murmur Of your voice
to represent in yourselves, or what is bet
ter, tolcad the iutclliscntpubic sentiment
of the community in which YOU reside {,
to be an authority and an oracle with those
around YOU; to feel that the rich harvest
of intelligence with smiles ON every side
is, in some measure, the product of the
seed your brain has Sown-nay well sat
iSfy the most exalted ambition,
Consider. too. the position which the
newspaper holds in society to-day. du
not think ! cXagScratc when say it has
become the controlling agent in our pres.
cnt civilization. lthaS stimulated thought,
qnickcned moral perceptions, and caused
the mighty river oi life to flow with o
healthier current. 1t has become the lead,
cr Of public opinion. ltmoldS the world 5
thoughts as the potter moldS the clay
Mighter than the pnlpit-mi9hticr than
the iorum-mighticr than all the agents
that lead mankind toward 4 nohlcr destiny
the newspaper asserts all the rrcroga'
tivcs Of moral sovereign; it NEEDLES in
evcrythihg-it dictates in cvcrything--it
pronouHees Judgment upon everything
1t sits upon the Judges bench, pleads al
the Bar mounts the witness box, appears
in every case in which the rights Of hu.
nanity arc involved. 1t makes and un.
makes treaties launches the thundcrbolt
of war. or bears the olive branch of peace;
elects Presidents; forms Cabinets; frames
diplomatic notes; settles boundary dis.
putcs; eXcites people to insurrcction, and
drives deSpotS from their thrones"
1t should not be forgotten by any one
that when he aids in the circulation of n
newspaper, he is at the same time doing a
great work toward educating the people
In this view it becomes one of the highest
duties of all persons TO exert themselves
to spread the circulation of newspapers
into every family, that intelligence and vir,
tue may be promoted.