Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-17

Mr.. President, Ladies and Prssidsnt:
Every pursuit which man is engaged is
attended with certain resPvIIsiBi1fUIes Hi1u re-
suits, which stamp their impress on society,
in proportion as the actor possesses the
means of making the influence of his words
and actions felt on those around him. Since
the period when mother Eve listened to the
enticing words of the serpent, and father
Adam acted on her suggestions, the contest
between words and actions; for the throne
of supremacy, has been waged with cease
less energy. They are the two universal
agents constantly operating on the mind, in
all the wide range of its duties. Their inAu-
ence, whether operating singly or jointly, is
felt for both good and evil. As all that is
good, and pure, and God-like in society, is
the direct result Of words and actions, so all
that is vile, and impure, and devilish, results
from the same universal agents.
In the early stages Of society, when words
were communicated only from lip to ear, ac-
tions occupied far more commanding posi-
ton in the scale of influence, than at the
present day. Men, and even women, we
have reason to believe, talked then Just as
they do now; but their words then were
heard only by those around them now they
fall upon the ear of thousands, even in dis
tant parts Of the world, and every utterance
thus borne, as it were, on the wings of the
wind, carries with it an influence that tells
for good or evil. Thus it is, that in the pro-
gress of society, through the development OF
art and science, words have obtained the
mastery; and now occupy the throne Of su-
Premacy.
An author whose experience and Observa-
ton entitle his words TO much consideration,
says, "Tremble, ye who publish writing
A paragraph may quench or kindle the ee-
estial spark in a human soul-in myriads
of souls" A somewhat eccentric politician
once remarked to an inquiring novinee in
political science, You have but one thing
to observe to insure success whatever Opin-
ions you may think it prudent to entertain,
put mons of them in writing" Crockett S
/ opinion Of the power of words, and the
trouble they sometimes occasion, was form
/ ed in the school of experience and though
| his advice 70 the young politician would not
| be considered strictly orthodox at the pres
ent day,it serves to illustrate the importance
/ of studying carefully the meaning of words
designed for the public ear, the effects Of
which may be felt by remote generations.-
| The Minister, the Lawyer, the Physician, the
Merchant, the Mechanic, the Teacher Of
| youth and the FILLER Of the Soil, each WELD
an influence peculiar TO his ayOeation,
I which is entirely inseparable from respon-
/ sibilitie5 almost too sacred to be assumed
without serious consideration.
But there is another class Of persons who
occupy a position of greater responsibility.
and whose influence is bounded only by the
limits of civilization. refer to the Con
ductors Of the Public Press-those who furn-
l ish intellectual food for the million for
compared with them, no person exerts g
more commanding influence, in all the
channels through which human intellect
| directs the energies Of man. Hackneyed ai
this theme is, it is nevertheless true, that
few persons fully comprehend the weighty
responsibilities that are inseparably connect
ed with the calling of the public journalist
Blot the Newspapers from the face Of th'
Earth, and darkness deeper than thatwhicl
spread over the valley Of the Nile, woulC
be the pail of an intellectual death. lgno
rance and superstition would again be en-
throned, where now dwell the purest aspira
tions Of the immortal soul.
There is scare hamlet where civilization
has left her footprints, that is destitute o
the omnipresent Newspaper. Go where yol
will, from the palace Of the King to tn
humblest cot in the land, and the Newspa
per is considered as essential to feed the in
tellect as the rarest dainties are to gratif.
the taste, or satisfy the demands of hunger
Like any other necessity of life, the News
paper is often valued by its rarity. In new
| countries, where Uncle Sans slow coacl
passes through the town but once a week
the desire to read the village paper almos
becomes mania; and urgent indeed wOul,
be the call that would cause it to be lai
aside, until its contents had been thorough
Iv treasured in the mind. I once knew
/ young back-wOodsman, who every Wed
neSday, at the sound OF the dinner horT
/ would run full tilt Of have a mile vii
his two brothers, leaving their father to plo
] along at his leisure, for the purpose Of de
terrning who should first read the Nillag
Newspaper and when, as was sometime
the case, the paper failed to come, the disaE
pointment pictured on each countenane
told palmer than words can tell, the prie'