Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-07-10

are regarded as the great educators of
the masses,-it becomes those who con-
troll and direct this influence, to be fully
aware of their responsibilities, and fitted
for their faithful discharge. l say, Sir,
that every man conn ncted With the Press,
no matter how humble the journal over
which he may preside, is in duty bound
to see that his course is such that it will
tend to the advancement of good, and
the overthrow of error. 1t is for the at
/ tainment of this object that this Associa-
ton is now assembled, and I would Incl
dentally remark that these Association,
NAV be made fruitful in good results.
We are here to mingle our experiences
and by free interchange of opinion to
benefit ourselves, elevate the profession,
and thus give added brightness to the
achievements in the newspaper world.
There is no class Of men who have great
err power in controlling the destinies and
shaping the character of society than
newspaper ed ors. I would urge, them
gentlemen, the great necessity of raising
high the standard of our profession. We
can scarcely conceive what it is in our
power to do. Life is sadly undervalued
by the great mass of mankind. 1t is not
used to helf the purpose it might be-
Any of us,-aud we have as yet passed
but few of the mile-stones upon life's
highway-can look back upon onportuni-
ties lost, purposes unachieved, thoughts
crushed, aspirations unfulfilled, and all
for ths want OF possible effort. If men
would only make the most of life, the
dawn of new era would tighten up the
world and giants in knowledge and virtue
would grow in day. If a man but say
he wiu, nothing can hinder him. There
is no defeat to him who is strong in heart
and determined in split. 1t is every
mans duty to fit himself as far as posi-
BILE Cor the business to which he is devo-
ted, but douby so that of the editor,
whose labor is so closely allied with the
welfare of society. He should possess a
tireless vigor. He should make every
number of his paper as full and complete
as if he had exhausted all his resources
on it, and yet the next should be as full
and fresh as the last. An editor to give
a paper that earnest tone, and range of
discussion, and variety of contents, so es-
sential to its success, must bestow on it
constant labor and attention-musts stamp
on it the impress of his own mind and
breathe into it the vitality and warmth
of his own life.
We not only need to apply ourselves
closely to the duties of our profession, but
we should exercise special care as to the
nature and tendency of the principles we
advocate In order to do this, a paper
must lie made in the fullest sense of the
term, Independent. This is often very diff
ficult to do. An editors kind friends are
often so atteutiv with their suggestions,
that it is almost impossible for him to
have his own way. The farmer suggests
that little more said about agricult ire
would improve the paper; the lawyer that
that political matters should be discussed
at greater length: the divinity student
wants the frivolous articles to give way
to those of graver character; the school
girl wants more poetry and stories; one
man thinks there is altogether too little
reading matter, and an old lady wants
the paper printed in larger type so that
she can read it more easily. Aside from
these things, there is frequently dspo-
sition upon the part of editors to use their
power aud position fo.' unworthy ends.
Perhaps to acquire political predominance
or for pecuniary gain, or to win the APP
prevail and patronage of some man or
party, they lower the dignity of their
profession, sacrificing integrity and flu
ture reward, to attain some present adj
vantage.
! say, Sir. the great want of the coun-
try is an INDEPENDENT PRESS. We want
an untranmelIed freedom-a manliness
of tone-a truthfulness of sentiment-a
manifest resting on the great principles
OF hIeHT-to Control The new sp"pors OF
such an age as this. We are living in an
age that knows no parallel to its enlight-
enment--slrrounded by a civilization
made bright by its thousand brilliant
achievements, and it becomes those who
are to control the tendencies of the age,
to be men of independent thought, in
domitable will, and unflinching courage.
I pity the man who dare not boldly ut
ter his convictions when they differ from
the sterotyped doctrines. of the day. I
hope that the Press may soon be rid of
that class of timid, careful, conservative
men, who deprecate all agitation, and
cling to the HABITS and opinions of the
past, until they are all grown over with
the debris of by-gone days-men who
view with fear and hatred the upturnings
of the agitators, the innovations of the
reformers-men who keep one eye on
heaven and the other on their ledg ers.
and thus go Flooding through the world
-fossilized specimens Of false and big
oted humanity. E6F* -
Our newspapers should be under the
control of men who can hear the tramp
ofthe march of passing events, men who
are awake to all the living realities of the
age, men who will embrace new truth,
and grapple with new errors; in short,
men whe are conservative enough to
cling to the Old while productive of good,
and radical enough to accept the New
when it comes with sufficient promise of
blessing. We not only want men who
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