, 1863-12-24

sustained me ever with the unseen but mag.
netic power Of their hearts, and strengthened
me with their bands in MI the contests and
canyasses Of the past; and shall 60 back, at
to which expect 10 retire, to live and to
die in the midst Of those lore SO faithfully
aud SO we'll
I have been glad to meet you here tonight,
and am glad that, Notwithstanding our va.
ried and antagonizing political shades Of
opinione, wc can thus sit down together In
social harmony. We know there il to be a
day coming when the lion and the lamb shall
doubling Thomases think that thIs win only
be realized by the lamb being, at the time,
inefde Of tho lion. Laughter. But, politi-.
ca1ly, the prophecy seems almost verified to-
night
I cannot avoid saying few words in rela-
tion to the profession to which we have de-
| voted our lives. 7 think you cannot but nc
| knowledge that the American Congress has
| not overlooked the press. Not only have
they seen ut, for the first time in the history
OF Congress, to select printer for the grave
| presiding officer, but from the ranks Of the
same profession they have taken gentleman
for the next office IN order, the Clerk Of. the
House, ind one whom, with modesty equal
to bis worth, see blushes as I a1lude to him
(Mr. 1fcPherson.) And besides these, we
AofC &tIso III Liz d1HeslcaH congress, another
gentleman, q printer, acting as postmaster Of
the House. Having thus generously given a
majority ofall the offices to thepreas, they have
n,agnaDimously allowed s'the rest of 1nan-
kind" to take the remaining two offices,
Laughter and applanse..J In the other
branch Of Congress, we have as Secretary of
gifted and distinguished Journalists Of our
Times. The Vice-Presldent of the United
States, also, was newspaper man, and 1
doubt not Il good ono. And 50, also, was the
sergeant-at-Ar1ns Of the Senate, Mr.. Brown.
Of Illinois. And If our excellent President
Tas not directly connected with the press, I
his having furnished material for innumera-
bic editorials in its columns. [Laughter.j
You do not expect me to make M elaborate
after.dinner speech tonight, because tho
usage Of Speaker is not to make speeches,
but to listen to them, and I expect to have
during the eyentfu1 Congress Just opening.
a few words before sit down in regard 70
our profession. Next to the sacred lesk and
those who minister in it, there IS no profes-
sion more responsible than yours.
The editor cannot wait like the politician
to see the ct Of the tide, but is required, as
new necessities arise, not only to aroW ut
once his sentiments upon them, but to dis
euss them intelhgently and instructlycly. It
is also his duty to guide and direct public
opinion in the proper channels, and to lay
before the readers Of his sheet such matters
ter: have sometimes thought that ncwspa-
peEs In their sphere might be compared to
that exquisite mechanism Of the universe.
whereby the moisture is lifted from the earth,
condensed into clouds, and poured back again
II refreshing and fertiliztng showers totless
harvests. So, with The representatives Of
the press they draw. from public opinion,
condensc public opinion, and finally reflect
ana 1edlstr1bnte it back again In turn to Its
t1;,9 elevation .3 md publication: [Applause.] I
think the American press, in the main. per
compare it with the press of any other land.
and that, too, without blushing at the COM
rarison. need not, my friends, say to ron
that lie press is power in the land. Con
trast the press Of to-day with what it was a
century ago, and Jon will see how wonder
But With these responsibilities, my friends,
come upon you grave and impartial duties;
d9tics not only to yourselves, but to all your
felloW-men.
lspeak first Of the duty of every rcpresen-
tative Of the American press to elevate its
character. Wrang1crs and libelers amongst
yon not only dlslonor themselves, but the
entire profession: just Us the mcmbcr Of
Congress who, because he differs with lis fel-
ioW-member, covers him with fuyectivc and
abuse, not only degradcs himself, but con
de1nns the whole body as well, willie dozen
snch would give color to the unjust charge
that It had become bodp Of blackguards a. |
stead Of IN aEEemb1age Of gentlemen, as it |
really is.
:. It Is dufJ you owe also to yourselves md |
TO mankind, that your shccts should 20 purc
from all alloy into the family circle, where |
they are ponde1ed over by the gray-haired
able to spell out the words you lave woven
into editorials. Ii my theory Of life is true,
Nh accidental al1usion to which one morning
eanslt the ear Of your President, and has |
been commented on By him, but which I
!; come u I, i3r short Of living up to myself, that
the highest personal duty Is to seek to make
tile point to which have just alluded. Your
/ aIcrs, when n1arrcd by personal abuse, sad
den instead Of gladden. your readers, and be-
CONC tntr11ders at any hearthstone where
sunshine is desirable, instead Of being vel
{ enc guests.
In the second place, there is another grand
dnty dcTolyed upon tle:prese. It is the fos-
tcting md development Of the patriotism,
which 1las been illustrated in 50 marked |
degree In the terrible crisis which we arc now
passing. 1t IL the inyocations Of the press
Solpg home to the hearts Of our people which
breasts to the bullets Of the enemy in defence
of the integrity and pcrpetuity Of this Union. |
It is the press that iias fostered and 3eyelon-
I'd this marked Development Of the principles
OF humanity in this great struggle.
IA Yo1 on! see this Development of principle in
good Sanaritans even to our wounded ene-
the unchecked stream Of treasure
hat pours into tue Golfers Of the Sanitary and
Christian Commissions, and IN the relief
proflered without stint to our distressed pri-
:oners at Richmond, coming from our people
ia Arl{ f-N |
Tocations Of the press have been listened to
md responded to at the hearthstones Of the
American people. So also Is the develop
nent Of manly patriotism. We hare all read
n our childhood the Injunction Of the Spar
an mother to her son, on going out to battle,
md have there not been words of similar i'm
'oEt uttered by thousands and tens of thou
ands Of people through all the loyal States |
!nring the war in which We are engaged?
We have seen mothers sending out their first
,orn, who could have eaid, like the lad in the
'lden time, my sword is too short-'' And
'ave not these same mothers acted in the
pirit Of the famous reply, "Add step to it
nd It wil be long enough.'' ana thus the
oung and dearly cherished have gone out ,
rom family and from home, eyen when
carcely matured for the privations of tho ,
amp and the field, because their country
7asi dnnger, and they would die to save it. :
For much Of this cnnobling patriotism, for .
heee marked developments of humanity, / :
less tonight the American press fAp- r
lausc.l IA
And, again, you have another duty to per- p
'rm. It is the Incubation of morality b
nong that large circle Of people you thus b
'ach. II the fountain il poisoned, the wa +
T that flows from it shall be poisoned too; Il
ID those that drink Of that water will have b
olson in their veins instead Of the y
are blood that gives health and ?,
rcpgth. 1t is your duty to see that |; u
ot by their aid shall these poisons reach =
,ur patrons to spread moral miasma :
thin tho circle of your influences. Having
ue, at greater length than intended, alln.
ID to what believe to be the duties de-
lived upon us as Journalists, before resume =
; seat, ! must again warmly and gratefully y
anE you for your kindness manifested TO 4
c tonight. This night shall be marked as
white stone In the history Of my life. And
look back In the days that arc to come,
God spares my life, shall never forget the F
'urs We have SO happily passed together y
re. i
For the great honor you have done me TO- 6
ght, for such reception as you have given
c, feel, with the Irish orator, like SAVING. !
Ny heart Would shake hands with Iii 81