Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-07-01

A1oA taHict Iue procession Is Tree ant
open TO all but it is not to be abused-t shoult
4 never be degraded, in being made an instru
nent Tor unworthy purposes in hands O
corrupt men - the highest honor OF tn,
Art Is Won in the education and elevation
OF men, and unworthy is he who debase
the press to the selfish and dshoncrable pur
pose of deceiving the people, or corrupting tn,
l fountain from which flows the words anc
: thoughts which are to direct the opinions and
control the actions of men. There may be
want OF honorable, exalted pride in our profes
sion-a want of appreciation of the high mis-
sion of the press; but there must be dross and
refuse IN all refining processes. and time will
work Its proper changes: those who are
now content to work In g foul cases. may vet
come to regard their profession in its true
light, and honor it.
1t was my purpose to speak more at length
of the early press of the State. but my pen has
run tee long. and too wildly in other direc-
tons, to admit of my doing SO; / cannot how
ever, pass on without paying word of tribute
to the Editors who founded the press, and con-
| trlbuted SO largely to its success and use
| fulness. 1t was my fortune to be personally
| acquainted with them all, and somewhat famil-
| lar with the difficulties under which they la
bored None of the very first publishers are
| now connected with press-they have. like
| Bradford, after wearing out with labor, retired
| to other, more remuneratiye, and more health
full occupations, but they all retain, in fresh re-
| membranee their first loveo and honor the
craft with a devotion which strengthens as the
! eye grows dim, and all else, save their love
| Tor the profession, seems fading away. The
| list of early Editors remains almost unbroken
| "a few have turned aside to die, but their
works still live. ELLIS. RICHARDS, NooNAN,
SHoLEs, PLowMAN, FRANK, WYMAN, STARR,
| and others, connected with the first press of
| the State, still living. They were all
strong men in intellect and endurance; and to
their ability, and well directed labors, may we
| attribute very much of the success which has
| attended the Press of the State. 1t was no
| slight undertaking to establish paper in this
| remote country, in 1888. The conveying of
| material, in sail boats over almost unknown
| waters, the tedious waiting for long delayed
mails, and the uncertainty of obtaining sup
| plies OF paper and ink, are circumstances at
| tending such enterprises, that will weigh with
the experienced publisher, as he looks back to
| that early time but those days are gone by,
and the present, with its perplexities, is sufi-
| cient for US, and with it we have to deal us an
Association.
To elevate nd ennoble our professionals
| learn to do well that which is given US to do
| Is our first great purpose; but in pursuing this
we must not be unmindful of that law, which
is first in our natures-the law of self preser-
walton. The Press is strong or weak profit
able or ruinous, vlrtuous or corrupt, the will
of those who control it determines. If con-
Quoted in a spirit of independence, and digni-
fed manliness, it becomes a tower of strength
apologist for weak and corrupt politicians, it
is curse, not only to the publisher, but to the
public. The worst enemy of the Press is the
migrate, whom the Press has done most for
None are so thankless, none illiberal, as
the branless, heartless politician, whom some
Editor has spoken into existence and none
50 ready to deny the Press support as those
who have been hoisted to place and power
through its influence. Send man to Con-
gress, say in praise of him what you do not
~ Il I'll ,,l. IL, L y
possess, deny the vices you know blacken his
character, labor to make the people believe
him to be what he ought to be, cloak his de-
formities beneath coat of Printers Ink, and
when you have accomplished all, he will show
his gratitude in forgetfulness and neglect, and
yours will be the last services he will think of
repaying. Take some ambitious aspirant to
Legislative honors-work over and model him
into man, such the God of Nature never
designed him to be-elect him, and then you
must - watch and pray u lest he sells you, and
manifests his independence" by voting from
the Press the patronage legitimately belonging
to it. The Editor has no right to complain
it is for him to & endure and be strong" Our
time, strength, and our means, are devoted
too much to gain mere success-that success
may as well be ours, as theirs, we may better
work for friends than enemies-better labor
for the elevation of those who will befriend the
Press, than for those who will impoverish it
that they may be enriched. This language
saying-it is what we all know all feel, and all
should say. Not Legislature assemblies,
whose action the Editors of the State do not
watch with fear and trembling --they become
before it petitioners for their rights, suppiants
before the very men they have spoken into ex-
istence. How long you will, in your good ma
ture, and in your blind devotion to men, con-
tinue to work for such end, Is for you to
say; but of this you may be assured, the mere
politician is stranger to gratitude, and will
kick down the ladder on which he has assembled,
just so he feels safely landed on the
platform of his ambition. Protect yourselves.
Rise above that dependence which gives the
mastery to patronage, and cOmpels the profess
sion to resort to the mean shifts of cheapening
and degrading the labor Of your hands to the
lowest drudgery Be united, be courteous, be
gentlemanly in your ditferences-forget not
your common interests and so feel and act in
the pursuit of your avocation, that your words
and acts may bear the impress of sincerity and
truth. GU have common interests, which,
disrespected by you, will be disrespected by
| all--if neglected by you, you need not look to
the public for that respect and support, which
you in your own conduct deny yourselves
The purpose of the American Editor should
be to excite that ambition which most excels-
which raises the profession to the highest de-
gree of excellence and usefulness. His works
should speak his praise. The Editor should
bring his aspirations within the limits of his
profession-and dignity his labors, by devoting
his time and talent to profession which ranks
| first among the useful callings of men. The
| profession will rise in dignity, its advanta-
ges are improved, and made useful in the pos
session of those who educated to it. The
| best Editors-the best writer's connected with
| the Press of the country, are those who have
| in long course of mental training acquired
practical knowledge of the business. l have
seen the unpretending Jour, criticise and cor
| rect the manus :rpt of the learned and presum-
| ing Professor have seen the speeches of
| many a public made Epresentable "
| through the better language, and better judg-
| ment of q Printer, whose name was unknown
| beyond the circle of his immediate associates.
! There is a practical education acquired in the
Printing Office that developes thinking, use
| full minds and the profession will have
gained its summit of usefulness when it passes
| to the mastery of such men, instead of being
suffered to drop quietly into the keeping of
those who have no sympathy with it, except so
| far as it may be made means for the accom-
l.