Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-02

ment for unworthy purposes in hands 0
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 dishonorable pur
pose of deeeiving the people, or corrupting the
fountain from which flows the words ant
thoughts which are to direct the opinions anc
control the actions of men. There may be
want of honorable, exalted pride in our profes
slon-a want of appreciation of the high mis-
sion OF the press; but there must be dross anC
refuse IN all refining processes. and time will
work its proper changes: those who are
now content to work in g foul cases,' may yet
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 too long, and too wildly in other direc,
| tions, to admit of my doing so; l cannot, how
! ever, pass on without paying word of tribute
| to the Editors who founded the press, and con-
| tributed 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 ether, more remunerative, and more health
tu occupations, but they all retain, in fresh re-
membrance their first love- and honor the
craft with devotion which strengthens as the
eye grows dim, and all else, save their love
for 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, are 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 suffi-
Gent for us, and with it We have to deal as an
Association.
To elevate and ennoble our profession-to
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, yirtuous or corrupt, as the will
of those who control it determines. If con-
Quoted in a spirit of independence, and digni-
fed manliness, it becomes tower of strength
If reduced to the paltry position of mere
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 so illiberal,
the brainless, heartless politician, whom some
Editor has spoken into existence and none
so 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
think, extol virtues in him which he does not
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 a man, such as the God of Nature never
designed him to be-elect him, and then you
must :: watch and pray" 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 &C endure and be strong" Our
time, our 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
may be out of place here; but it is no new
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 renbling '--they become
before it petitioners for their rights suppliants
before the very men they have spoken into e1-
istence. How long you will, in your good ma
ture, and in your blind devotion to men, con-
tinue to work for such an 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 soon as 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 differences-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. You 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 exccis-
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, as its advanta-
ges are improved, and made useful in the pos
session of those who are educated to it. The
best Editors-the best writers connected with
the Press of the country are those who have
in a long course of mental training acquired
practical knowledge Of the business. l have
seen the unpretending Jour, criticise and cor
rect the manuscript of the learned and prcsum-
ing Professor have seen the speeches of
many a public man made "presentable
through the better language, and better judg-
ment of Printer, whose name was unknown
beyond the circle of his immediate associates.
There is 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-
plishment of mere political and personal ends
The printing Office has not only graduated the
best writer's in our country, but it has in
France given to the world historian in MICH
ELET-a poet in BERANGER-in all countries
illumined by the light of the Press, men have