Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-18

The great French political philosopher, De-
( Tooqueville, who anilyzed our institutions
and society with such penetrating insight,
/ expressed II as his opinion that the Press
Of these modern times is the great eonserva-
tor Of Republican ideas. Not to the Press
should this high praise belong, but to the
giant heart Of great beople, from which all
the issues Of national life and death 60 forth.
The power of the journal is q power com
ing from and going forth to the people. And
therefore is il true as has said our distiR-
guished historian, Motley, "the people
everywhere symPathise with US; for our
course is that Of free institutions" need
not ask you TO consider the wonderful energy
Of thought and action 1t has evoked in the
Past. The nation, like q race Of rolicking
young giants, is already laughing on all our
mountains, and rioting in all our valleys.
It is the Alladdins Lamp Of truth, flashing
from every hamlet and city through the
Press, that has built, by the magic of sin
gle night this beautiful palace Of broad do
mains, peopled with an untiring and q
matchless race.
But what Of the future? Now, more than
ever, is the vigor and virtue of this people
are to be put to the crucial test. Tho dragon
that has been breathing fire and death
throughout the land is not yet slain. Still
more of our Richards, the Lion Hearted,
must meet him, eye to eye, in the dread en-
counter of death. But it is not emily in phys
ieaI daring that nations win glory. It is
rather in the boldness and perseverance with
which they clingto great moral, but imper-
lied cause,
1t is in this direction you invite the Press
of the Republic. You ask it to stand on the
watch tower and tell you what Of the night.
Xnu nnh 2 n. al kVTf Nha TnffT
and disintersd views of sfearlsss patriotism
know that interpret the light of your
eyes and the warmth of your patriotism
Alright, when I say that you ask the loyal
Press to make no concessions to the brute
barbarism of the South but demand Of it
that it shall aid in bringing a great people
out of the fiery trials of war, with Iustre
untarnished, and glory undimmed.
In the feroo encounters and Intellectual
shocks of the year to come, the loyal Press
must triumph. It is by the eternal dashings
of the ocean that its purity and life are pre-
served: So too, the dashings Of truth
against error, only bring forth in clearer
vision the majestic image Of truth.
What does the loyal Press ask of the people? ?
They ask for your sympathy and encourage
nent. They ask that you both guide and
follow them as they endeavor to pilot the
PooPAO hAAONb bAo eAoAuy bSAOEO Use
The power Of the Press at the present
hour lies chiefly in its advocacy of these
three cardinal doctrines: First, the equaIi-
ty of all men second, the unity of the ma
ton on the common basis Of liberty to all
third, in the right of Democratic ideas to
this continent. If the Loyal Press stand up
grandly on these claims, it will be ever q
triumphant Press.
You toast the loyal Press and well you may.
No neutrality, that imperils the life of the
Republic, is worthy Of the Press. Of the
disloyal:
Fame Of them the world hath none, nor
suffers. Mercy and Justice scorn them both.
Speak not of them, but look, and pass them
by.
The Loyal Press says to our hOnOred
guests:
GO to tropio seas, among a strange people,
and carry with you the digaity and glory oi
the nation, the respect and sympathy Of
| your friends and fellow eitizsns.
The speech ofMr Rhodes was well reoeiY-
ed and interrupted frequently with bursts Ot
applause.
The Vice President of the evening, F. 7
Wallace, Esq, was next called out, and read
his speech, prefacing 1t with a numerous
apology.