Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-09

ed men to pass. [Applauss.I The country
will be strengthened by her trials, and 60 forth
In q career Of triumph unequalled in the his
tory Of human Ss.n p,osfsss pro applause MAN q,
speak discouragingly Of the press and those
connected with it, but there was no more poten-
tial power on earth when the members were
trHe to themselves. None had hrmer hold
upon men of all professions. From childhood
we are educated by the newspapers. Strike
the newspapers out Of existence and what
blank there would be Without the press we
should know little indeed of the acts OF heroism
of our gallant defenders. 1t was the press
that told MS OF the magnificent march Of Sher-
man, who, having captured the Malakoff Of
rebelliOn-Atlanta-then as by magic trans.
ferred his army to the seashore, and trans
formed his army from being the 'army OF the
West to the "army CT the East"' [Great ap-
plause.l 1t was the press too that made us ac-
Quainted with the glorious deeds OF heroic and
steadfast Grant, the invincible Sheridan, and
that heroic old Admiral, who, in the harbor
into the midst of the fight till the rebel flag
came down. [Applause.l And so too of Por.
ter, Dupont, and the long list OF those who
have distinguished themselves in the present
struggle.
Mr.. q. proceeded at some length in eloquent
language, in the same connection.
Sd. The President of the United States: The oc-
cupant of the highest station within the gift OF
man. May all his energies be devoted to the
welfare Of our common country, and may no
action Of his or Of his successors lead to for
get that they fill place immoralized in his
tory by having been once occupied by George
Washington.
Mr John g Nicolay, the Presidents private
secretary, was called upon to respond to this
toast. He said that eight years service in a
printing office, from the roller board to the ed
itorial chair, might perhaps entitle him to ad-
dress them as brother craftsman. [Applause.]
He thought, however, that the chairman had
made serious mistake in calling him to sec.
ond, with his halting speech, the electrifying
words of the gentleman who had just sat
down He was asked, too, to respond TO a
very difficult and hackneyed toast. Were he
to indulge in either unlimited praise or unlim-
tied depreciation of the subject Of the toast, he
would be liable TO censure from gentlemen of
opposite parties; and were ne to attempt to
hold safe middle course, he might be deemed
to be 'sdamning with faint praise" There were
a variety Of opinions as to the Presidents
course in trying times like these, and he would
leave it to the press, and to the gentlemen pres
ent on both sides, to determine how far Mr..
Lincoln was judicious, wise and successful in
managing the affairs OF the country.
He would content himself with bearing tes-
Of the head OF Abraham Lincoln his heart was
always right. [Great and long contin ned ap-
plause.l This he could testify after four years
intimate association with him. Mr.. Lincoln
never exhibited selfish or an ambitious
thought And MI. Lincoln did not rely upon
his own powers, but upon the great American
people over whom he had been called to pre-
siGe, and especially upon the intelligence OF
that people. He knew that 80 long as the peo-
tered press the liberties OF the country efe safe.
[App1ause.] He could feel secure in knowing
when he retired at digit that the printers, re-.
porters and editors are at work-pilots on the
ship, and watching through the night; and he
knew that, intelligent and patriotic as they
are as class, that next to anything he could
do the destinies OF the country are safe In their
n1r. Nicolay concluded his felicitous re-
sponse with an eloquent allusion to the hearty
support given to the President alike by friends
N e n tai
the liberties OF our beloved country.
iih. The Constitution of the United States A
monument OF wisdom, reared by our patriotic
foretathers. Let not Folly seek to destroy its
beauty and symmetry, nor Wickedness attempt
to tear down what Virtue has built upon the
solid foundations of Truth and Justice.
Hon. James Brooks responded He said when
the toast was handed to him he was somewhat
puzzled TO ascertain how to connect some re-
marks in relation to the Constitution OF the
United States and the profession to which they
were devoted, but when he reflected upon the
share taken in the forming Of the Constitution
by George Washington Surveyor; Roger Sher-
man, Shoemaker; and Benjamin Franklin,
Printer, he saw aconnection between the cast
and the occasion they were celebrating
The history OF no man was more remarkable
than that OF Franklin. To the common honor
Of their cratt, Franklin was educated at no
university, but in printing office, (applause,)
and in that school he formed that Addisonian
style and made himself the philosopher and
statesman. No school on earth affords our
than the printing office. No school which
teaches so we'll how to condense and crystalize
thought. The pupil OF the printing office learns
how to think, and thought is education. ZAP
plause.l
Mr.. Brooks proceeded in that style OF happy
thought and brilliant illustration which dis
tingushes him as one OF the mos. effective Of
speakers on such festive occasions. 20 show
what printers have done for the world, and es-
pecially the disinterested work they have per-
formed in manufacturing orators and other il.
nct q m NO
terial at all, and In conclusion (advsrtlng to
the toast) he spoke OF the requirements falling
upon us in regard to maintaining the Constitu-
tiOn. In civil war while every thing Is rocking
around us the Constitution is our only ark.
Let 1t be our duty to hand 1t down to our chill.
dren as 1t was handed down to MS by our
fathers iApplause.
5th. The Army and Nayy: Twin giants, to
whom are committed the guardianship Of our
flag and the defense OF our country. May their
leaders constantly remember the sacredness Of
their trusts, and take no step which will not
tend to the glory Of one or the advancement of
the other
William Faxon, Esq, Chief Clerk of the
Navy department., who was called upon to
respond, said it was not necessary, after the
remarks of MIR. Colfax, for him to speak OF the
glorious deeds of the heroes OF the war. Mr.
q. had "stolen his fat" Great laughter.] The
army and navy were indeed twin giants, and,
when working in harmony. as he trusted they
always would work, could not fail to advance
the interests of the country and shed glory
essential to success, they must rely upon the
Press to stimulate the people to their due sup
port. [Applause In all the coming time the
.destinies of the nation and the world will, in
large measure, be controlled by the Press. 1t
is the great lever that moves the world The
independence Of onr country would ever have
been achieved but for the Press-it cannot noto
be maintained without it, CApplause.l Mr..
Faxon continued briefly in some happy re-
marks in the same connection, and sat down
amid q general cry OF "Go ont'
F.. should mention. tl0uph
young mar, was widely known as an accom-
plished Journalist before assuming his present
posltion.]
9Th. Our Deceased Members They have solved
the great problem, nd the wisdom OF the past
is now an open book before them. MAY all our
actions be sueh as can be properly justified In
their sight.
Drank standing and in silence.
7th. The Art of Printing: The recorder and
preseryer of all others. Without !. history
would he but tradition, and all the arts A
sciences unknown:
eth. The Press: The safeguard OF liberty ths