The Portland daily press., 1866-02-06
A Closing Word.

w heading Matter on all -Four Pages.
| A Closing Word.
With this number closes the connection of
the undersigned with the PORTLAND DAILY,
and the MAINE STATE weekly PRESS He
has sold his interest in these papers to his sem
ior partner, N. A. FOSTER, ESQ.,, who will con-
tinue the publication as heretofore, assuming
all liabilities, and having the benefit of all de-
mands due the late firm.
1t was in June, 1852, that the writer came
to this city, almost an entire stranger to aid in
| the establishment of new Republican paper;
the public demand at that time being such as
| to justify the undertaking in the estimation
| of those who assumed the responsibility of the
enterprise. 1t was with many misgivings that
he left city where he had resided nearly
quarter of century, to launch new enter
prise upon the public favor of community
with which he was but little acquainted, upon
whose indulgence he had no claims, and of
whose temper he had no certain means of
judging. aa9 oi a5
The field at that time was occupied by an
old, respectable and cherished journal, the
very name of which for half a century had
been household word in many families, and
| to whose interests thousands of loyal people
had been so long committed that severance of
their connection with it was like cutting the
igaments which bind one to objects of the
tenderest regard. Under such circumstances
it might have seemed rash to many people the
attempt to start new paper, relying upon the
favor of those thus committed, in a field con-
fessedly not large enough to warrant sharp
competition or rivalry; and the best evidence
that the movement was looked upon as
doubtful experiment is found in the fact that
so many true friends of the Union cause stood
aloof, declining to lend their influence as sub
scribers until success should be demonstrat-
ed, while others-a very large class-prudent-
ly limited their doubts by paying only three
months in advance. as 3ar-
But the enterprise was destined to be a sue
cess, and in spite of the adverse influences of
the war, the extraordinary prices of labor and
material in little more than three and half
| years the PRESS has not only become a pow
erful instrumentality in the affairs of the
| State, but it has attained circulation, an ad-
vertising patronage, and a value never before
reached or approached unto by any paper east
of Boston. he a a Ea dif1
The people of Maine, and particularly of
this city, have been very kind to the PRESS
They have patronized it beyond all the esti-
mates of its friends, and to day it is without
doubt one of the best pieces of newspaper
| property in New England. sll lot
1t is believed the paper was never In better
odor that tnever had more substantial friends
than at the present time. The undersigned
has labored, from first to last, intently and
persistently, to make the paper what it should
be-, worthy the city, the State and the cause to
| whose interests it has been unreservedly COM
mitted. He has devoted his time, his energy
and his best thought to this one end, and
wherein he has come short of realizing its
promises in this regard, he feels that the short
coming should be ascribed to the head and
not to the heart-to lack of ability and not to
deficiency in purpose. sai sc
No one is more sensible of the shortcomings
ofthe paper than the writer; no one is more
sensible of the points on which he has failed.
Amid the sharp controversies of several heat
ed campaigns, and during a fierce struggle in
which the nation was engaged to preserve its
own life, he is aware that he has not, in all
cases, been able to keep free from personal
controversies which have sometimes resulted
unfavorably upon friendships he would gladly
have fostered; he has not in all instances sue
ceeded in preserving that selfpossession and
fraternal spirit so desirable among editors, but
| he is willing to bear his full share of the re-
| sponsibility and blame for all such unhappy
differences, hoping he may part with his edi-
torial brethren-from whom he has received
almost uniform courtesy and kindness
no unpleasant remembrances on their part, as
he is quite sure no slumbering embers of ILL
feeling will be allowed to burn in his own
breast. In leaving the PRESS after nearly ten
| years of constant service in daily newspaper
Office, he feels that he is vacating the editori-
al chair for the last time, and that henceforth /,
somewhere, not yet settled in his own mind
he will find employment In labors more inti-
mately connected with the sunshine and
showers of outdoor life, free from the ankle
ties and wearing cares that prey upon every
attentive editor Of a daily journal, of which
the ordinary readers can have but very i'm
perfect appreciation. He win leave a voca-
ton which he has ever found pleasant and for
which he confesses to strong attachment, a
city to which he has become devotedly attach
ed and for whose prosperity he has labored
with willing heart, State which he has
long regarded as one of the richest, in natural
resources, in pleasant associations, and in
healthful public sentiment in the entire UEion.
In taking leave of the PRESS the under
signed feels that he would be not only ungen-
erous but unpardonably ungrateful did he fail
to make special favorable notice of the assis-
tants with whom he has been so pleasantly
connected, and who have contributed so large
| ly to the general success of the paper. From
first to last he has been on the most amicable
terms not only with the members ofthe edito-
rial staff, but with all persons connected with
the paper, whether as writers, reporters, COM
| positors, foremen or book-keepers; but in ad-
dition to this general statement, he feels that
tits no more than justice to make special
mention of those with whom his late labsrs
have been the most intimately connected.
Mr.. ROYAL W. LINCOLN, for more than
three years past the local editor of the PRESS,
with whom there has never arisen one word
of difference, has rendered invaluable service,