Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-20

- = =. !
tic. twas the Keystone which supported
the whole fabric of Progress in its beaati
ful symmetry. Remove that one stone
now, and the whole edificc tumbles into
ruin. Remove the Press-obliterate al
knowledge of the Topographic Art from
the minds of men-and Sciense and Ar
would lose their chief supports-Civiliza
tion would become retrogressive, until thu
scenes OF turbulence and violence of thu
Dark Ages" would be re-enacted-Reli
gion would lose its greatest power-Fan
atheism and Superstition would again holc
lsway over the minds of the people-anC
Liberty, deprived of its Argus-eyed guar
|. dian, would become prey to the wiles o
Tyranny. Had the ancient Commonwealth
of Rome been possessed of the Art of Print
} ing, and Free Press, she would not have
fallen prey to the cupidity of the un-
: principled adventurers who stepped to
: power and royalty over the bodies of al
j enslaved people. Give to France to-day
Free Speech and Free Press, and to-mor-
row the strong walls of the Tuilleries will
;. be shaken by the ro1 populis of France
!, more powerful than the rams' horns ol
Jericho-anda that Janus faced enemy o.
Liberty, Louis Napoleon, would be buried
J In the ruin. al4.,.l ,.f,r ~ b.. 81 s,i
y : But the Press is not the conservator oi
liberty alone.'i Every art and every prin-
eiple of science and Improvement con-
ceived by the genius of man is indebted to
the Press for perpetuity-is stamped by II
!. With Immortality. How many precious
! discoveries of art and science were lost to
4 the world with the death of their discover
ers before the art of printing was known.
If, when Franklin, with his kite and silk
string. first discovered the principle OF
electricity, there had been no Press to give
4 It permanent life, Morse would, probably,
never have Invented the Electric Telegraph;
and without the Press what would become
I<xc 20 ~. -
genius? 1t would have remained the
gigantic experiment it was during the first
i years ofits existence-the whistle for which
1 the boy paid tho muchi But the art OF
printing has utilized the experiment. The
] Press has made its its servant and sent it
forth to gather the daily occurrences of
every nation and every cline; and the
day is not far distant when those little elec-
tric arteries Of thought willpermeate every
section, even to the most remote and OBJ
scufe namletS. 4sF .zsi-.-'s .s ~ +
Mr.. Poland continued by citing the
names of number of the prominent men
belonging to the craft, which we omit for
the want of space. eas=
/ Sd. National Typographical U,sion-The beacon
light Of all true craft snen.its influence extends
from Maine to California, and from the frozen re-
| gi0ns of the North to the Everglades of Florida.
| Responded to by S. 2. johnson. oaaz
\ NIX Z RESIDENT. 0au .Ile nOnor 10 rep
| resent No. 70 in the National Topographic
! cal Union at a late session in Chicago. /
] duly appreciated the honor my fellow
| workmen conferred on me, was favorably
| impressed by my observations of the
ijourneyman printing interest in its national
| character, and was highly delighted with
| the hospitality of our brethren in Chicago.
In fact, everything connected with the ses-
| sion was so agreeable that in no particular
have been inclined to call my member
ship in the National body a misfortune,
except iuasmuch as it has given reason
for calling on me to respond to this toast
Tonight The sentiment comprehends so
much, in celebration like this, that it de-
serves better treatment than 1t can pos
sibly receive at my hands under existing
circumstances. ley O esf, g7,a5Ii
| 1t could scarcely be expected that an in
dividual who lays no claim to ..versality,
and whose days and nights are spent in the
demnitiOn grind that characterizes the
printers life in the production ofa daily
newspaper, could, on short notification,
make a brilliant speech and say pretty
things, and / shall not attempt it. r-v;a5.
1t Is true that the famous man whose
birthday we celebrate acquired much of his
learning and intelligence while faithfully
fulfilling his duties as a wOrkingman, but
in his day daily newspapers had not reached
their present standing, and where the mid
night oil found him perusihg books, is finds
the jOurneyman newspaper printer of to-
day wrestling with the type and trembling
at the approach of merciless editors and
reporters with more copy. 81. i s1s5i3 sai7.
/ Yet Franklfn's difficulties were mani
fold, and he has. furnished an example of
diligence and perseverance most worthy of
Imitation. The printers look upon his life
as a bright chapter in the history of the
art, and as a legitimate link in the grand
chain of improvement the world has wit
messed in these modern times. isi
Since Franklin toiled with the antiquated
methods of pursuing the business, printing
has made march of improvement in me-
chanical appliances only equalled by the
strides it has made in elevation OF char
actcr and healthy organizations. 1t has
progressed through all the old methods
until it has reached system by which a
Presidents message can be, put in type in
less time than it takes one man 10 read it,
and the lightning rapidity of the steam
press canfurnish thousands of copies to
the public an hour. ...-s...-..-l 4 5G.. .fi.ifE
!. In this.general improvement the working
printers have Kept pace.il They have emerg-
ed from the dark days when capital was the,
only influence recognized in the control
of their fortunes; have become thoroughly
awake to the fact that labor is as necessary
to capitalas capital is to labor have formed
their local associations, aud have culmin-
ated the grand scheme in the creation of
the National Typographical Union. las 4
= The sentiment you have just read, Mr..
President. is fraught with much significance.
Such is the perfection of its arrangements
ana the justice of its decisions thatthe Ma
tional Typographical Union has, truly be-
come e''the beacon light of all true craftsmen"
The creation ofthe subordinate Unions, and
composed of delegates from them. it seeks
not to enforce its laws as arbitrary edicts,
but is a national council for the considera
a<Sfv f,,f fI,ry Irl<,
vatiOn OF the craft throughout the country.
Its counsels have ever been of a character
which, if followed, would lead to happy
understanding between the employer and
employee, and if some local Unions have
| overstepped the bounds of propriety and
assumed prerogatives not delegated to them
| by the principles on which our organiza-
| tion is founded, think am warranted in
saying they have never received encour-
/ agement from the National Union. So far
as l am Informed, all attempts by local
| Unions to better their conditions have been
seconded by the legislation of the National
Union, and L am glad to say that its decis-
| ions and counsels have been received in the
same kind spirit in which they were ten
| dered. Its sessions have been productive
of friendly greetings and mutual under
| standings among printers throughout its
Jurisdiction, and the general effect has GER
tainly been to give the printing interest a
| national character commensurate with its
position among the various items that 90
to make up civilization. oa4
| An association of working men, repre-
senting constituency spread over the
whole country, and operating under a sys-
tenn inaugurated and recognized by each
and all of the various branches, is a pic
ture of harmony peculiarly magnificent,
and adds much to the respectabilIty of Ia
Dor. -a7-s al = ,it'f.
! May. this "beacon light" continue to
shine in all the brilliancy of its palmiest
days, as long as the ''clicking OF the magic
type and toiling of the giant press" are
! recognized as civilizers-a safeguard to
printers everywhere, whether wrecked in