The Portland daily press., 1869-08-05

oftbis principle of consistency and straightfor-
wardness, and the latter of steadfast adherence
to it under all circumstances The Herald
boasts that it has no established principles, no
grand aim, except simply to so cater from day
TO DAY to the changing currents of the Goths
and Vandals of New York-more terrible than
those that marched under Alaric and more
nerce than those that pillaged under Attila =
Tribune, from the day when Horace Greeley
noblest OF our fraternity,-gave it BIRTH to the
present moment, has ever been aglow with
distinct purpose, steadfast and unbending in its
devotion TO the rights of man, and has always
maintained character as clearly defined and
as well understood as that of the grand philos-
opher who has stood at it's head. The Herald
has obtained circulation, such as it is. because
It had no well defined character; while in OBJ
tanning this at such sacrifice, it has exercised
no influence in the country, and to-day is CT NO
more consequence in an estimate of the DOW
ers Of the republic than is the ex- Alderma an and
ex-Pre.ident whom it took so long to learn that
he was not wanted The Tribune, on the CON
trary, is power in the nation, Acknowledged
and obeyed, more permanent than the Presi-
dency; and the plain III. G. who controls il oc-
cupies position as honorable, IS infiential, and
more potent for good than any other man in
the republic.
". The independence of the press is an
other important condition of journalistic sue
cess. The journal which blindly follows any
clique or party, and obsequi0usly sneezes
whenever their managers take snuff, Il shorn
of all its influence outside of those who ask for
no reason for course of action, other than
that the party wills it. Those purely partixan
newspapers, which, like the candidate for holy
orders, are ready to swear not only by the
thirty-nine articles, "but forty if you wish"
may make hand-organs and give forth music
satisfactory to those who pull the wires; but
they never can send fort6. tones which peal
through State or nation and influence the
course Of thought Of wide circles. The great
reading community will respect the independ
ent views Of journal honestly uttered even
when they differ from its opinions, but will
look with loathing upon newspaper which
not only takes without protest the political
castor oil administered BY partisan leaders,
but even prOnOunceB it excellent.
1t is mistake to suppose that political
newspaper does the highest service even to
the party whose principles it supports, when
| it blindly uphoids Whatever the organization
| may do, and defends it in acts clearly wrong.
| Candid, intelligent criticism, whom free from
mere fault-finding, is always wholesome for a
party, as well as an individual, for parties are
| even more liable than men to become corrupt
| with the possession of power. Unless there is
| Independence enough in the press which sup
| ports the principles Of party, to speak disap-
| provingly whenever the managers do a wrong
act, and thereby cause the improper action to
| will be repeated and enlarged upon until an
| outraged public take into their own hands tho
| only remedy left--an overthrow Of the party
ITSELF The distinctively political, together
with the unpartizan press, owes to the public,
| as well as to its own mission, career of inde-
| pendence Without that distinctive element,
| it may take upon itself the namo of a newspa-
| per, but 1t will be shorn OF its most essential
feature. Boy" said a gentleman to a negro
urchin who had sold him a, frozen pie, II
thought you told me- this was hot mutton
pie" "O?" replied the colored ten-year-old,
"dats de name OBJ 'em." So the more organ
| OF aclique 10 newspaper only as the negfo's
frozen pie was hot-it's the name of 'em.
| VyaI have said that journalistic success de-
Rends largely upon having > consistent. dis.
tinct and well defined purpose and well estab-
lished principles. The degree of success will
depend upon what that purpose and those
| prinsiples shall be- The more exalted these
are, the more complete the success, and the
ephemeral issues which divide men from age
to age and decade to decade, there lie princi-
pies fright and justice eternal as the HEAVIER
over our heads, and yet as fresh and beautiful
and exalted to-day as when, the lawgiver of Is
| raei stood on Sinai or aswhen He who spakt
as never man spake, uttered the sermon on the
mount. Planted on these principles unbend
ing in themselves, but constantly changing in
their application, the press may stand, las il
were, on rock, and build moral superstruc
ture whieht will survive all changes, and exer
else q. power fol. good, constantly increasing
suehss no other human agency can command
In advocating whatsoever is true, whatsoevel
is beautiful whatsoever is Just to all men; il
frowping upon Whatsoever is unjust, whatev
era is wrong, Whatsoever is destructive of al
that Is high and noble; in lifting up whatsoev-
or is debased aud down-trodden--in short only
i in making its mission primarily have reference
| to the elevation and higher COED ofman, can
the press faithfully meet the high responsible
ties resting upon it Yield not to the tenpta-
ton to cater TO the passions of the moment
when they lead aside from the path Of dnty.
There islno such thing as failIre for "a journal
established and conducted on correct business
| principies and standing up for right. The
darkest hour in its history is only thatMhlch
heralds the morning. AZ the Yretreating
steps of the patriots who: retired from
Bunker Hill echo through history like the
tread Of a victorious host, so in the history ol
journalism, in the great anti-slavery struggle,
| Garrison's Liberator, frowned upon in the
seats power, and oftsntimes consigned to the
flames W HFo-slavsry mobs, yet rising Phenix-
| like from its own ashes, stands out triumphant
in apparent defeat, and acknowledged by all
moral struggle of the age, and shook the ma
ton from centre to circumference.
| Brethren of the editorial fraternity should
do injustice to my own feelings and fail to ad-
| duce two familiar illustrations of my theme, ii
| should close this brief and hurried consider
| alton Of the conditions of journalistic success
without paying passing tribute to the memo
| ry OF the lamented Lincoln and Foster, who
were With Us in the Inauguration of our Asso-
life-work and entered upon their reward-the
latter since our last anniversary.s You knew
them too well, and appreciated their excel
lence as men and their skill and fidelity as
Journalists SO highly, that there remains for
me only to mention their names and commend
their example for our imitation. The seats
winch they were wont to occupy are vacant,
but there rises before me the form of Lincoln.
80 untiring, SO patient, so devoted to his chosen
professions so true to his convictions of duty,
| so faithful to whatsoever is Just and right and
the form OF Foster, SO modest, so kindly and
conciliatory and yet SO firm, SO remarkable for
MS rnnlnching adheranee to principle. Re-
veled be the memory of our brethren who were
called from posts Of wide influence, faithfully
hlled here, to enter, as we trust upon that life
and sphere of usefulness as much higher as
heaven is above earth
As we gather from year to year to renew our
greetings and cement anew the bonds of friend-
snid, may the memory Of Lincoln and Foster
ana VINO can tell how soon we shall be called
10 JOIN them ml--serye to makes us more faithful
to the trust reposed in us, more appreciative oy
the maguitude of that responsibility, and mora
attentive to those considerations which tend to
enlarge the sphere and increase the influence
OF the press, and elevate the profession of Jour-
nalism to that high place it deserves to occupy.
1t is for US to first respect ourselves and then
the respect of others will follow. You must
not forget that you stand in the widest pulpit.
and the grapdest field of influence known to
modern society The lawyer has his narrow
sphere Of the forum; the physician has the con-
tracted limits of his beneficent labors; the
Statesman, even, tunless aided by the press)
the close walks of parliamentary halls; the
minister, deYoted to the noblest work, has his
parish and the walls of his church. But the
press is a pulpit which bas no limit, forum as
broad as the Republic, power in modern civ
iilzatlon without peer; and happy willbe
that journalist occupying such a pulpit and
Speaking in such a forum with a power that
may be made so elective tor good, If, when he
closes psss h,s grand work here he can say with
kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for
me q crown Of rghteousness,t nSoldiers.''
saFi Napoleon, as he caught glimpse of the
mighty pyramids Of Egypt rising majestically
II the Instance, Soldiers, from those heights
iorty eentunies lookidown upon us and beckon
US 70 the faithful discharge Of our duty So,
brethren, from celestial heights there look down
upon us the good and true of all past
generations, yea, even the. Eternal One Him
sell, lf,gsummoning us to be faithful to the hieh.
trusts committed to our care. 9sf7T
AT the conclusion of the Essay, which was
listened to with the closest attention, elcifing
at times marked applause, the Portland Band
again delighted,the audience with its choicest
strains. Hon. Charles Holden Of this city was
next introduced. and proceeded 10 deliver an
elaborate, polished and valuable history of the
the press of Cumberland County, which we re-
gret we are unable for want of space to publish
to-day Music from the bands followed. Mr.
W. E. s. Whitman Toby Candor) of Augusta
then delivered the following humorous poem:
l--aiy4 b ta 81 THE PORN III in -fi.-iie .4
~ 1ou can scarce expect one OF my age, =. Ia 5.
10 speak in public on the stage:1
what modest men would tain express.