Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-02

Anniversary under favorable aus
pieces, and amid pleasant scenes for
the purposes Of mutual congratula-
ton and social intercourse, to spend
a few hours in those fraternal rela-
tions that will teach US better to un-
derstand each other, and cement the
bonds of friendship that ever should
mark fellow labors in a common
profession. None can have forgotten
the agreeable hours and the profita-
BILE gathering of this association one
year since among the mountains
and lakes of Northern Vermont,
which for the first time brought face
to face the Editors and Publishers
ofVermont, nor can the useful les
sons inculcated by the Patriarch of
the Vermont press, have been lost
upon ns Nor con tho soniol conn
sci of our honored brother, who now
is the representative Of the people,
and of the journalists of Vermont, in
a wider sphere Of action, the coun-
ellis Of the nation have failed to
make its impress. We all separated
to our labors with more cheerful
hearts, and better prepared for the
discharge of the duties that devolved
upon us and in more cordial relations
of friendship and brotherhood.
May the influences that flow out
from this assemblage be equally
pleasant and useful 20 those who are
connected with the press of our
Commonwealth, and may each future
gathering draw US nearer together,
and the inspiration gathered here
make us more useful, earnest and
faithful laborers in the great field Of
journalism.
By your appointment, L come
before you not to instruct you in
your particular duties in the varied
departments Of a newspaper-for the
lessons Of experience must come
from our elder brethren, as all are
aware that am one of the youngest
among your fraternity in service and
experience. I only propose, briefly,
to call your attention to some sugges-
tions relative to the Journalist
demanded for the Times"
Each century is marked with the
developments that belong to it. In
the lapse of years there is a recur-
renee Of events, as we'll as cycles.
Every age seems to have had its
specific mission to work out. All
ages have not however been faithful
to their trust. 1t is difficult for a
man to know himself or his times.
1t is difficult for US as journalists, to
fully understand ourselves, or our
times. The watchword, the penates
of our day, may be termed 1.-The
march of intellect, The Schoolmaster
abroad, Public opinion, The great
universal nation, Manifest destiny,
Conquer all nations, Glorious 10Th
century, and Young America" Such
are some Of the loud and boastful
pretensions that are characteristic of
our nation. There is some truth
and some error, some philosophy
and a great deal Of nonsense in these
catch phrases. We should however
remember in our egotism and boast
full pride, that we are not the only
people created, nor the only habita-
BILE quarter Of the globe. Such
characteristics are evidences of the
tendencies of the day, and sad
proof Of much superficial knowledge
and ofthe proneness of mankind to be
humbugged.
1t is far off nations that give forth
the voice of the future. 1t is diff
cult to speak impartially of any age
it is especially so of the times in
which we live. 1t is possible-it is
frequent occurrence-for histo-
rian to utter falsehood, so to COM
bine or alter the light and shade, and
color and tone of affairs, as to give
an age altogether an unjust char
acter. Men, even the most intelli-
gent and brave, are SO much infu-
enced by their creeds, prejudices and
party, that every subject, person and
event, appears to them, according to
their standpoint, and as the light in
which it is viewed is clear or dark.
The brightest colors of the most
beautiful flowers, are obscured by
the shadow Of him, who bends over
them, to examine them. Accord
ingly as our hopes and fears, our
creeds, political or religious, stand
affected by our age, so will we give
a bright or sombre hue. :.
A distinguished English author
has said "the churchman takes his
view Of the age from the top of a
steeple. A radical looks at the age
and examines it from the window of
a Great Western Express Carriage.
proceeding at the rate of seventy
miles an hour. A Chartist takes a
peep at the age from seat upon
the orifice of volcano. One man
sees in it the thickening gloom,
another brightness and sunshine
one picks up nothing but withered
leaves, another nothing but beauti-
full fowers,-one is the ancient phi
losopher, who laughed at everything
another is the rival philosopher
who cried at everything"
From these observations it will be
perceived how difficult it is, to hit
on that just medium, which is SO
desirable in the treatment of our
subject. 1t is neither my desire to
censure or eulogize the times we live
in, at least my main aim is to glance
at its features, SO that as journalists