The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-28
The Iniluence orthn pres.
An Essay eaaleigc he Miaisterial
Associaioa pkirk met at Weston
October l8M and lTh. ~
ny Rgv, '. ". lluauGs,

, October 1911 and lTM.
ny REV, ?. ". HUGHES.
The first crude idea Of tho process o
printing was suggested to the human
mind in the year 1880. "A man o.
Harlem, a town Of Holland, named
LaurCntius, or Lawrence Roster, wa
amusing himself in cutting letters or
tue smooth bark Of tree, when it oc-
Cured to bis MUD to transfer an i'm
preston ofthc lOttOra on paper. lie
thus Impressed two or three lines, rs Q
specimen, for the amusement Of hi,
children. Here an apparently acct
dental circumstance gave this man the
needed idea Of the great nrt Of print
ing. Active minds were at once sent
out on tho adventurous wing of in
vention, and soon the theory Of priut.
ing was so far made a practical art,
that to tho astonishment Of the entire
world, copies oftho bible were multi
piled with such great facility that the
entire book was offered for sale in
Paris for sixty crowns Itisa peculiar
fact, anG one worthy Of attention. that
the first book that was cverprinted on
paper wds The Bile. Thus God took
hold of the Pross, while in its infancy,
and sanctilled it for the diffusion Of
his own gospel, and has kept it to tho
present day, almost exclusively the
companion and hpndmuid Of Chris
tianity, though in many instances it
has backsliddCn,
There is not, perhaps, another 50
powerful un engine. for good or evil,
in the world as the Press. Tho inau-
cnce Of tho Press upon tho condition
Of the world can scarcely DO imagined.
Tho Press has a mighty influence
upon all arts and sciences, upon every
! physical, intellectual and moral ro-
source, every social and religious in.
tcrcst, upon tho intelligence and free
dom, tho rofcnmCnt and happiness o.
mankind, and upon all mind and al
matter. When We look around US and
SEQ the vast improvements in our social.
commercial and religious condition, that
owe their origin to tho Press, wc car
Justly endorse the saying-"Kings
Lords and Commons have each their
influence and sphere of action, but to ;
free and enlightened Press only is I
given to be tho palladium Of a peoples
liberty"
lie, US open tho pages Of history and
read tho lesson Of tho past, aud tllt
talc We shall learn from oil nations ant
people will DO in proportion to The
measure Of pure and truthful Literature
disseminated among them, SO did they
rise in their social condition, and shake
off the manacles Of superstition ant
tyranny-for thO very quintcssonco o
tyranny is ignorance, as truly us libcr'
~ is the result Of knowledge.
There is not, perhaps, III tue hands
OF God, another 80 powerful an engine
for dlffusing a knowledge Of God aud
his law, aud for carrying out tho d.
vino purposes of Heaven towards The
world. Books aud newspapers o.
mighty things, whether for good Oh
evil, and tho art which muliiplies and
perpCtuates them by tho thousands
daily, is an art Of equal efficiency, cap
able Of doing more to Culightcn, tc
eiyilizc, to clristianize, and bring tue
world to God, than my other power.
We Cannot too highly appreciate the
magic power Of the Press. It has been
truly said "tllat the Press is the tongue
Of tho country" 1t talks for tho public.
Instead of being tho luxury of The
rich, It has become the daily necessity
Of the middle and lower classes.
/ need not dwell upon tho rapid
strides v lich have been made in Tue
art of printing, from the day when
Cuxton submitted lis first proof sheet
to tho present time. llowcyer,a speech
delivered tonight might DO laid GU d
breakfast table in tue morning, three
hundred miles distant.
Seeing that the Press is such i great
power, how necessary is it that the
Press should be preserved, pure and
undeflrd, aud send forth no bitter
words, no iirc-brandg nor errors. Bul
oh ! how corrupt is tho Press at The
present day. 1t has yielded to temp
tatiOn-mOnOy has robbed it of it
primcval glory. Tho Press now ad'
mi.s everything for money. If yor
will look oyortlc country, and sec th'
ungOdly books and papers which have
been sent out over tho world like i
flood, and have become the great high.
way Of that intelligence which oxorts ,
controlling power over our nation, in
flaming tho t.iscontcnted, and poison
ing tho minds Of the loyal, assailipt
persons more than pleasurCs, and
placing party interest above public
good, you will sec at oncoit Is very
corrupt. But cannot something b
done 10 purify the Pros, aud make i
exert all its influence for good! The
fault is not Il tho press, but in til,
managers u the Press. Then, If W,
would have I'foss that would exert q
holy aud purifying influence, We mus
have pure and holy Editors, whose ain
would b. to onlighton and. improve
mankind, and avoid all publication
calculated 10 produce discord, or leat