The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-07-04
ANNUAL POEM.

Written for the sixth Convention OF
tho MINNESOTA state Editorial Assoei-
alton. .1*& -., ,.<s.E.. : II. i
.t1. .---'- ,4 s,3z.ssgs. "a.
N h. v. HsI1IY. Fl
'Tis said past days golden days II only past
+ I'd far Jug - 49, ~ '@ - -'
That not one living soul can quite remember what
they we're; -
Since tn most souls there ever lives sort of vague
regret
That virtues of some olden time don't tarry with
This Brother Mitchell, presume is just the reason
) 4 why N r.
You asked unto this yearly feast 70 old an Ex" as L.
Hoping no Doubt through me to catch in very &C.
rious rhyme, .8 /.
A sort Of fancy glimpse of gilt which ftinged the
olden time.
ago,
When on this parched and thirsty soil we first be-
gan to SOW;
Not doubling but the seed was pure and would in
such = soil
spring up golden harvest 10 reward us fOf our TOLL
Der these bright mem'ries Of the past, I'm sure
you'll pardon me
For using much that modest word the editorial
1--WE; ;" ..:.sls
It is, you know, frank and fair when honors we'd
divide,
And handy, too in libel SUITS to get behind and hids
That glorious olden time of ours, when in such
swarms we came
From everywhere, with printers ink to work for
bread and fame;
And over many newborn town our bugles shrily
blew,
Alas how sad, despite our wind, 80 many never
You smile, perhaps but frankly confessr love to
Back unto those days departed and with loving fin
The veil which kindly now enshrouds the blunders
and mistakes
That presses made when they were run unchecked
by moral brakes.
We were precious set indeed, to mould pre- ~
Statel
When eac ono took his politics. just like his whis-
ky-straight;
And qrite unlike you modern chaps II say this with
asigh)
We had few scrupes in those days but dared to tell
Wehad NO qualms of conscience over what we ought
: to says! +.
To speak it plain. our motive power was first and
always-pay!
For roadv cosh q bnovo o+a
get;
I'm told (though somewhat modifed) this custom
fingers yeti
We tried to win, NO matter how, twas victory We
sought;
And through surrounding hosts of foes we cut our
way, or-bought;
And this high moral, which now guides your pens
and tongues Alright,
Was something quite unknown to us when bracing
for fight!
No matter what our party did, it was sweet de-
light
To champion every deed performed, as something
wise and right;
And though, perhaps, for argument. We might admit
to err
Was human, yet such frailty We ne'er confessed Of
We struck to hurt, and always aimed our blows be-
tween the eyes;
And took no stock in any sort of Party compro-
mise;
Nor shed affected tears above the grave of fallen
foe,
But having killed him. rather liked upon his corpse
to crowl
Such frmness kept the traces straight, bolt was
deadly crime;
Our Party" was the Presss call to patriots every
We felt tits true, great interest in Constitutional
lore,
But caucus packed successfully was something
pleased us more
We had buffers to our knocks, nor tried to ease
the blow,
Or polish off the fatal shafts that laid our victims
low,
The party penalty was death, to him who dared op-
Its vested right to kindly take and lead him by the
True party organs in those days. were chary to ad
nit
That those upon the other side had any mother witt
Each Wed with each, with heat and force to damn
tho others aims
And he was deemed the winner who could hurl tho
hardest names!
There was no sort of etiquette, in putting libels
through;
The more outrageous was the lie, the more we
swore 'twas true;
And looked 30 honest while We swsre that no one
could be sure
That statements uttered with such vim, were not the
simon pure.
We raised, as you may yet, great men by little
friendly boosts
Up, from out tho common mud unto the higher
roosts;
And got. sometimes, as you perhaps for these news-
paper tricks,
Frem him, We made a statesman Of, appreciative
Nor were I'VE very much behind in comforts, as
! class;
We too, like you, went anywhere, upon our yearly
-; ''pass" -:
But unlike yours, journeys lay DER muddy roads
| and rough,
Yet though we "hoofsd IT, up the hills still Walk
! er got his "Puff!"
And here must confess it, what base idols We did
l puff;
To you, who've grown sevs.pslous, the story may
- :, = seem tough, .,,.....<s2 --.s ,..
But It is a. true preachirgwe nevcr lost chance
On condition, always mind you that twas paid for
| in advance, - -,',
l
To give the glowing tribute, such as honored dead
| might claim,
And loudly blow the trumpet Of temporary fame !;
For Republican or Democrat. or even old Wings,
For very learned blacksmiths or for very heavy
! pigs! =
How industrfously we did it, how we added link to
link,
And proved what mighty heroes could be born Of
! . printers ink, &s&:
Till tis now quite undisputed that this
touch
Is the eh<apsst start for Governors, and Congress.
| men, and -such >"
OF course can't apologize for things we did not
do: ','.-
If We had finished up tho job thered been no need
| of you'll ~ ~.
But somehow, when your ways and ours, in some
| things compare, 81. a
cannot help but think Of him who tried to split
l. - hair! = 49, - ! Il t:g:a