The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-06-20

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Comrades Of the pen and scissors,
Commanders Of the type brigade
Again we meet bereft Of visor,
In social brotherhood srrayed.
Fresh from the gladistorial field
Ofpublic clamor and afffsy,
Tis mete each year one day TO yield
To kindly friendships cheering sway.
Since last our annual clasp ffaternal
One pioneer Of thought hath hed,
And called away by voice supernAl
Kind REYNOLDS slumbers with the dead.
From LIES too crooked copy-book
His leaders, rife with truth and grace,
Have gone 10 proof and overlook
BY the Revisor Of our race.
'Tis to the Press when fetterless
That Freedom owes her better day;
But tn Press in chain, 10 Freedoms gains
Shrink, disappear and fade away.
While the Press il pure we are secure.
Let Freedom sing her happiest song
Unarmed Truth, though but youth,
Can safely combat mail-clad Wrong.
But should corruption rule the crew,
And venal helmsmen guide the bark,
Not all the curses Egypt knew
Can more imperil Freedoms ark.
The editor who'll fawn and cringe,
Intent atone to gil his purse,
Whose hireling pen and columns bend
To moneyed power, Is but curse.
There is a courage, nerve and pluck
Displayed before the steel and ball
Where raging Death with murd'rous muck
Is holding CORY carnival;
But braver is the man by far,
Who dares the worlds opinion slight,
Who'll write his thoughts just as they are,
And sink or swim for what is right
We mould the thought that is not bought
Suggest the bold and upward view
Assail the strong, when in the wrong,
And vindicaie the tried and true.
Uphold just laws and moral cause,
Condemn the cruel, false and vile
Extend our aid to every grade
Whose hearts are pure and free from guile.
To prove the pens potential power,
Napoleon once did flank confess,
He'd rather charge an armed tower,
Than hght a single printing press
He'd rather free the volleying roar
Of metal hail apd powder hame,
Than haye one leaden column pour
With printers ink upon his name.
The adage sll who read have learned
'ris common as a household word
Whatever brutal force hath earned,
"The pen is mightier than the sword"
Empires have Aourished and perished,
Thrones crumbled at the touch Of Time
And many noble deeds once cherished
Have passed away to live in rhyme;
With magic skill the printed page
Preserves the history Of each age.
Post-writer or soldier-6ghter,
Philosopher, divine or legal,
Statesman, sailor, sage or traitor,
The kaiser, or the brilliant regal;
All human names once known to fame
Stand forth like pictured panorama
Or re-enacted melo-dramas.
When Moses erst on Horeb's mount
Faced Great Omnipotence alone,
Commandments ten for guiding men
Were 'grsved upon the solid stone.
The sacred word which should be heard
On parchment was with toll enrolled,
And every copy Of the law
Sold for its weight in virgin gold.
Now, loi the change, 50 marked and strange,
By minds mysterious, glorious might
Through Gutenberg and Faust, the world
In every part hath hope and light.
Far, far in ages past we find
That saperstitiOn's bloody doom
Had fettered down the human mind
All filled the globe with grief and gloom,
While ignorance, with crafty tread,
crept cropping round each human hearth,
And hecatombs Of martyred dead
Bestrswed The desecrated earth;
But a. from III brain Of mighty Jove,
Minerva sprang full armed 10 view,
So Reason sped from the Press bed.
And taught the wondering world anew.
Wise Fulton came with honored name
A pond'rous force with steam 10 WELD,
While Franklin eaugm the electric fame
And taught il to his power to yield.
Twas Morses skill and steadfast will
Hanessed the lightning swim and wild,
Which spans earths space with rapid race,
obedient As a tutored child.
These lend their aid 10 the Pressman's trade.
Find ample food for type and Psn,
Diffuse the news and statesmens views,
And educate the world Of men.