Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-19


wardens of the nations liberties through
the quicksands Of treason, bribery and oln-
cial corruption. Men who control the press
should rise above its grovelling scenes
of political scrambles for Office, and
acknowledge no monitor save country
and conscience. The great strength
Of the Press consists in its vast
influence over the moral and intellectual
development of the country. Let 1t fail TO
be u1trammelled by surrounding corrupt
influences and its mission is at AN end. Ii
is useless to shut our eyes to the fact that
every party, and nearly every administra- |
ton that has ever figured in the country,
has been characterized by official conup- |
ton. To the press the nation turns its |
eyes as the only power that can erase these |
blots from its otherwise untainted es-
cutheon.
To protect morality and religion, the |
press must be free as well as independent. |
The gifted Sheridan once said: s.Give me |
but the liberty Of the press and will give
to the Minister venal House of Peers-l
will give him corrupt and seryiie House |
Of Commons will give him the full sway |
of the patronage of office-I will give him |
the whole host of ministerial influence
fer upon him TO purchase up submission !
and overawe Iesistance-and yet, armed |
with the liberty of the press, will 90 forth |
to meet him undismayed, will attack the |
mighty fabric he has reared with that |
mightier engine, l will strike down from |
its height corruption and bury it amid the |
ruins Of the abuses it was intended to shell |
ter.n The press cannot long remain free
amid the mighty revolutions of this age, |
unless il purges itself of all corruption and |
remains untainted by the vices that sur
round it. IL its influence, Its poaer, its |
achievements and its victories are great, its |
duties and its responsibilities are likewise |
great. To fully realize and discharge |
the delicate and responsible duties !
of the public journalist would be the ele- |
Walton of the profession to the most exalted |
summit of human dignity and moral great |
ness. A literary or political editor, ami !
mated with an adequate sense OF the sacred |
obligations and grave responsibilities of his |
Important relations with the public veal, |
and endowed with facilities corespondingly |
great, would indeed be a leader of the |
masses and moulder of public sentiment |
in its Hottest sense. To fill this exalted |
station ne should possess an honesty that |
no temptation could corrupt; learning |
that no fattery could weaken; a beneve- |
lence that no prosperity or adversely could |
destroy; a courage that no threats could |
intimidate; a GOODNESS and calmness that |
no emergency could disturb, and an indie |
pendefice that the communicating bulls |
OF political archbishops and the
brides of leprous ofice-hunters could |
never shake. He should be a man |
who would lose his life readily TO serve his |
country, and who would not do base |
thing to save It. How many Of the profess |
sion can say that they fill the measure of |
these requirements? How many would |
not sell their influence for the rewards OF |
flattery and the destinations Of filthy lucre? |
How many are far removed from suspicion? |
How many are gifted with an embellished |
manhood and an untainted moral charac- |
ter? How many are at all times true 10 |
themselves and their profession? These |
are grave questions, that demand the sea |
rious consideration OF those who control |
the press. Let then n0t treat the subject |
lightly, for their influence will reach far |
into the dim vista of coming years, and af- |
feet the destiny for veal or woe Of millions |
yet unborn.
A pure aud untrammeled press is The |
brightest star that could deck the diadem |
of a nation of letters and liberty. Il is the |
most priceless gem that will ever glitter in |
the proud galaxy created by the struggles, |
and victories, and renown OF our own loved |
America. The press is the great educator |
of the nation. Its magic influence per- |
vades the Preside, the schOOl-room, the |
merchants desk, executive mansions and |
senate chambers. II even encircles the |
Clergy in its power and wields an irresisti- |
BILE Influence In the ureh rs we'll as in |
the State. Ii is the great conservator of |
art, science, morals, religion, and politics. |
II can give us 4 freedom and renown that |
will exist in splendor when the crowned |
heads and imperial governments of Europe |
shall be known only in the pages Of history. |
1t can give us a glory that was never |
dreamed of by the poets and philOso- !
Pliers of the most brilliant eras Of by |
gone DAYS. Brethren of the press shall |
we rise above the schemes, and false theO- |
ries, and fanaticism, and skepticism and |
corruption that threaten the life Of the
Nation. and work out tbs gorgeous des-
tiny? or shall the press be stripped Of the
bright laurels it has so dearly gained and
its devOtees be driven back to the darkness
and obscurity from whence they sprang?
God forbid that such should be the fate OF
our glorious profession. Though some are
recreant to their duty ''there are, thank
heaven! a Irobler troop 10 whom this trust
is given; who all unbribed on freedoms
altar stand, faithful and firm, bright ward
ers Of the land" With their guidance
the press will grow brighter in its achieve
ments until mankind shall have reached
the utmost summit of human greatness.
Then and not till then will the press have
achieved its glorious mission.
s'NTghtiest of the mighty means on which the
arm of progress leans,
Mans nOblest mission TO advance, his woes as
suage, his veal enhance,
His rights enforce, his wrongs redress, mightiest
Of the mighty is the Press"