Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-18

duty to do this, both as respects the party,
to correct its wrong doing, and TO the peO-
ole at large, that they may be truthfully adj
vised. These maxims are the marks which
alike point out the paths to honor, to use
fulness, 10 influence and to pecuniary
profit.
Ii will be observed that do not advo-
cate the doctrine Of the journalist sacritic-
ing himself to public good. But contend
that the paths of public good and private
interests, with the journalist especially, run
parallel. Given the same ability, with
other advantages, and the honest, indepen.
dent editor will be more highly hon
Ored and better remunerated. Whenever
he prostitutes his journal to private ends
or personal ambition, he is lost as a jour
nalist and nav as well retire from that
arena. Mr.. Richie, well known as the
founder Of the Richmond Enquirer, per-
hans exerted greater influence in his day
than any other editor before or since-ex-
cepting, perhaps, the immortal George d.
Prentice, Of the Louisville Journal. Mr..
Richie never aspiTed to official position,
and this was the main secret Of his great
power. He possessed commanding ability,
but be never prostituted it to merely sell
fish purposes as an editor. He would have
disdained ''to flatter Neptune for his tri-
dent or Jove for his thunder" If he ever
pandered to mems prejudices, it was their
nOblest, most virtuOus and most generous
preiudices, and for noble purposes. If he
consulted public opinion, it was that he
might allure it to higher planes Of thought
and sentiment. Iflhe was partisan it was
in that high sense when the partisan be-
comes the patriot and merges party IN a
higher love for country.
In times of great excitement and tumult,
| the journalist is necessarily compelled to
! drift into current sentiment; but he does
so, if his private views antagonize this SEN
timent, with the honest purpose and en-
| deavor Of eventually directing it Alright,
and modifying and chastening it, if he can
not wholly change it. He preserves his in
| tegrity by an earnest effort to so direct the
| irTes istible force which be cannot control
as to ward off its perils and gently divert
its current into other and more harmless
| channels
'sPIiaut as reeds where streams of freedom glide,
/ Firm as the hills to stem corruption's tide"
| Gentlemen, ifthese views have any force
and meaning, they should impress us with
| the importance Of so directing and engi-
neering the mighty power Of the press that
it shall lead the way ia every noble enter
| prise which has in view the honor, welfare,
! prosperity and advancement of the people,
| feeling we'll assured that 1t is the surest
path to personal success and to command
| ing . Just influence over public affairs.
In my country printing office, at Dyers-
| burg, / have sometimes paused and asked
myself the question whether the imputed
power Of the press is not myth, or at least
/ an exsgcerstion. But, gentlemen, / have
not paused long to answer such question,
when 1 consider that the glories, the mar
vels ami the miracles Of ancient Rome and
! Greece, their arts, literature aud
achievements would never have been known
/ to tut a small fraction Of those to whom
they are now handed down, as the bloom
| ing era Of civilization, but for the printing
press and its multiplied fruits. Neither
! the flute like periods Of Cicero nor the d.
| aDasOn tones Of tthe fOust born DemOsthe-
! nese, whose thunder shook the Philip Of
| the Seas, could ever have reached our own
| ears, in any liberal allowance, but for the
! marvellous reproductions of that mighty en-
| CINE, which has almost reduced the witch
ing spell Of Oratory to that of its humble
| ally and servatOr. The press and its adm
Z LaLlLs Tic LElEEL1pLH allA rs SWIM AANS-I---
| ger, the steam locomotive, are the three
I great modern miracles which men will
never cease to wonder at "tO the last syl-
liable Of recorded time" They are not
merely the powerful instrumentalities Of
man, but they are the chosen agencies Of
heaven Itself for disseminating the sacred
word to the farthest extremities of the
earth in the briefest possible time, short of
the beautifully expressed spiritual cOmmu-
nication described by the master poet as
being swift as meditation or the thoughts
of love-
Then, gentlemen, allow me, in con-
Guiding these discursOry remarks TO exhOTt
YOU, as brOther-Workers Of this mighty and
potential engine for good or evil, 10 weigh
well and solemnly your high responsible
ties i'm welding its destiniess Let it be in
| dependent ever, and let its thoughts bound
over the continents Of the world and the
islands Of the seas, free and FEARLESS. Seek
through il s'to purify society and to exalt
Justice" DeRouuce corruption, rebuke de-
pravity, hold up vice and hypocrisy to ABB
horrence and merited execratiOn; but be
spariug in individual OblOquy, or Of infict-
ing pain or penalty, save as high public eK-
ample, and never from personal animOsity,
malignity or revenge. Like Wolf at CullO-
den, tender the return Of your commission,
rather than stain the honor Of your pro
fessiOn by becoming the despised execution
er. Like the Chevalier Bayard, after
having received his death wound, fOregO
the tasting of a prOffered cup Of water
rather than see a brother, as chivalrOuS,
die for want Of it. Let the courtesy and
chivalry Of the Tennessee Press ever keep
its ranks serried and solid, like the embat-
tied hosts Of Heaven when warning with
tie rebelliOus angels. Thus will its digni-
ty be promoted, its honor preserved and its
influence and usefulness perpetuated and
extended.