The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-07-01
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
BY JOHN MARIO.

deliberations. 1t was then the pleasure
of her citiz4ns to welcome you, to ex-
hibit to you the evidence of prosperity
and advancement, to cultivate a more
social aud friendly intercourse. believing
that by so doing, they could and would
be brought through you,as representatives
Of the people, into closer relations
with the sitizens of the whole state.
With this same spirit, though more
universal, acknowledging the honor
again conferred upon US, and knowing
from past experience the advantages of
such Reunions, we extend to you, Editors
Of Wisconsin,, in behalf Of our whole
people, more hearty and more generous
welcome, with the assurance, that all we
can do to contribute to your pleasure
and enjoyment during your stay among
Us viii afford equal pleasure to ourselves.
The great and wondrous power and
influence of the public press cannot be
estimated. It is widely questioned
whether there is an7 one power that
compares with it; one 7ho stands peer
among the most intellectual men of our
Fland has even said that the Influence of
the pulpit has become Insignificant IN
comparison THE pulpit has been
thoroughly sunplanted by the newspa
per ]" The clergy may take violent ex-
ceptions to this. and do not know that
we should blame them if they do, nor
! am I ready to call the pulpit insgnii
cant myself, but the more we study the
power and influence of the press, TIE
more illimitable does it appear.
| Let us consider it for moment in It's
diversified relations: The commercial
advantages of the public press are
known more particularly to those who
have for many years used its columns
for the promotion of their own private
Interests, coupled with an unselfsh de-
sire TO promote the interests of its read
ers; thereby making the press silent
power for mutual good.
The press can make and unmake men,
can destroy and build up great repufa-
tions, encourage or discourage public and
private enterE crises, elevate the standard
/ & r Il ,ie~
resentati0n, untrushfulness, and spleen,
not only destroy its own influence tor
locality in which it is published and cir
culated. A newspaper is true repre-
sentative Of the people Of q town WLo
read and support it. Ii It's columns are
we'll flied with advertisements. it shows
active, wide-awake, energetic, and de-
termineo not to- hide their lights under
buohel, but to push ahead of their less
enterprising peighbors, who neither
advertise. nor support newspaper.
II It's moral ard intellectual standard is
high, Ue may know that the community
or its supporters demand it. The news
paper and the people have mutual IN
tcrest, and we claim tn It both should
work to improve each other. Is this not
true? Ralph Waldo Emerson truly
says, "Show Us an intelligent family of
boys and girls, and we will show you
family where newspapers and periodicals
are plenty. Nobody who has heeo
without these silent tutors cali know
ltheir educ4tirg power for good or for
evil. Anything that makes home
pleasant, cheerful and chatty, thins the
haunts of vice and the thousand and one
avenues of temptation, should certainly
be regarded (when we consider It's IN
fuence on the minds o. the young). as
great moral and social light"
/ Contrast the condition of those coua-
tries where newspapers are not taken CT
published, or where they are kept under
the surveillance of the government. with
a country blessed with 4ree and IN
trammeled press, on the one side, there
is desolaion, ignorance and bigotry;
where Information is kept from the peo-
pie. they become ahject slaves, bending
to the will of tyrants, both ecclesiastical
and state. No progress, no advance
ment, NJ freedom; those people will evei
remain as they arr. silent inhabitants as
Of the dark ages, until the light of
free press dawns upon them, bringing
I them 10 realize theu are aaael, r.ot sarfS