Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-19
citation.

AnnuhI Meeting or the Maine PRESS AssO-
| citation.
The ASS citation rea.sembled Yesterday morn
ing in the Judiciary Committee room.
| w. W. Perry, from The committee RAJ sed Thurs
day evening reported petition asking tJrrcpesl of
he resolve of Oct. p, concerning the publication
of the laws and resolves Of the State Of public
nature. requiring the said publication to be " in
octave form" The Association regard he restliC-
ton as of no public benefit, and therefore pray
that it may be removed leaving publ siers free to
select sucn form as l. most convenient, provided
| they he printed on separate sheet now.
| A discussion ensued between Messrs. Perry
| Richardson, Holman, Stickney and others but as
the general expression seemed 10 be that the pres
ent form was satisfactory and convenient, the re-
port was lowed to lie upon the table.
Mr.. Elwell from the committee summer eN-
curslou, reported that the committee thought it
/ best to visit Quebec and tae Saguenay river, in
June, making a very enjoyable trip. Thought
the AroostJok matter might be left open for the
present, until fuller invitation was received.
The ms o.y OF Aroosiook is interestin. one,
snd the region would be a fine place to make an
autumn excursion.
! DAME Stckney said he was proud of Aroos-
took, and felt authorized to extend an invitation
to the association 80 visit that county on Sepiem-
Der, tue first of October Inc matter had been
spoken Of there, and n the agricultural society,
| being desirable object Some OF the prominent
citizens had authorized him TO extend an invita-
ton, and were anxious that they should come.
cursion 10 Aroostook was referred tn the follow
ing committee Daniel Stickney, w. b. Lapham,
+. II. Ewell.
The committee on Summer excursion reported
! IN favor OF making the excursion to Quebec and
the Saguensy river Accepted and adopted, and
the committee to make arrangements a. pointed
Brown Ehursiou, Portland JOSEF l \. Holman
and Z. O. NlekeIy Of Augusta.
{. Ii. kllby from the committee advertis
| ing, reported that the Association adhere to the
! emllOV
only such advertising agents as come well
commended, and pay comm ssion of from Is to
20 per cent. Accepted,
Daniel Stickney read extended report OF
the history of tue Press IN Aroostook county; and
l.. ii. Eiwell the report in Cumberland county.
Letters were read from l.. A. Emery, of Ella.
worth, and VIM. Moves of Saco, regr,tting that
illness in ther fam lies pr vented their attic enhance
A letter was received from Nj. Watkins Of the
Oxford Dsmoc'at, stating his inability - be pres
ent on account OF sickness.
Adjourned to afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Association assembled at 80 p. VI at the
Senate chamber Mr. Wilder W. Perry Of the
Camden Herald, was introduced by the Presi-
dent, and proceeded to deliver bis essay entitled
The Growth and influence of the Printed Page
and Journalism" OF which the following lie au
abstract:
The PRINTED PAGE AND JOURNALISM It's
GROWTH AND INFLUENCE.
The speaker said that the birth of Journalism
event, was dependent upon the discovery of
the ait of printing, and the connection had always
been vital one. The origin of the art of print
ing was too humble to have been heraled forth
by the arrogance and bigotry of the age which 1t
was especially designed to enlighten, and history
does not give the light II should on this important
matter. The best authorities, after giving the
Chinese the benefit of partial discovery of the
art in the way OF transferring pictures, have set-
tied upon the conclusion that the art of printing
first discovered about the year li42 by John
Luxembourg of Strasbourg, Germany. Up TO this
time literature only owned BY the nobility or
very wealthy, whole life time often being spent
in the elaborate copying of single manuscript.
The growth of the art was slow at first, and more
than one hundred years passed before the first
newspaper published, which introduced
into England near the close of the 10th century,
by order of Queen Elizabeth. Before this how
ever the printed page had revolutionzed Europe,
in spreading the Reformation. All means were
tried to suppress It, but to overcome the opposition
leaflets were stitched into garments and saddles,
and thereby carried throughout Europe. Although
the Bible and rell6 ious publications were seized,
together with their authors, and burned at the
stake, and the heavens were red with the flames
of diving martyrs, yet the influence of the printed
page lost no ground, but like the volcano swept
beioIe it such institutions could not bear the
rush of an enlightened current of reform. Out
of the ruins OF this eventtul period came the liter
erary giants, Milton and Shakespeare. In the
|
new and grand motive power clearly traceabe. In
about fifty years America was discovered by Co
lumbus, and 10 less than hundred rhe true theory
of the PLANETARY motions were emphaiicaly defined
aud demonstrated by Copsrnicus, who was sue
ceeded by the three great Philosophical luminaries
-Tycho 81 abe kepler and Calico, and they IN
turn by the lirepressibe Newton.
The next great influence Of the printed page
was noticed in the books Of the Purltsns. These
could not be endured by the more conservative,
and the result was the permanent colonization Of
America, and all those essential attributes Of III
herited character which have pre-sminenty mark
ed thl. nation as the most ingenious and prosper
GUS in the history of the world. just prior TO the
American Revolution there great struggle
! for the freedom of the press among the colonies,
but il not fully established till after the Reeve
luton, when the press became great political
power, sweeping before it men who were behind
the times and parties which had outlived their
usefulness.
/ The press of the 10Th century exerts a mighty
| influence, and no evil institution exist when
the combined influence of an untrammeled press
is brought to bear against it, Its progress indi-