The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-11-11
THE MIGHTY PRESS.
Mr.. Lowell on an xneien. H.esn.ysd Topic

Report Of the Press Fund Dinner.
The American Minister, who was very cor
daily received, said, inreply: His Eminence
Cardinal Manning has alluded TO me as the
representative Of a foreign power; and, al
though tina. Is an expression which I am
sometimes painfully inclined to resent
thinking that an American Is hardly, per-
haps, so much of foreigner as the represent
atives Of other naiionalities-there can be no
doubt that those gentlemen represent not
only the conflicting interests but the mutual
amenities Of nations. Hear, hear.l His
Eminence has referred to me as representing
great space. do not know whether he
meant by that term physical space or intel
lectual space. cardinal Manning: Both.l
But should be inclined to say that II he
meant merely that represented q physical
space he stated, In effect, that represented
nothing. Little Athens occupies q greater
space on the map Of human memory than
the enormous empires that have arisen and
passed away since her fall [cheersl; and
when stand here representing the people of
the United States Of America, think am
not overstepping the bounds Of modestv
when l say that represent also great and
beneficent idea-an idea that Is making itself
more and more felt In the politics and in the
history of the world. Hitherto we have sent
you corn, cotton, and cutlery mainly but it
will not always be so. have reached that
period of life when almost every man be-
comes more or less tduddtor temporis dcti;
and when he begins either silently or public
ly to conceive or express considerable re-
spect for the opinion of that Consul Plaucas
whom he particularly lampooned in the hot
days Of his youth. [Cbeers and laughter.]
That is probably a natural tendency. Isup-
pose that Adam, in his old days, regretted
the degeneracy Of apples [laughterl-that
the modern had not the flavor and piquancy,
and were not such aids to digestion, as those
which he remembered In his youth. Laugh
teri But think there Is one thing In which
even those who are pessimistically inclined
will say that the world has improved, and
that Is the press. [Cheers.l 1t Is certainly
q long stride from the Grub Street Journal
may, from Thackery's picture of the press
man, which is only ageneration old-to such
a table as this, and to prosperity Of the press
which indicates higher civilization, and
which is also justified by the noble manner in
which 1t is used. [Cheers.l The great dam
ger which thoughtful men have always dread
ed from the press was the danger Of ire
sponslble power; and irresponsible power
has, almost invariably, been lll-used power.
But must say that In that respect the press
has advanced in the right direction, and that
such publicity as It gives is more useful than
harmful. Hear, hear.l have more than
once protested against the interviewer"
who has certainly done what few men Of
genius have been able to do-that is, to add
new verb Il will not say whether or not 1t
Is an elegant one) to the language. Laugh
teri But must acknowledge that he Is
frequently useful, and that he enables pub
lie men out of power to make speeches from
which they would otherwise be precluded.
[Hear, hear.1 AND when remember that
the first great and model interviewer was
Boswell, l confess that my feelings soften to-
ward the whole race. [Cheers and laughter
alluded moment ago to what is sometimes
disagreeable-or may become very dan
gerous-quality Of the press, and that Is the
catering to universal curiosity which leads
to the invasion Of the privacy Of life, and
which, If 1t justified all that has been feared
Of IL, would make us all live in much fiercer
light than that which is said to beat upon a
throne. But when we consider-as think
all thoughtful men should consider--that,
will not say the majority, but, to a consider
able portion of mankind, their consciences
are external to them, and that Mrs. Grundy,
in short, lie large part Of their law, think
we can see how In this direction the press
may be highly serviceable in promoting pur-
ity of life and high code Of public morals.