The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-01

Louisiana Press Association.
Session Held nj Baton Rouge, Sep
tember 5th and eth, 1881.



Tho Association met In the Senate Chamber
OF the restored Capitol at P. NJ, this day, pur-
suant to adjournment Of last March.
President McCranie being absent, on motion
ofGen. Jastremsli, Major E. A Burke was cleo
ted temporary Chairman.
Major Burke, on assuming tho chair, thanked
the members for their choice Of himself as pre-.
siding officer and explained that the absence Of
the President Of the Association was due to the
unfortunate blunder of some employe of the rail.
road who bad detached from the passenger train
as it was about to leave the Algiers depot this
morning, thespecial car in which Superintendent
Morse had invited Col McCranie to make the
trip TO Baton Rouge.
The Secretary called tho roll and eleven mem
beers, representing eleven papers, answered to
their names as follows:
iona c. White, Grctna Courier; E. A. Burke,
New Orleans Democrat; Leon Jastrcmsh, Baton
Rouge Copitc,ian; 7. Sambola Jones, Baton
Rouge Adrocuts; L. A. Sandos, 0pelousas Cot,-
ria, @. W. Reese, Folicians Sentinel: L. E.
Bentley, Donaldsonville Cht.f; Il. j. Hyams,
Nauriu, st. ames Creole Freside; Il. W. Read
Amito City Independent; Samuel Lambert Gin
ton Patriot Democrat.
Gen. Jastremsk presented the written proxy
ofA W. II. Gayle, Of the Monroe Bulletin, and
On motion, the same was recognized.
Reports of committees were called for, and
none being presented, the chair asked for the
cEssoRs RsroRI.
Mr. H. j. Hyams. Censor Of the Association,
then read the following:
Mr. President aud Members of the Pres Asso-
ciatic,s- Having been appointed Censor By our
President for the present year, have assumed
tie task though doubling my ability TO dis
charge the duties in an effective manner. tits q
fearful responsibility
ITO beard the lion In this den,
The Douglas in his hail.
aud much rather would do either than criticise
my brethren of the press in any ether language
than that Of tho most profound respect. There
fore II hit hard In some places, 1t Ia merely to
give interest to my subiect-and they may DO
sr them merely small faults, to DO Graduated by
timc and the great teacher, experience. Having
been one of them and Of them for over quarter
Of century, ] may DO charged with as high
nisdcmeanoFs or petty aailings as point ont
can claim no more than Others. II have not
reformed the error of my ways in the many
wears that have been member Of the press Of
this State, the fault has entirely been my Own,
aud not of my emporaries-companion and
associates in many hard fought contest over
aubjects political or subjects local.
But it is not of myself that / would speak
for that was pot the mission assigned me--but
Of thoee less fortunate In term of service, and to
10 to them guide and beacon light by which
they may avoid the snares and pitfalls that al
ways await the adventurous young traveller
upon the dangerous pathway of journalism.
fright promises and brilliant ' alluroments
of the life editorial. With bright anticipa-
pations of a glorious future entered at last
that holy OF NOTES.-THE scnctuns Surely
solomon never priced more the dignity Of his
exalted position than did ON that memorable
day when first assumed the editorial chair,
some thirty years ago, but it must be remember
I'd that was young then. and not given to the
WAYS and ussges of a wicked world. What was
life to me then but one eternal hoiiday-no cares
10 Distress no clouds upon my horizon Of life ;
golden tints cleaned on every movement of my
existence but bright as was this enchanting
dream darkness and gloom lowered over IL only
10 BIO revealed Ok time lifted the curtain of the
future. What then bcheld and have since en-
,lured, have been life long study resulting in
little benefit to the student but may to others
who follow the same phantom In pursuit OF fame,
wealth or a doubtful niche in the temple of glory.
Has not my experience been that Of thousands
of othersg
Now, sharp word or two 10 my brethren of
the press, and shall pass on to tho pleasant
few errors which have crept into the editorial
career, and they are glazing, but time will
doubtless remove the owl. beheld, to my
amazemcnt and CONSERVATION, that the greatest
fault of the press was, in many instances, an
almost total want of independence, that it was
throttled by the hand OF political deraagogues
who made II subserv1ent to their own unholy
desires-to secure power, their only aim, the
TOO, that many seealled Journalists were obi.
vions of the fact that the public welfare claimed
their first attention-their utmost diligence In
IFS defence-thcir never ending labors night and
Sysiphus sank into insignihcance, and yet they
moved only when selfinterest pointed the way.
saw that many had wonderfully mistaken their
vocation when DOMINIC the toga editorial, being
neither fitted by nature or experience for those
responsible duties, but better fried to adorn q
cotton field with basket In hand or welding q
cane-knifc In grinding season on q sugar planta-
ton. saw others whose souls would rattle In
mustard seed, ever on the hunt for the almigh-
~ dollar, and in so doing. forgot their position,
the duty they owed to themselves and tho pub
lie and who become tho Laughter and scorn OF
the deceived public have seen the press rob
bed and pillaged by rascally advertising agents
abroad and thieying contractors at home, with
scarcely an effort made TO bring the offenders
10 Justice or even TO give the public their names
through the circulation OF their respective jour
nails. and still the name men shouted from ruby
morn to dewy eve. the freedom Of the press
must and shall be preserved |" Glorious free
dom--to be exercised only when the controlling
powers permitted. But the press lived! On,
yea, twas permitted to live, but cowed TO the
earth unless it blazonod forth the virtues of the
politician, the glories Of the party, or sang the
praises Of the oficeseeker taking the crumbs
That fell from the political tables as remuners
ton for their services, dovcutly thanking God
that thoy were permitted to live and enjoy such
inestimablc bessings.
All those things have seen. i speak with
the experience Of thirty years as my Mentor. ]
photograph their pictures here for the benefit
81 the younger fraternity. Remember. this II
but the dark side Of the general whole NeveI
let us see II again In Louisiana. 1t Is my hope
and know II Is yours.
In times antc-beuum and since, Baton Roug,
possessed and had living within her limits, som,
Of tho brightest lights that ever shone ON th,
permanent newspaper literature of tho State,
shall speak only Of those who have gone to th,
Spirit Land to which, sooner or later, all OF N
must 90. They were honored and esteemed du
ring life and their memory Is still green in tn
hearts Of friends who never mention their name
without reverence. J. NJ. Hueston, George
Mcwhorter John r. Dufrocg. Stephen Hendel
son. DR. w. G.. Mann, Charles II. Koun, William
II. Adams and T. B. Thorpe have in turn edites
the old Baton Rouge Gazette, while the Adrocat
has bad among the most conspicuous writer's
T. II. X. Hatch, Percival Hatch, John II. Tay
l,x navc Martin and rp<cnt news announce