Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-01-14
Generals Grant AID Sherman ca Il Pc

At the ,inEer Of the New York Press Club
on Thursday. in response to II toast to ''ttc
honored ex-President Gen. Grant sail
confess to a little embarrassment tins
evening in being called unexpectedly to say
a word before a set OF such diffidenl men as
compose. not only the Press Club. but those
associated with the press of the country 1
thought this was an evening was going 10
spend where all would he quiet and good
order. Applause, Where nobody would
have anything to say. We all know tie
characteristic, modeSiy Of the people asso-
ciated with the press. Laughter. They
never want to inquire into anyboly's affairs
they know where they are going what they
are going to do laughter what they are
going to say VIXEN they yet here; and /
really thought that You would excuse M
this evening. 1t would take good deal to
tell what II is possible for the press to do
confess. at some period Of my life, when
| have read wEat ven have hai 10 say
about me that | have lost AL faith antl all
hope: but >irct the youns editor has
spoken for the press, and has fixed the
lifetime of this generation of news
paper men al about twelve wears
have Il growing hope within me that in ih-
future the press may be able to Do some of
is possible for ii To do. Applause and LAUGH
ter. | have been somewhat of a reader .l
newspapers for forty years. could reai
very well when | was eight years Of age, aui
it has given me forty wears of observation &c.
the press, and there IS one peculiaritv that
have observed. and ihIt is in all ot The
walks of life the people oItsidc oi the pr.s-
have entirely mistaken the profession -,acE
occupation. Laughter | never knew .
mayor of 4 city. evrn c9lntiin'an 90! IN.
city, any pahlc oiircr, any Goycrnrcs'
official never knew Il memher of t"n1Tg=5
Senator or President Of the United state
who could not be enlightened in his duiigs
by the youngest member Of the pre-
Laughter ! never knew 4 general To-
command brigade, division, corps oI
IN army who could begin to do i. rs vel
as men far away in their sanctuGls, and /
often wondered. was very glad 10 hear
that the newspaper fraternity were ready to
take with perfect confidence any office that
might be rendered them. from Prtsiien, to
mayor. and have often been astonished
that our citizens have not done 81, because
they know that all ;hese offices would have
been well and properly filled. Laughter
Well, gentlemen, ! am very happy to have
been here with you, and hope when the
new generation about twelve years hence
comes up that will again dine with the
Press Club OF New York city and that it
will see that those of this generation, who
are 50 well lifted to fill all the civil offices,
have all been chosen. and that there will he
nothing then lett 10 critciSc. thank ycu.
gentlemen.
GENERAL SEEEMAN's SPEECH.
The toast of The Army of the United
States, was responded 10 by General Sher-
man who said regard the press
rs an abstract and chronicle of the
time, and you, r-ntlrmcn, are Chars-
ed with collecting the materials which
20 to influence human action. and tn prepare
materials for history for all time to come.
Therefore, | regard Your profession rs an
honorable one, and hope You will merit us
high. i houors You know Your business
great deal better than do.
have sometimes been considered hos
Tile to the press. II any Of vuu
have derived that from any of your news
papers or from any other quarter. ! ask
YOU to dismiss it from your minds for no
lnr holds in higher honor the true Office Of
the press in New York and in this country
than do Like all COED things. il is subject
Ia abuse II sometimes drifts toward com
mon gossip. Whtnit So does, it departs from
he true sphere ut the press. Remember
men live by their deeds and the fame of their
Ice,lS II is vour office to record those
leeds and explain them and bring them into
harmony and connection with the rest OF the
vents of life We are on the eve of one Of
he greatest epochs which ever dawned upon
he earth. We stand to-day prominent uron
he face "i the earth. All ewes turn toward
Is as u land of regulated liberty, and Of Law
aud freedom. They look TO You as his'c:-
ans of events which develop that freedom