New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-11
PRINCE LEOPOLD on THE PRESS.

Hts Speech NJ ne Press Fund Dinner
My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN: 1t is with
great satisfaction that before you tonight TO
plead OF the Newspaper Press Fund cheers,
apG HGt rsppesentatyes Of the Press itself but so
many OF enlinence In other walks or me- whose
national, interest which that cause inspires There can
hardly, indeed be any password 10 tue general good
will and gratitude of Engishmen more potent than the
maine of the newspaper Press. Ii know any thing
IN this country know the Dement'S oil Tree Press
that the gentlemen OF the Press are the watch
dogs of civilization, and that nothing can 90 wrong
anywhere without their uttering warning SOUND, ana
very often suggesting some real and practical remedy
ICheers The direct social and political power ot the
Press is which are none OF US likely 10 forget
day. And yet is the Indirect the educatVe power
of the press which H. think, the greatest OF all The
most peryadiug effect on mankind Is produced not ny
the arguments OF me Press on points on WHICH tne va
rious journals differ but by the instruction gwen and the
assumed by the Press on points on when an Journals
concur For, AFTER all, the man IunctOn vi tne ISss
is to he contemporary ana authentic record OF me
progress Of the world ana the worlds progress not
OTHER party by shifting performance OF This or that
school OF opinion as by the STEADY herease IN .e mass
OF knowledge ana experience on when az eii
are agreed, ana which each generation lnnells almost
unconsciously from its predecessor. Cheers And
what It gives me most pleasure 10 observe IN tne Iess Is
the increasing etoness WIN when ths WotidWlue
record is kep-tne increasing accuracy and iuness OF
the picture which the Press presents 10 US ol an te
complex life and thought and action when are gong on
upon the surface OF the globe Ihere Is nothing now
which fine press does not chrOncle-fron yesterdays
debates London Paris TO the latest inquiries INTO
OF the sun rLaughterl And especially may claim
English Press mat 1t ~ surpassed Dy none III s
earnest endsayor understand the real condition OF
foreign nations well OF our Own-lnear hear-tO
draw the true lessons, Of example or warning; from
Distant events which former times we should nave
been content 10 hear OF III very secOnunahu ana n-
perfect way. Our Press Is alive 10 every nhe nov" ana
falls on the world some such sudden shock as
brings our human brotherhood nome 10 AT then II Is
that feel how intimately the Press mas entwed ltse
with our existence till the electro wires seem the very
nerves of humanity carrying IN moment 10 every cor
ner earth the selIsame thrill Of nope OF pam
There Is another branch of journalism which
NOT helm ateing both in this country and in the United
viii L
constantly extending enterprises OF me speclaI Cor
In the thought that the public through Inc spOkesheh
of the Press taking into It's own hands so many works
of historical and geoga hc discovery, or even Of ac-
live thai It's representatives finding the
lost sucCOring the afflicted facing eIlls' uaFershs re-
gions unknown; sitting in conclaye, perhaps among
fevers OF Zanzibar and the Congo or Win me
perate charges OF Pleyna, or carrying an Impartial
comfort the wounded of two nations al Sedal one
likes think that some spectator OF our own race Is al
WAYS present when history Is III the making; ana that
in SCENES danger and frenzy where no one else ven
stand except at the call OF urgent duty or III
the fury the tight there Is sure to DC In the thick Of
everything Eng lshnan with note Dook whose only
object is 10 see and know lCheeIs'J res gentvneh Vi
the Press 10 OF constant interest, OF
growing power, and IKE an P4si1ns o. power car
Even private life there may often be inoinentary
temptation to some unfair argument or 10 repeat
some unkindy gossip. How much stronger must that
temptation he who can make thelf argument TELL
their gossip spread over the whole country and whose
ANONYMITY protects them from any other punishment
than such In the consciousness OF having uttered
an uncandId retor or Vehtuleu on an IN
trusOn, inflicted cruel and needless pain lCheersI
In the struggle OF competition in the haste compo
siton, it must be hard TO avoid entirely such
causes OF sefreproach But tho Press rises ia
dignity and responsibility these bemsnes tend 10 dis
appear and feel that you will agree with me that
an institution such this which We met To support
to-day potent only to relieve those who need It's
material succor, but to give of unity and stability
to the whole profession. [Cneers From every point
Of view, then, VINO not personally connected
with your body may well feel It eastlre and priv
iIege gentlemen TO advocate of the Newspa-
per Press Fund in your presence this evening We
would you 10 neglect your essential inter
ests IN the excitement dealing with the interests OF
the world at large would beg you TO allow to
counsel you to habits Of foresight ind providence, and
the sin, triiy OF goodwill. For cannot
but think that your interests intimately
bound up with those of the Nation Aud
we recognize that you not the representatives
Of mere private aims and private ambitions but that
You constitute body OF public funcuOnares not lie ss
Important than any OF the established departments OF
the state being were the uncOveDaned servants
OF the whole progress and civilization OF mankind.