The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-05-15


chairman had spite against me, when he re-
stricts me to speak of the press of Austin It's
not my fault if the gerrymanders have placed
San Antonio in the same district with Austin
and San Marcos. (Cheers.) The Austin
press are with the printers on all occasions
and therefore we come with the printers to
share your hospitality. If the printers have
their midnight pull the press is also with them"
"The press, the printers workshop and the
nations school, was the next toast. Judge
Siemering, of the Freie Presse, was
called upon TO acknowledge the toast, and
said: "As Alex. Sweet has said have moth
ing in my pockets only my hands, and will
take them out" The printers are to the
press what the hands are to the body, and if
they disagree the body can do nothing. There
is sometimes more brains in the printer than
the editor, and the best editors have come
from those who have been reared at the case
There is no power that has done more for the
nation; since its establishment three hundred
years ago, it has been the source of progress!
The press is great power; greater than en-
perors, kings, greater than anything. 1t
fights and subdues darkness. In politics it
fights doubt and wrong, fights gerrymandering,
We do not care for political parties and ger
rymandering if it is in the right. Party feel
ing should be stopped. We are all citizens of
one country, whether we are republicans, dem
ocrats or independents, and we want to do the
best for the country, although we have differ
ent ways of doing it, and it comes out as it
should do. The press is the important power
in this and therefore say the printers work
| shop and the nations school.
The chairman then proposed: "The railroad,
| the bands that binds our nation together-in
them we find the highest type fthe progressive
spirit Of the age, they have conquered the
| American desert and will soon bring together
the people Of the whole American continent"
Col. H. B. Andrews, who was called upon
to reply, said:
My presence here is the best evidence can
offer of the great interest take in your gath
ering. 1t is the first time in two years that |
have attended any entertainment at night in
| this or any other city, but felt that could
not forgo the pleasure Of welcoming the print
ers of Austin to the Alamo city, and it was fit
and appropriate that l should be here, for
much of my success in life has been due to
the assistance have received from the press.
My earliest friends were printers, who worked
by day and night at the press, and the warm
| est friends have have been linked in memory
with the art. It was therefore right and
proper that should come before the Typo
graphical Union, and testify to the worth of
| the craft which has done so much for Texas
| and the world. l cannot help relating my first
| visit to printing Office. 1t was in the early
days OF Texas. at Brazoria. 1t was here
| first made the acquaintance of the "devil,';
(laughterI, and | can assure you l came
| out second best, continued laughter.
The boy who was devil then is a law
yer now. You may say there is no change in
the profession (laughter), but he is one Of the
most prominent lawyers in the city of Calves
ton A voice: "Can you give US the
name?" He is c. L. Cleveland, of Calves
ton. That was my first introduction to the
printing office. Many of my friends bel ,ng-
| ing to the craft have crossed the dark river
| and now lie in the eternal shade. know
that the feeling of the printers and of this city
is that your visit shall be welcome one. and
| the desire is that this visit shall have many
repetitions, and carry with it recollections of a
pleasant character. We can meet upon one
platform as brothers and stay the interests of
| the state. As has been we'll remarked, there
are often more brains at the case than on the
tripod, and have seen too many instances of
that kind. | agree that party should cease,
and that IN the end it would be better for the
country.
The Colonel here related an anecdote
about scattering" IN a forcb.e way, and
then proceeded to say:
| can say that but for the press there would
never have been the extent Of railroads. We
can say that the railroad owes much to the
press of the state of Texas When bodies
have met with ill devised schemes to stay their
enterprise and progress, the press has told
them to stop. They have spoken loudly:
"Halt! You are setting back prosperity"
Your protest has been heard, and it has
stayed i'll advised legislation. Such persons
have, it is true, worked some injury, but moth
ing like what they would have done if the
press had not told them that capital was
timid; that this was no time to stay the car of
progress, and it had an effect such as the voice
of the press alone possesses. And they gave
an impetus to the progress of the railroad.
He alluded to the legislative excursion to
San Antonio, and spoke of the power of the
press upon legislators, especially near cleo
ton times, and concluded by giving the toast
1.-The Press, the Tripod and the Case"
The next toast was: "The Jour. Printer,
unselfish in his life, who travels the world
over to relieve his brethren and be relieved"
Colonel J. PC. Whitehead, who has the
reputation of being associated wife the early
days of the press. In speaking of the diffusion
of knowledge he said that it had been the
means of advancement and refinement in all
ages. 1t was so in the golden age of Angus
tus Caesar, and in contrast stood forth the
grandeur of Rome in her day to the miserable
ruin Of greatness that remained behind. 1t
yuho 81