The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-06-12

If he Press dissertations:
In response to your generous invi-
tation it has fallen to my lot to bear
IN honorcd part in the exercises Of
this your annual reunion. | con
gratuIate You upon the results OF
another wears tireless toll and the
auspiciGuS circumstances which
have brought us together again.
From varied responsibilities, from
the pressing, impcriCus claims of
lifc's activities, from its multitude
nauS and multiiarious cares and
affairs, we have come to renew
honorcd friendships, refresh pleasant
memories and cultivate the amenities
of iournali site brotherhood. These
are your post-Olympic festivals
the genial and joyful meetings and
communings of gallant knights in 4
common cause, after a twelve months
weary struggle for the prizes and
victories Of life. But the sentiment
of the occasion should not all he eX-
pended in mere jocularity-in mir.h
and music-hand shaking and
mutual congratulation. If possible,
Thoughtful conference should be had
concerning the great and growing
interests of our profession. its widen
ings fields of usefulness and achieve
meat, and what will best conserve
its lofty mission and real glory. In
endeavoring therefore to meet the
responsibilities of the hour, | shall
not adopt the common phrase OF
eXtravagant and indiscriminnte
eulogy, but will try to remember the
wise Old prorerb which SAYS: "lle
teaches well, who distinguishes
WELL without assuming the
affected omniscience of the profes-
,ional critic, | crave the spirit OF an
humble, honest student. So then at
the e>panse of appearing dull,
shall cudcavor to be practical, and
aS appropriate 20 the occasion, hoping
it may not b" altogether protitless,
I have selected for the evening :
discussion the Ethics Of journalism.
The history OF journalism is a
perpetual marvel. It's growth has
been pLenomenal. Bat few years
ago comparatively, the art OF print
inc was invented, and the first crude
new spaPcr was issued from Il rudcr
press. Its aims were unprctCnLlous,
and of its mighty destiny there was
not the fAintcst conception. Now
thcv have multiplied to thousands
and become the most potent factor
in every civilized land. Along with
The family, the church andthe State,
and not inferior to either, hccaus,
affecting each, it. ranks as dominant
force in all civilizations. Its lines
have gore out TO the ends OF the
earth. We may lament its abnorn a
development in certain dirortlohs.
grow re,tive over its pretentioaS
buldness, rebuke its audacitN and
deny its intlucnce, but the fact re
mauins that the l;r"sS is
The miyhtest of the mighty means
On which the arm of progress leans.
1t is the magic hand that strikes
the diapason of human thought, and
cvokcs music from every chord. Ii
is the tabled touch of Midas that
turns everything to gold for the
worlds enrichment but keeps itself
poor. 1t is the swarthy Hercules,
to whose mighty muscles society
| looks for sure defense. 1t has the
eager eagle eyes Of Argus from which
nothing escapes, and the hundred
DEITY hands Of Brierus whose grasp
is well-ni9h exhauStless. All lands
and people, all agencies and inven-
tions, all commerce and discoveries,
are brought under tribute to its dar
inc enterprise and sublime con
qcsts. 1t gathers news on the light
nings fiery wing and sends it out
over the land with all the speed OF
steam. Everywhere its influence is
fclt-at home or abroad, on land OF
sea.
''As noiseless as the daylight comes when
night is done
And the crimson-streaI on oceans cheek
grows into the great sun"
so quietly and gently in all the
homes of our people its influence is
at work furnishing instruction
moulding opinion, acknowledgement
ciples, arousing dormant energies
and guiding a pation's destiny
From the home newspaper, anc
amid the quiet evening hours, is
gathered the intellectual and pOliti
cal pabulum on which nine-tenths
of our people feed. Of it are borr
the convictions and inspiration tha
kindle ENTHUSIASM on all the grea
public questions. The newspape
of to-day is the phenomenal orato
of the early republic. What th'
eloquent tongue of Tully was t.
Rome and the impassioned perioo'
Of Demosthenes TO Athenian patriot
ism, the modern press is to American
citizenship.
Another fact is observable anC
commendable--the gro'ch Of
manly independence IN Journalism
1t carries no brand and wears NJ
manacles. / repudiate the declara
tion of recent writer in the Nortl
American Review, that "a powe
greater than journalism has thrust
Golden ring through It's nose ant