The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-25

li'kitcS III lllt anu
and that as sure as God lives, the future
will DO greater and better than the pres
ent or the past. Applause.
That, said Mr., Dana, sis q pretty
general code, but il seems to me that II
covers the case very we'll"
Continuing, he said: "There is one other
point would like TO touch upon, and that
is the question OF the power OF the press.
We know that the press is q very powerful
agent IL takes men when their informa-
ton is incomplete, when their reasoning
has not yet been W = I out, when their
opinions have not yet been fixed, and it
suggests and intimatcs and insinuatcs an
opinion and Judgment which oitcntimcs
a man, unless he Is man OF very great
force of character aud intelligence, adopts
IA something established and con.
cluded. This is part Of the power
OF the press. II is power, an
influence, which is exercised over the
minds Of the people often without the
knowledge OF any criticism on the part of
tho person who is subject TO its power.
That IL in the nature Of things. do not
see how Il can be changed, except a. the
individual becomes more Intelligent and
more able % form and guide his own
judgment, and cmancipatcs himself from
this sort of suggestive information and
control But that does not happen TO
everybody. In that way there il u consid.
enable power in the press, and il is a
power that inspires me always with
very solemn sense OF responsibility. Here
You take the mind of n man, and without
his knowing II you shape IL, YOU direct il,
you send him along road which he don't
know, and which very often you don know.
Laughter That, however, Is not what
mean by the real power OF the press. The
power ! am now referring is something
much more substantial and much more
important The press often takes up
great cause. i remember when few
years ago We had in this country trc-
mendous and immense controversy which
took hold OF the lives Of tho whole people
over the question OF slavery. There the
press was divided, some ON one side and
some on the other, except that those who
were on the other side are not 80 proud Of
II now. Applause. There was great
power, and Tor the most part II was exor.
cised Tor the good of the people, and We
rejoice now, M we look back upon that
great controycny-we whose fortune II
Nho w i'bl NhiilN Iill w " W llt kItNl
results that were finally achieved, achieved
as Il was through blood aud fire aud tears
that have left upon this country and
upon the history OF the world a mark that
will never be obliteratcd. Applause.
That Ia what ! mean by the power oi
the press-the power Of speaking out the
sentiment Of the people, the voice of JUS
tice, the aspiration OF wisdom, the
determination Of patriotism and the
hope Of the whole people. The iudg.
ment, the effort, the power Of those who
were on the other side Is wiped out You
look for Il and IL * there no longer. All
their efforts have disappeared, as the dew
disappears when the sun rises. There il
another function II the press, which II,
perhaps, even more important In this
free country our constitution puts into the
hands oi the executive officers OF the gov
eminent an immense authority. There is
no King, no Emperor, no autocrat In the
world who wiclds such power, for in
stance, o. the President Of the United
States. Well, suppose time should
come-God forbid that II ever should
comc-but II Il should come that there
should he In the post Of the President
man who had gained such influence
over the hearts Oi the whole people that
they become deaf to the suggestions Of
wisdom and give 10 his ambition free
sway aud open field; suppose that ho sets
aside, little by little, the restraints Of the
constitution, suppose that hc tramplcs up
on the great principle Of personal liberty,
which is the noblcst Inheritance that our
fathers have left us, because II Is the very
life Of tho Republic; suppose that he
tramplc down that principle the executive
power is in his hands, the army follows
and obeys him; where then IL the safe.
guard Of the public liberty against his
II Ia In the press.
[ Tremendous applauscl II Is In a free
press. And when every other bulwark II
gone the free press will remain 10 preserve
the liberties which We shall hand down TO
our children, aud 10 maintain the Republic
in all H. glory, let us hope, forever and
forever"
Upon the close Of Mr.. Dana's address
the audience broke out into wild burst
Of cheering aud the old editor took his seat
yisibly Affected by the reception with
which his effort was regarded.
Tho exercises concluded with lecture
by James Whitcomb Riley, which was
warmly applaudcd.