The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-06-22
SECOND DAY.

SO - J
SECOND DAY.
$50 SENATE CHAMBER, / |
New Orleans, March 2, 1881. 81
The Association met at 11:25 q. M,
President McCranie In the chair
The Secretary called the roll; II mem.
bers present, IA absent.
The Executive Committee, through it's
chairman, reported favorably upon the
applications Of Messrs. A. J. Padron. Of
Hayes, OF the. Claiborne Guardian, and
elected members Of the Association.
The President stated that the Associa-
ton, being without order Of business or
rules Of procedure, he would be obliged
to the members. for any suggestions or
counsel relative thereto.
On motion OF Gen. Jastremslki 1t was
resolved that the order OF business be
left entirely to the Judgment OF the
President.
The Chair then asked for report from
Mr.. II. ]. Hyams, who had been desig-
mated the historian Of the session. Mr..
Hyams excused himself by saying that
he was unequal to the task, and that
some one should be selected from New
Orleans, which was the central point OF
State affairs, historical and otherwise,
and suggested the appointment of Judge
Alexander Walker in hlh stead as his
torian.
The President then introduced Mrs.
NJ. r. Field, Of the New Orleans Times,
who read the following:
ESSAY ON PROGRESS IN JOURNALISM.
Our honored President, himself q
veteran and thorough. journalist, has
seen fit to call upon the youngest and
most inexperienced member Of the Asso-
citation to discuss the liyest question IN
the literature Of the day" Progress in
Journalism"
Ny own experience in the profession
warns me at the threshold OF the magni-
tude of the task assigned me. Standing
as I do upon the verge of the realm Of
journalism, my inspirations are not
unlike those Of child behoidfng for the
stood pageant. In this moment of intel
lectual doubt, not to say forgetfulness,
scarcely know in what direction to cast
my eyes. In all emergencies OF thought
we instinctively retrospect; we seek the
instruction Of precedent; we look to see
what has been, hoping to prospect there
from what is to be. This retrospect
while it can claim no recital from me on
this occasion, nevertheless glfdes with
an unseen force into all my thoughts.
giants, like Christopher North" Addi-
son and Steele come into view as the
highest types OF English classic writer's,
along with the more modern men, some
Of them scarcely less renowned, such as
Greeley, Leggett, Mansfield, Emerson,
Curtis, Gallagher, Shreye and Prentice.
But it is not in the line Of my argu-
ment to discuss. these men, however
the quality and method OF modern
In ali this cannot adhere to the text
given me, and IL I assume the pros
pective, find myself quite as much at
must content myself with out the philoso-
phical deductions that might be drawn
from the history OF our profession.
Renan, somewhere in his works, says
d is any hs sssR 1Ss vhG sss ht9fy
chronicles must give place to medals,
maps or authentic letters" II there is
truth in these propositions the writer's
conclusion is irresistible that the most
which possess in the least degree the
historic form.
It has often occurred to me that, apart
from medals, maps and authentic
history prior to the rise Of the printing
press and the newspaper. II these have
too frequently given place to mere sus-
picions, and what Renan calls carping
and defiant criticism, there has always
been found in the multiplicity of
journals an ample field OF contradiction
to prevent any extended mis-statement
of facts, or incubation Of erroneous
ideas in respect to morals.
Notwithstanding the learning and ex-
perience Of our honored President, fear
he did not duly consider the impossibi1ity
in a brief address of portraying the pro-
gress which has been made In journalism
To do 50 would carry me back full four
hundred years to find the first substan-
t,al initial Of this grand movement
Looking across these long centuries
there appears, what would now be lost
to recollection except for journalism, the
masty and repulsive recesses Of West
minister, as described by DR.. Caller,
where Astooda crazy building OF wood and
plaster, three stories high. Its pointed
roof and wooden balcony were seldom
free from poor fluttering rags OF cloth
ing. hung out to dry by the wretchcd
tenants. The very sunlight grew sickly
when it fell into the poverty-stricken
street, where slipshod women, unshavep,
lounging men and pale stunted children
skunk hopelessly about. Foulness,
gloom and wretchedness were the promi-
frail timbers OF the house in which the
first English printer is said to have lived
and wrought" There, amid such dismal
and reputsive surroundings appeared
Caxton, the Father OF the English
press, who combined in himself all the
qualities and duties Of author, ink-maker,
compositor, pressman, coIrector, binder,
publisher and bookseller.
1t would be interesting on this occa-