St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-15

affect the daily and individual interests of
every one of us. and the opportunity at
fOrded of securing the best thought
of representative men of the profess
sion from ell sections is one which we can
not afford to neglect. The programme is
peculiarly practical. its themes involving
nearly all phases and departments of our
profession. and it will be possible TO make
this meeting means of incalculable benefit.
The discussions will be purely Informal, aud,
as far as possible il IS desired that each MEM
Der shall know the best of what every other
member knows before he goes away. In its
mechanical, business and editorial depart
ments. new ideas and appliances are being
constantly introduced, and no man who has
an honorable ambition for success can afford
to be without n knowledge of them. That
there is room for improvement in all depart
mentS cannot be denied. Here, then, Of all
places, is an Opportunity to acquire inform a.
ton that will be of lasting value.
Z is TO be hoped that the deliberations or
this meeting win be held in that spirit of
reciprocal favor ana mutual helpfulness
which will make ii of the greatest possible
profit to every member. There is no nobler
feature of this association than the fraternal
feeling which it cuitivates Laying aside
every sectional or political. social or relig-
ious difference, we meet here upon the broad
platform of a professional brotherhood.
Representing, as We do, every shade OF
thought, standing in the fierce light OF every
prejudice, the chosen cham ionS OF every
creed and dogma, the spirit of amity and
concord here developed can but extend TO
every section OF our common country. Ii
this association did no more than foster this
fraternal sentiment it would be more than
worthy OF maintenance and encouragement.
The newspaper is now the acknowledged
literature of the world. 1t is growing with
Tapidity that is bewllGering. 1t has kept
such pace with the progress Of the age-has
so adjusted itself to the public demand, that
il has practically supplanted every other
agency of intelligence and influence. To-day
a news paper is issued for two out of every
three of the inhabitants of this country. IL
is the greatest of all educators and its pupils
are confined TO no class or condition OF LIE.
1t is a teacher who never takes vacation
and one who never has TO be sought. Ii Is
welcome visitor 10 every freside, coming"
as some one has well said, without distract
ing private business, and dropping the same
thought into million minds at the same mo-
ment;" or. TO use the forceful words Of
Wendell Phillips. lit is to thousands college,
counsel, theater, pulpit-all in one"
i vocation, involving such responsibility,
endowed with such dignity, is, in the highest
sense, profession. acknowledgements train
ing and qualification; and TO this end 1 be
Iieve the time is not distant when there Will
be schools of journalism just as there are OF
medicine, or law. or theology. 1t is no more
just to the journalist that he should be com
PEELED TO acquire full preparation for his
business in his printing office, than il would
be to the lawyer that he should obtain all his
knowledge in the court room, or to the physi-
clan or minister that they should he de-
pendent tor their equipment upon the hos
pital or the pulpit. While journalism de-
mands broad culture and great experience,
like all other professions ii requires
Gentlemen of the association, the vocation
,foI, arrrf,O &c
connected with it-hOwever humble he may
be-has reason TO be ashamed. While it may
not always yield the largest financial re-
wards. it is not without its compensation.
even in its most limited sphere. To him
who is ambitious to do good it offers un-
equaled opportunity. As its facilities multi.
ply likewise does its influence, and more and
more il is directing the destinies of civiliza-
ton. Nor is it confined to any sphere. The
family. the state. literature. commerce, soel-
ETY., religion, politics, every phase and de-
partment of life are moulded by its silent
and resistless power
In our own country. where freedom OF
thought and of speech has wrought out
civilization that is q marvel of the age, the
press has achieved q station unrivaled in the
America far surpasses, that of any other coun-
try upon the globe. In proportion TO p0pu-
latiOn over five times as many are issued as
in Great Britain or France, eight times as
lUdLN Dc III VI 4ld4Hs tnillg tiAnSo do
many as in Russia, and six times as many as
in all Europe. In all the essential elements
of merit its superiority is even greater than
that in number. The newspaper Of this
country is not only a medium Of news
it is the palladium of the rights,
virtues and morals of the people.
clean-handed and fearless editor is a
terror to evil doers The hydra-heads Of
corruption, demagogery and vice dread his
whitening lash as they do the prison bar or
the headsmans axe lie stands in the cita-
del of the peoples liberties, and to his daunt-
less exposure of wrong more than any other
cause, is due the preservation of purity in
public and private life
While we strive in this national association
to improve our business methods. let us re-
member that journalism has q moral as well
as a commercial side, and that he who con-
ceives its only purpose TO be money has mis-
apprehended its real mission. May it be the
aim of this body TO elevate journalism to
where it will not only occupy a position of
business prosperity and adequately reward
those in charge of it. but to where it will be
recognized as the handmade of truth and
honor and virtue. the surest safeguard of the
liberty, the prosperity and the happiness OF
the American peODle