Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-29

i know of no subject more worthy the favor
| of an enlightened craftsmanship than such
a system of internal improvements as would
give to Pittsburg the place for which God
and nature plainly intended her.
Since 1S35-the year in which the nrSt ap-
! preparation was Irade-Congress has appro-
priated for the improvement of the Ohio
river only SO 100000 ami for the ONO ana her
! tributaries less than 81 100000 sums that in
| comparison with the expenditures made by
private enterprise are mean and insignif-
! can't.
! When our lawmakers cease to represent
! only their localities and acquire vision
! clear enough to take in the whole horizon
| OF great national in interests, we may hope for
J policy of internal improvements which
| shall be systematic, progressive and thor
! oughly national. Meantime Pittsburg, in
| any event, shall grow and prosper.
/ L foresee-and1 trust the vision may be OF
| well grounded faith, and not of inclination
i merely-a great city, reigning like a queen
| from her dominant seat At the headwaters
merce shall pour with lavish hand the
wealth of many climes. Ready of reach
| from all the sources of supply, the products
of field, forest and mine, shall be brought TO
! test the magic of her industry, and recre-
/ ated, shall go forth to minister to the needs,
! the tastes and the pleasures OF still ad-
! rancing civilization.
The Newspaper OF To-Day.
! Colonel A. X Mcclure, of Philadelphia
was to have responded to '0ld-Time News
papers" but was unable to be present on ac
count of i'll health He, however, sent a
letter, which was read by Percy F. Smith,
who acted as POSTMASTER the balance of the
evening owing to the iudisposition of Mr..
Gutelus. The following is an extract from
it:
The newspapers of to-day are incom-
parably better, but the people have grown
up abreast with them, and instead of direct
ing public opinion, the great mission of
1TSr,, ,Traer fNf fhn arnn-
teenth century, is to train the people to
independence of thought andiaction. 1t is the
great educator of the people, and while the
newspaper is now in almost every home, its
influence in directing public sentiment on
a particular issue is lessened by the honest
inquiries it has inspired among its readers.
The last generation has almost entirely
changed the mission of the daily newspaper.
Instead of being waited for to direct public
thought and action on important questions
it now reflects rather than creates public
sentiment although always aiding in snap
ing public opinion in the purest and noblest
channels
Mission of the Country Press.
"The Country Press" was responded to
by James B. Laux, of Greensburg, in an
able manner. He said:
The country newspaper and the country
editor have been so long the subject of good
natured libel and caricature, have afforded
SO much amusement to the countless read
ers OF the city press. that it may seem
like presumption in me to speak of them
in any other than the conventional way.
prefer to speak of the country newspaper
as n mighty factor in the great work OF
modern civilization, in the establishment of
free and representative government. Ipre-
fer to speak of the country editor as a hard
working, thoughtful, earnest man, one fully
alive to the responsibilities of his
position, recognizing fully the i'm
up OF his country's history: as a patient
worker. poorly recompensed. the victim too
often of the basest ingratitude Of communi-
ties rs well as individuals, who accept his
services as matter of course, and who for
get him too quickly when his nfe's work is
done.
civilization, and though he may never wear
the cross of the legion, though he may be
forgotten. the work he has done will not
perish. He can make his appeal for recog-
milton with confidence to the avenger Time.
claim for the country newspaper housed
as it often is in the humblest quarters, for
the country editor, uncouth and unkempt
as he is often pictured, and who has fur
nlshed so much amusement, the high dis
Einction of having done more TO advance
the intellectual development of the nation
and the establishment of popular govern
ment than any other agency, if not more
than all other agencies combined.
Not Only Mouthpiece of tho Church.
Rev. c. w. Smith was next introduced
His subject was the Religious Press"
During the course of his remarks he said:
The religious press is animated and dom
mated by high purpose. Otherwise it
would have no right to exist. The purpose
of the religious press is to promote the
Christian religion, and the Christian religion
lies at the basis of all human interests of
every class
The religious press is not the mere mouth
piece of the church nor the echo of ecclesi-
astical thought. 1t does indeed defend the
truth and stand for purity of doctrine. But
its great business Is to aid the cause of
practical religion, and to push the common,
hard, everyday battles of humanity 1t is
therefore, q live, aggressive and practical
and final reign of truth and righteousness.
Other Addresses of the Evening.
w A. Blakeley responded to the toast.
the trials and tribulations of the reporter
and the city editor in funny and truthful
manner
Rev. A. W. Arundel, of Trinity Church.
was to have responded to ''The Pulpit and
Press" but was unable to attend on account
of illness.
Erasmus Wilson responded in feeling
manner TO ''Our Dead,' of whom there |
were several during the past year, and the
fifth annual banquet came to close by |
everybody singing "Auld Lang Syne."
The following invited guests were present:
Rev. Father John Murphy, Miss Cora Reese, |
Hon. John Dalzell. Rev. Dr. C. w. Smith. |
Frank B. Smith, Thomas sheldon, 4. B. |
Taylor, ID. p. Black, Alex Murdoch, c. o. !
Rowe, r; d; Kerr, DR.. Joseph Dickson, John |
Campbell, Colonel Thomas E. Watt, H. ID. |
W. English, Hon, W. A. Stone, James b. |
Scott, Colonel Chambers McKibben, A F. |
keating; Rev: De Witt Benham, E. A Hol- |
brook, II. P. Pears, J. NJ Stoner Jr, John P. |
McCrea, Charles P. Smith, Hon. Andrew |
Stewart, A; E. Clark, S. B. Leggett, W. L |
Munstin, Dr. c. 2. Slip, Rev. J. Ii. Prugh, |
William Smith and W. T. Lindsay.
The banquet committee this year de-
serves some credit for the hard work which |
brought about the brilliant success of the |
fifth annual dinner. The committee was
composed as follows: W. c. Connolly, Chair
man; w. H. Davis, Fl. j. Ford, Thomas j.
Keenan,. Jr., Percy f. Smith, and Hepburn