The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

Bishop POTTER opened the banquet with
a short prayer. 1t was an hour later
when DR.. Depew rappod for quiet and
opened the toast list. He said that he had
received kilograms from Tacoma, oil the
Pacific coast, and from Seattle, saying
that they were celebrating Commercial
day" Mr.. Dcpew coptinued:
1.-THE victory OF tho war OF 1912 was this:
That the deck OF an American vessel was
the indisputable territory of the United
States, inviolable by any country. That
was the Monroe doctrine of 1872, Since
that time we have had plenty of arbitra-
ton. scarcely noticed, because not sensa-
tional ] TRUST that the principles of arbitra-
ton begun in the Jay treaty, under which
we have had only four years of war, will
continue to DO the rule and guiding star
and principle of tho country during the
year 1895"
The Speakers.
Mr. Depew then introduced Senator Frye,
who spoke on "Olr Merchant Marine"
1.-THE American Business Man" by Gen
eral Horace Porter, came next. and fol-
lowing this was American Commerce" by
Hon. Don NJ. Dickinson, In u speech bris-
tling with interesting statistics. General
Charles III. Taylor OF the Boston Globe
responded to the toast, "The American
Newspaper" General Taylor spoke in
part as follows:
A New Englauder we'll may respond to this
toast, since the first great journalist of Amer
ica, Benjamin Franklin, was born and baptized
in Boston, while New Eagland has given to
New York three illustrious journalists Of
later times-Dana, Greeley and Bryant
Furthermore, the journalism of this country
was born in Boston. The first man who con
ceived the idea of starting newspaper, Rich.
ard Pierce by name, was really "A genius. Bos-
ton also enjoyed the distinction of giving
birth TO the first regular newspaper In Amer
ica, the Bo.ten News Letter. which was estsb.
lished in 1904 by the postmaster OF the town. i
am not going TO weary you with a detailed
history OF journalism shall simply speak to
you briefly on the thres eras into which /
divide that history.
The first era included that period OF our
history from James Campbclis News Letter
down to the revolution In that period the
newspapers were small affairs, and were
usually published by postmasters or printers.
There was q rigid censorship of the press
which stfed opinion upon public questions
and prevented the growth and progress of
newspapers.
The second era followed the revolution. A
free press reared It's head then, and the OPP
portunities IL offered to politicians and polit-
cal parties were eagerly seized. From that
time until the sun and Her.Si were started
here in New York in the early 30s the press
as u whole, was largely indebted to poll
ticians and political parties for its support
and what limited Development IL recorded.
IL has grown greater aad broader in every
direction since tiat period. IL has vindicated
and illustrated It's name. IL Is more educa.
tional, though less dOgmatic. IL IL broader
than ever, because IL has become too vast
concern TO be- the mere instrument Of any sin.
gle personality or small clique however power
full. IL has become a property instead OF q
playthng.
Itis devoted 20 the public welfare. and is
more clearly representative OF tho people, be-
cause 10 is too great 81 live upon the favor of n
fev~ss u once did. liz IL more independent
and fsirer In politics because 20 attain the first
rank " must have the respect ~ all parties
No mere organ of any party u a leader among
the newspapers OF any city today.
The press "a moro scTupulous and conserva.
tive than ever before, becnuso an immense
rapita is always az stake. IL ~ more infuen.
tial than ever. because Is opinions carry tho
weight Of business sagacity and success n.
we'll as of intellectual aclmen.
THIS is tho centennial year % that free
American commerce which gave birth to the
newspaper. as we uade stand ths term, yet
this {. not h. any means the centennial Of the
newspaper We shalt have 10 await another
30 years for that occasion. AZ the time of I'm.
dependence there were ouly 81 iolr ale in oil
the United stairs-todny we have nearly half
~ the 5p,e0J newspapers published in the
world. q
The British puilic i fed largely on pariia.
mentary drhtt"s 'ph lol eltDuais. The con
ductors there 10 not try io inak- tha esncrs,
nowsiaisr which interest," rvcrv in~inurr oi
the family The parliamentary dehatcr w
England has ve-y little 90 up"titol in his
newsrapcr. aud IL widely read.
The American newspaper Is made on differ