The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-10


There was pardonable boyish pride in see
ing my name given with prominence as
editor and proprietor, and the reading of
my own editorials was as soothing as the
soft, sweet strains of music on distant
waters on summer evening time. They
were to my mind most exquisite in diction
and logic. l knew that there were others
like Chandler, Gales, Greedy, Richie, Prem
tice and Kendall who were more read and
needed, but was consoled by the charita.
BILE reflection that entirely by reason of
fortuitous circumstances they were known
and l was not. Then to me my life was a
song with my generously self admired
newspaper as the chorus"
Mr.. Mcclure then told of some expert
ences with early subscribers, lnentionin q
particularly q Dunkard farmer who cut
off his subscription, for economical rca-
sons, after the first six months, and of the
editors arguments to induce a renewal,
finally securing the farmers promise to
consult his wife. He returned in n few
days, saying that his wife had decided to
continue for another six months, as the
paper would be very handy in the fall for
tying up her apple butter crooks. The
speaker continued:
alt should DO remembered that, while
Philadelphia had then two journals Of na-
tionul fame under the direction of Joseph
r.. Chandler and Morton McMichacl, there
was not daily newspaper in the city or
In tho state that had n circulation of 5000,
excepting only The Ledger, then penny
Journal, almost unknown outside of the
city. Even the New York Tribune and
hnr nj
circulation of over 1900 There are sew
cral daily journals now published in Phila-
delphin each of which circulatos more
newspapers every day than all the great
dales of New York and Pennsylvania
combined fifty years ago.
Public wrongs ever appear like huge
cancers on the body polite and the
swarms of the idle and vicious, with the
studied crimes Of those who would acquire
wealth without earning it, are constant
menace to the social order and the safety
of person and property, and demand the
utmost vigilance on the part of the faith
full public journal. Continued political
power under all parties becomes corrupt
and demorallZed, and 1t is not uncommon
for apparently reputable political leaders
of all parties and organized crime to make
common cause for public plumber. The
business and social conditions are also
radically changed and with these the fear-
less journalist of today must deal with
courage and fidelity.
american journalism is not only the
great educator Of the people, but it Is the
faithful handmade of law and order and
of public and private morals. Like all
great callings from which even the sa-
credness of the pulpit is not exempt, there
are those who bring persistent dishonor
upon journalism, and pervert its powers
to ambition and greed; but discounted by
all its imperfections, 1t Is today the great
est Of our great factors in maintaining the
best attributes of our civilization.
Friends, in this evening twilight Of my
journalistic work, SO sweotly mellowed by
tho smiling faces, young and old, about
mo, answer your generous greeting with
the gratitude that can perish only when
the gathering shadows shall have settled
into the night that comes to purple the
better morn"
Among other speakers were Vice Presl-
dent Stevenson, Charles Emory Smith,
General Miles, Carl Schurz, Secretary
Herbert, William NJ. Singerly, Senators
Hawley and Villas and Murat Halstead
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