Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-12-10


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 demoraliZed, and it is not uncommon
for apparently reputable political leaders
of all parties and organized crime to make
common cause for public plumber
Change In Conditions.
THE business and social conditions are
also radically changed, and with these the
fearless journalist of today must deal with
courage and fidelity. From what was many
years ago regarded, and with some reason,
as the license of the public press, has
grown up the well-defined duty of reputable
journalism to maintain with dignity and
firmnesS its mission as public censor, and
today in Philadelphia, as in all the leading
centers of the country, American Journal
ism 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 sacred mess of the pulpit is not
exempt, there are those who bring per-
sistent dishonor upon journalism and per-
vert it's powers to ambition and greed; but
today the greatest of our great factors in
maintaining the best attributes of our civil
iZation and preserving social order and the
majesty Of the law, and the duties of the
reached a standard of dignity and magni-
tude of which even the widest enthusiast
of fifty years ago could not have dreamed.
The JournaIist's Duty.
Charged with the highest of civil trusts
in the most enlightened government Of the
earth, the editor must be honored or dis
honored here by the measure Of his fidelity
to his exceptional duties, and must be SO
judged In the hereafter. when the narrow
pathway of life that divides past and fu-
ture eternities has been traversed. We come
when hidden, We know not whence; We go
when hidden. We know not whittier; but
each and all have duties to themselves, to
their homes, to their country and to the
common brotherhood of man, which when
performed with the faithfulness that HUI
man infirmities will permit, must greatly
brighten the brief and often fretful journey
from the cradle to the grave. Friends, in
this evening twilight of my journalistic
work, SO sweetly mellowed by the smiling
faces, young and old, about me, l 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.
Charles Emory Smith followed Col Nc
Cure, and after a brief eulogy Of the guest
of the evening, introduced Vice President
Stevenson, who paid an eloquent tribute "
the editor.
The Vice President closed by saying that
Col. McClure's speech was the most mag
nifcent he had ever heard from human
lips.
Major General Miles devoted himself to
the proposition of the pens superiority over
the sword, as exemplified by the present
occasion.
Carl Schurz detailed "reminiscences OF his
earlier acquaintance with Col. mcclure
when he first met during the Lincoln cam
paign.
Secretary Of Agriculture Morton. Senators
Hawley and Villas, Representatives eros,
yenor and John K. Cowen, Murat halstead
and other distinguished speakers Ion0Wea.
Tatters NJ regret were read from Presi-
dent1elect Mckinley and Mr.. Hobart. Am
bassador Bayard and Henry Irving. as fol-
lows: