Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-10

that invariably. though perhaps uncon
sciously. grow up between an editoria
writer and his readers He would De un
| true to his calling II he did not. at al
times. labor under sense OF It's response.
bilities; and.s yet the fact remains that
the community itself largely asaermi me
serves it-jllst as ii does the nature ol
the stocks that its merchants carry. AZ
a business enterprise. the newspaper VIII
cndeavor. within proper limitations, to
i provide that class and variety of matter
that will secure 1t the greatest number OF
patrons. There are times, however. when
the choice may come between greater
| financial returns and the sacrlhce. IN
| whole or in part, of those settled convic-
lions and policies which constitute the
distinctive character OF the paper. Al
4 such times a special weight of response
bility rests upon the editor and, upon the
1 firmness Of his stand. will depend the
moral tone and fibre Of his paper. No
newspaper that builds for all time, and
| looks forward to fulIncss of years. can
/ afford to sacrifice principle to income.
] Still the legitimate influences of a com
/ munity upon a newspaper that serves 1t
are always strong and never fail to make
/ themselves felt.
| in closing let me offer this sentiment,
| The city of Augusta. may ii be the pleas
| even greater growth and prosperity in the
century to come. than II has in the CEN
| fury past.
Mr.. Howard owen replied to the
! sentiment:
| The hand that Yields the scissors is
| mighticr than the hand rules the world.
| Editorial Chair" was warmly appre
| ciated
Mr. owen spoke as follows:
Five minutes will hardly afford time to
embrace an opportunity, much less TO
| deal with subject like this. The edito-
rial chair has been an important factor
| in the history of this town for the last
hundred years. 1t has been the seat OF
power of some Of the brightest intellects.
Daniel 7. Pike. so long the editor of The
Age. the leading Democratic paper of the
town, if not of the State, was perhaps
the most versatile and talented editor in
the city. Woe be to the luekless poitl-
cal antagonist who drew forth the shafts
of his unrelenting. good natured sarcasm.
The doses were administered with such
rare good fumor that the patient would
kill himself laughing, but he would die
Just the same. A rival sheet had pa
thetic and poetic articles entitled
''Glimpses from our Back Window pic
turing the lovely kennebec, the busy in
dustries that line the shore. and all the
beautiful scenes that hang out here in
tins charming valley. Up Went Pixies
side window. and the EcXt week was
revelation of Martin CAROLS sheep
skins stretched upon the fence TO dry.
and the important lessons to be drawn
thcrefrom. That article also hung the
hide of the rival editor upon the fence,
and no more "Glimpses from the Back
Window" appeared. Pike didn't pour oil
on the troubled waters. he creased the
ways with mutton tallow.
Another editor of The Age / must men
ton, who brought TO the editorial chair
the fbrief time he occupied II. all the Wig
or and enthusiasm of impetuous youth
When came to Augusta In 1851, was
la4s.s ft, Ns. - Il
sought every opportunity to ada to my
political knowledge.
One night / strayed into political
meeting being held In old Darby hall.
which was nearer heaven than many poll
i;icians wi. ger. IL was a Democratic
meeting, as you may know when | tell
you that Tom Bartlett presided y
young man, small In stature. but with
sweet. resonant voice. was standing upon
a chair making an impassioned speech.
While a Republican couldn't be expected,
to endorse all his sentiments. | couldn't
but be led captive by his eloquence |
put my hand upon the back Of an. en-
rapturod auditor, and inquired the name
of the speaker. why" said he, that
is Nell Fuller. editor of The Age-smart-
ern hell"
| judged from the tenor of his remarks
that my informant was a Democrat, but
his words were prophetic. The young
orator has gone from the editorial chair
to the exalted position of chief justice of
the United States,
Luther Severance and Ezekiel Holmes
were contemporaneous in the occupancy
| of the editorial chair in our town. 1t BE-
came to them the stepping stone to high
positions in State and nation.
young man came here In the winter
of "a. who gave promise of one of the
most brilliant minds on the press of
Maine. Although his career here was
brief he gave to the Kennebec Journal
u name that went far beyond this neigh
borhood and the State. Had he turned
his attention to business. instead of pol
tiles, his wealth would have exceeded
| that of The Vanderbitts. Had he contin-
ucd in Journalism. he would have shared
with Whitelaw Reid and Chas. A. Dana
the title Of high priest of American jour
nalism. / refer to James c. Blaine
His partner and life long friend was
| John l.. Stevens, who has also gone to
his rcward-a man of profound thought
a great political strategst. an honest pol
| fsician When the Maine law was the
issue. the theme of Mr.. Stevens efforts
was the prohibitory law In the office,
| as an alley mate of mine. was a witty
| Irish compoSitor named John Murphy
who is still resident of Augusta. | hope
| my old friend is here tonight. Like 9th
| er printers in those days-sill, what IA
change has taken placc.-John liked the
| flavor of j. w. Cofrcn's gin. manufac-
| tured in his back shop. Il speak advised
| ly and sorrowfully1 John was one day
struggling to put in type one of Mr.
| Stevens editorials on his favorite theme
| when he turned 10 me with IL breath MS
| dry as the winds that sweep across the
sandy deserts, with. Howard. lend me a
| quarter. Setting up John LIS Maine law
editorials makes me mighty thirsty. /
must so out and take somethingi''
| Shall | forget the early occupants of
| the editorial chair, Melville Weston, uncle
| of the orator of the day, and Il. A. G.
| Fuller who We're as familiar with the
| classics in writing as are the journalists
| of the present day with slang.
| William "a. Drew, pioneer here in the
| editorial chair of the Universalist demon
| nation, was a vigorous writer keen and
| penetrating. DR.. Geo. w. Quinby after
| wards on the Banner was our most Az
| gressive editor. He made nothing of
| sllinning half a dozen faptists weekly.
and having them served UP for break
| fast,
| And time would fail me to more than
| mention our honored fellow citizen Jo-
| seph A. Holman, spending the evening of
home; TO tell of VIM. 7. Johnson. one of
| the truest types of manhood: of VIM II
| Wheeler. n native of Augusta; of that
| sparkling wit. VIM. n. Simpson; of Will
| liam X. Smith. the master of biting sting
ing sarcasm; of Charles f. Nash. honored
| and beloved by his fellow citizens I'm the
| private as well rs the public walks of
| life: of Alden SpraglIe. who made his
mark here as an able political writer or
of John $. Sayward, the gentleman and
able editor
| The editorial chair of Augusta indeed