The Detroit times., 1909-06-09
PAYS SPLENDID y
TRIBUTE TO PRESS
M. E. Stones Address Is Feature OF
Centenary Celebration of introduce
ton of Printing Into Michigan.


cipal speakers at the celebration In
the Museum OF Art. Tuesday after
noon OF the centenary OF the establish
ment OF the first printing press In
Michigan, by Father Gabriel Richard.
AT 1890 o'clock, Mr.. Stone was the
guest OF honor at a luncheon In the
Detroit club. given by Henry M.
Campbell. and Tuesday evening he
leaves for Chicago.
In his address Tuesday afternoon on
THE High Court of Public Opinion"
Mr.. Stone reviewed briefly the events
that made history for the northwest
territory, declaring: THE popular be-
lief that the American people have SO
waged a war OF determination upon
the aborigines that they are practic-
ally extinct Is wholly without warrant.
l believe 1t to be true that there are
many more indians living within the
confines of the United States today
than ever were in the earlier days OF
the republic"
Mr.. Stone also said that 1t was in
the year 1887. by John Fitch. of Phil
adelphia. and not 90 years later by
Robert Fulton as is generally suppos-
ed. that the steamboat was invented
and came into use.
Thine was when we thought II nee
essary TO move the seat Of govern
ment from the banks Of the Potomac
To some central point" said the speak
err To-day, who cares where the seat
OF government is? We are transport
ed by invisible arms to the national
Capital, wherever IL may be, and day
by day we look upon the acts OF our
legislators quite as freely as IL we
were physically present.
I'm all this business the highest ex-
ponent OF Accommodation is. OF
course. the newspaper. II Is indeed
the very governing force. not alone OF
this country but OF the world II con-
sttutes the high court of public opin-
ion. AT its bar all men, whether OF
high or OF low degree. must make an
swer. Admit, and no one will do II
more readily than |. its failings. the
fact that II has human limitations.
that the frailties common to mankind
tinge, modify and hurt its usefulness;
still II is the best expression OF pub
lie opinion, and public opinion, after
all, governs the world.
I, Mr. Bryce, In his admirable work
upon the American commonwealth.
has said that the newspaper has a
three-fold mission: Il Is the town Cos
sip. telling you the news; II Is the
oracle directing your opinions; and II
Is the weather vane indicating which
way the wind blows. Well, have not
so much regard for Is as an oracle, but
. think the service IL renders as a Cos
sip is OF the highest value, and very
great ethical worth. 1t reaches out
into every region where human activi-
ties have play. 1t combs the earth for
all Of its happenings; and IL brings
and lays at your feet. and practically
without cost, the results of its enter
prise.
Are you a merchant or a manufac-
, turer? Your daily life Is guided by
the information which comes to you
almost hourly in your newspaper But
In larger sense this means little.
What means most is that no great
harm can come to the sons OF men
anywhere on this rolling globe so long
as the fierce light OF publicity shines
on.
1T was the worlds public opinion
developed by the press dispatches
which compelled Abdul Hamid to abb
dicate the throne of Turkey. but equal
ly IL was the worlds public opinion
developed by press dispatches which
forbade the victorious Young Turks to
take Abdul Mamids life.
'All OF which means, II | read his
tory Alright, that In the end the world
is, and must be, governed by public
, opinion. Wrong, tyranny, oppression
can only survive In those dark holes
to which the light of publicity does
not penetrate. And day by day these
dark spots are growing fewer In num-
Der. For the bulwarking of slavery,
the arguments of Cass and Douglass,
the opinions of Taney's supreme court,
the Mexican war and the rebellion,
were all In vain. The decision of the
high court of public opinion determ-
ined the issue. And Ii Is by and
through intercommunication that an
enlightened public opinion alone may
be crystallized. And. as / have said.
the newspaper Is the last and best
means of intercommunication.
How heavy. then, Is the RESPONSE
bility resting upon those who conduct
our public journals. They are charg-
ed with duty of the most moment
Gus character. Fortunately, with them
as with none others, honesty Is the
best policy They wear their hearts
upon their sleeves. They cannot de-
ceive the people long. Misuse OF their
power is sure to be found out. Let
me say one final word. When | say
government by public opinion. do not
mean government by emotion. mean
an orderly administration under pub
lie opinion as expressed In law. We
have had far too much government by
emotion In recent years. Believe me.
although reforms have resulted II is a
dangerous kind of government. I am
glad to note a drift back to wiser
methods"
Besides Mr.. Stone other speakers
were Lawton T. Hemans, OF Mason,
Mich, Father Gabril Richard" Rev.
Ernest Van Dyke. rector st. Aloysius'
Catholic church, Detroit, Father
Richard. Teacher" Mrs. Beatrice
Larned Whitney OF Detroit The
Women OF the Century," Henry M.
.Utley, librarian, Detroit Public lib
rary. THE Genesis of Printing in
Michigan" William Stocking, of De-
troit. Prominent Newspaper Men of
Michigan"
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