Year: 1869

PublisheTs' Association,


AT


oshkosh, Taesday, June %, 1869.
Me7, Of the Press, and Friends:


1t seems but a day since met to clasp hands,
and then back our homes to write kind words
Of those who spoke we'll of us: and to tell the world
of the three great marts of trade i'll many States,
that have grown up, with hot haste, in day,
parts and proofs OF the wealth and growth of the
West: and now, in a few plain words let me greet
YOU all as meet more to think talk .nd act
on things THAI call for the best work of our lives
in the right use of which are in duty bound, to
give the full strength of stout hands hearts and
clear heaGs. Men who their daily bread, if
in all cases by The sweat OF their brows, do so from
type used IN the art that all arts. ii groups
the rich thoughts of the wise minds of all ages and
clmes aud speaks out through the Press the words Of
men whose brains find rest short of the crave,
here join With those who wield the pen. to talk
the good that has been wrought-to learn the great
facts Of the busy age in which live-to gird up
our lols for the task that is yet be doneto call
the roll of those wilo guard the rights and plead the
cause and wants Of rlce, and to place the
scroll of honor the names OF friends who have
love and gone sleep with their sires while
catch zeal aud cheer each other il the fight
for the right and against the wrong; SO that when VIC
cease work earth, ali who may wish to
files shall fad they We're hard things to gnaw, at
least our side. Nith views and thoughts and plans
as wide the world still in the
great air, Of life: which is to send light and hopeand
ioy to the minds deartS and homes of all
would be- wise, pure, just aud> free. Let bear
mind the solid fact that the free Press of both Europe
and America aud the wires that to belt the
Globe, speak the same tongue which Chatham, Henry
and Webster spoke. and which Milton, Bryant and
Holmes have sung; and thus arelodged in the Press
of this free land power and tie that make AKIN
all the world, and the stewards of trust that
brings with 1t duties which none should slight.


Our laws leave the Press free to 10 and say any
thing long it leaves Ugues and knave alone for
be it known many of those whoare chosen make
laws in and for this and other States live the
which grows out OF eyideing, that they shield vii
lains by harsh libel law, which often makes it a
costly crime for the Press to cali thief by his right
name, or TO say aught against any human fend,
til after he is in rons until lie has reached the top
round OF MS ladder, and can sit IN high places and
leave his party organs TO skin his skunks and cleanse
his dirty linen. The lawmakers of Wisconsin hay-
ing refused 70 amend the libel law once asked
let us heap Goals OF fire the heads of those mps OF
Satan, who, having no good name of their until
it is given to them by cute lawyer and stupid
jury in verdict of mot Guilty, by asking that they
be allowed to bring their libel suits in the name of
"heirs assigns who may have show OF virtue
which to base claim for damage though it
be for cruelty to brutes. Unsss the laws place the
Press fair ground, so that rogues who have the
good luck TO keep out of prison shall not by os
the Courts, empty the pockets aud purse of the
who prints facts about their crimes, until they give
surrey for costs in event of their failure there will be
valid reason for the Press to make this point in the
choica of men to enact our laws As the libel laws
of most States stand, the lowest yagrant in
ais can by sharing the spoils with some keen law
buzzard at little risk, mulct in heavy costs the
ward noue, print facts that should be known in
der to keep rogue a leper from doing harm.


If there is on the face OF the whole earth any
who, he rises rom his couch, has need of and
should claim in aid of his labors for the day the help
which but God give it is he who goes forth,
amid peris of many kinds, TO gean write, print and
inter facts and thoughts which less to
shape the acts and feed the MODS of those about him.
who put their trust in what he says and thus, from
his good or bad points, starts cut sound false
basis and grow up truth error, to add strength
be charge to the State and live to bless who
a safe guide, or to curse hiTn that led them
calls Tor able and sure men. whose lives shall bless
all who come in the range OF their abors STILL there
times for all things; and if we knew the poet
who wrote the line dear to youth and not bad for
boys of ripper growth


GAN work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
he should have "free pass for self and wife," or
'lady" over all the Roads and upon every Lake and
River S7Xich our craft has lien for there is
ne fact in rhyme or prose To which the of toll
should give more and do pay less heed than the one
cited, and set forth in yet glowing coors by
Nature and Holy Writ in the great glory and beauty
of the 'Lies whose toll is less than their toilet
And it is well for often year, with our
wives, (every good Pressnan should, like Deacon,
the truth OF Saxes "Rhyme of the Rail


Singing through the forests


Rattlng over ridges,


Shooting under arches,


Rumble over bridges,


NhiZzing through the mountains


BuZZing DER the vale;


Bless me- this is pleas ant


Riding on the Rail-


using for Doxology the good old song


"Be gone, dull care-I prythee be gone from me-,


To cheer hearts, and rest our hands and drive
away, and east OF the old loads from backs
and add new scope and zest to wits keep, with
due form the Passover ana come up to the Feast
each wear to meet and hail old and To greet new
friendsto put our heads to tests--to 'sort up
our stock of facts ana fun-to take fresh start in
the race and to strike out with strong blows for the
right, and be made fit to write up and unfold
the whole range of news and items and topics from
Teutonic free lunch to English banquet-from a
pic mir to State tair-from waterfall to a cataract
from a squirt-gun to fire steaIncr-from to
a battle-frOm serf TO a Bourbon-from "a Jews
harp Scotce bag pipe to Il Boston Peace Jubilee
from Yankee tea party to Irish wake-from "a
skating Blink to n Pacific Railroad-from the lead
mines of old Grant to Fayal in the Sea-from Cap
ital City of the Lakes to Derne in the Alps-from
Constable to Senator-irom Tupper to Shakespeare
from the Ilappy Hope to the Great EASTERN
from a gossip 70 an ocean Cable-from Brigham
Young to Nebuchadnezzar, and from Chicago to Jeru
salem.


And in the midst of such a scene as this, when our
eyes and souls are made glad blythe smiles OF the
fair SEX whose rights sale in the care of the
brave men of the Press, whose 'chase' VIII not be
sprung by her ''quo.ns while the form it clasps
has ot Of woman's true love, "stck-f full of
her wrath. let strife find or mouth to mar
the hours of got AID friendly intercourse


IN charge of the means by and through which the
masses IN all parts of our land are made to know the
worth Of this fine State the waters Of whose Lakes
and Rivers reach the Sea through the Cults a the
North and South we should learn and print more of
its vast wealth. its rich SOL and mines its dense for
estdard deep rs, its large system of Railroads,
and its plans aud means give cheap freight through
its waters for the products of this and other States
from the great River of the West the Green Bay and
blne Lakes of the North and East. To that end
have met at this good City of Oshkosh, which is
of the best of points, and which has been made, by
.'ve men, of Faith and pluck, to take high rank in
all that is good. We glad to meet hcre of
mark talent and renown, to whom the people of
theirown States have given many tokens CT honor
and esteem by placing their trsty hands the power
to promote the public weal.


To the brave and true man, Governor Merrill, of
Iowa. whose vaIor and wounds in war, and whose wis
dom in peace have alike brought honor upon his
'Granite Hills and on our noble sister State of
Iowa, whose able and approved servant he Is and TO
his friendly escort from the Press OF that State,
shall give warm and hearty greetings.


10 the tried and valiant soldier of .he "Iron Brig
ade and faithful citizen of our loved State of
Wisconsin, Gov. Fairchild, whose empty sleeve for
bids the poor homage of mere words, and who has
need OF my feeble tongue to make known his private
or public WORTH we yield, all the honors,' tie
plaudits of our profound personal regard.


We also greet men who were chosen to make our
laws net guests merely, but as men whose duty is
TO the needs and wants and of strength
in the Districts which put them in their high places
of power and honor, SO that they may see and know
how rasy and right is the work of opening up tlro
the waters of this State great channel that will add
much to the vgor and soundness of the commerce,
not only OF the Commonwealth of Wisconsin, but OF
our whole country.


With deep regrets we learn thai Gov Marshall
whom We had hoped to meet here, among his fellow
printers cannot be with his urgent duties keep
him at home; bnt we can and will send to him. and
TO the North Star State he WE'LL friendly
greetings, in cheers for minnesota and her
gallant Governor"


When. three years ago, you made choice of me as
your Chief, you had my pledge to you well
could Again and again, in spite of the good old
one-tsrm rule You babe me stay at the helm of your
proud craft To those who may deem it strange that
you should thrust these honors upon SO humble
myself il may not he easy to solve the riddle but
it has most likely been done mark of your high
regard for the young and thrifty Gateway City, OF
La Crosse, whose model Press has rs~er yet been
known TO say one harsh word print reugh item
that would hurt the tende4 feelings OF any man.
if he could prove up clear record from the day he
was weaned up to the time he sought or got an office
And now with pride and thanks for the many KIND