Year: 1869

Thirteenth Annual Session of tn.
Wisconsin Editors and Publishers
Association--Openin Address O.
Presi dent seymOur-Proceedin q


the Convention-AnnuaI Poem ant
Address.


OSHKOSH, June %, 1869 9.-The thirteenth
annual convention of the Editors and Pub
| fishers of Wisconsin met in McCourt,
Hall, in this city, at half-past ten o'clocl
a. m., to-day. The convention was called
to order by the president, Charles Seymour
of the La Crosse Republican. PRAYER wal
offered by Rev. Mr.. Walworth, of the Rich
land Sentinel. President Seymour ther
announced the order of business and ex
cursions, after which he delivered the fol
lowing opening address, which was vel
received:


OPENING ADDRESS BY CHARLES SEYMOUR.


Men Of the Press, and Friends:


It seems but day since we met to CLASH
hands, and then went back to 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, in as many sta tes.
that have grown up, with hot haste, in our
day, as parts and proofs of the wealth and
growth of the West; and now, in few
plain words, let me greet you all as we meet
once more to think, talk, and act on things
that call for the best work of our lives,
and in the right use of which we are, in
duty bound, to give the full strength of
stout hands, true hearts and clear
heads. Men who earn their daily bread,
if not, in all cases, by the sweat of their
brows, do SO from type used in the art
that saves all arts, as it groups the rich
thoughts of the wise minds of all ages
and climes, and speaks out through the
Press the words of men whose brains find
no rest short of the grave, here join with
those who WELD the pen, to talk over the
good that has been wrought-to learn the
great facts of the busy age in which we
live-to giId up our loins for the task that
is yet to be done-to call the roll of those
who guard the rights and plead the cause
and wants of our race, and to place on the
scroll of honor the names of friends who
have won our love and gone to sleep with
their sires, while we catch new zeal and
cheer each other on in the fight for the right
ana against the wrong; SO that when we
cease our work on earth, all who may wish
to turn to our files shall find they were hard
things to gnaw, at least on one side With
views and thoughts and plans as wide as
the world, we are still one In the great aim
of life: which is to send light and hope and
Joy to the minds and hearts and homes of
all men who would be wise, pure, Just and
free. Let us bear in mind the solid fact
that the free Press of both Europe and
America, and the wires that are soon to belt
the Globe, speak the same tongue which
Chatham, Henry and Webster spoke, and
which Milton and Holmes have sung; and
thus are lodged in the Press of this free
land power and a tie that make us akin to
all the world, and the stewards of O. trust
that brings with it duties which none should
slight.


Our laws leave the press to do and say
anything, so long as it leaves rogues and
knaves alone; for be it known so many of
those who are chosen to make laws in and
for this and other States live on the strife
which grows out of evil-doing, that they
shield Williams by harsh libel law, which
often makes it costly crime for the Press
10 call thief by his right name or to say
aught against any human fend, until after
be is in irons; or until he has reached the
top round of his 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 having refus-
ed to amend the libel law as we once asked,
let US heap Goals Of fire on the heads of
those imps of Satan, who, having no good
name of their own until it is given to them
by cute lawyer and a stupid jury in a ver-
dict of FFNot Guilty" by asking that they
be allowed to bring their libel suits in the
name of ''heirs or assigns who
may have some show of vir-
tue on which to base a claim for damage,
even though it be for cruelty to brutes.
Unless the laws place the Press on fair
ground, so that rogues who have the good
luck to keep out of prison shall not, by
means of the Courts, empty the pockets
and purse of the man who prints facts
about their crimes, until they give surety
for costs in event Of their failure, there will
be valid reason for the Press to make this
point in the choice of men to enact our
laws. AS the libel laws of most States now
stand, the lowest vagrant in morals can, by
sharing the spoils with some keen law buz-
zard, at little or no risk, mulct in heavy
costs, the owner of any press, who may,
even with malice toward none, print facts
that should be known, in order to keep O.
rogue and leper from doing harm.


If there is on the face of the whole earth





has need of and should claim in aid of his
labors for the day, the strong help which
none but God can give, it is he who goes
forth, amid perils of many kinds. to CLEAN,
write, print, and utter facts and thoughts
which serve more or less, to shape the acts
and feed the minds of those about him,
who put their trust in what he says, and
thus from his good or bad points, start out
on a sound or false basis, and grow up In
truth or error, to add strength or be q
charge to the State, and live to bless one
who was q safe guide, or to curse him that
led him astray. At our doors and to our
care is led trust that calls for able and
sure men, whose lives shall bless all who
come in the range of their labor. Still,
there are times for all things; and if we
knew the poet who wrote the lines so dear
to youth and not SO bad for boys of ripper
growth


he should have ''free pass" for ''self and
wife" or Gladly" over all the roads, and
upon the Lake and River, on which our
"craft" has any lien; for there is no fact in
rhyme or prose to which the sons of toll
should give more, and do pay less heed than
the one just cited, and set forth in yet more
glowing colors by Nature and Holy Writ in
the great glory and beauty of the ''Lilies
whose toll is less than their toilet And il
is we'll for us as often as once year, with
our wives, (every good FRESHMAN should,
like Deacon, have one wife, to ''swing
around the circle, and test the truth Of
Saxe's ''Rhyme OF the Rail"-


Singing through tho forest,
Rattlng ever ridges,


Shooting undor arches,


Rumbling over bridges,


Whizzing through the mountains,
Buzzing DER the vale;


Bless me! this is pleasant


Riding ON the Rail-


using for Doxology the good old song


''Be gore, dull care-I pr ythee be gone from
me-"


To cheer our hearts, and rest our hands