“THE PRESS.”

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 204, 20 November 1869, Page 4

“THE PRESS.”

At the Anniversary of the Loyal Marlborough Lodge, 1.0.0. F., held last week, in proposing “ The Press”— Dr. Muller said, in rising to propose this toast, he felt as if in a theatre, where the manager had put him down for the “ general utility” business. He was first directed to take charge of the “ cut and thrust” business, and talk about the Army and Navy, and warlike affairs ; now he was to drop the Sword and take up the Pen. Once the sword was all powerful, and kings and warriors thought themselves insulted if it was supposed that they could read or write their own names. The Constitution then consisted of kings, lords, and commons, and not much of the latter. Now, the Press has arisen into what is very properly called the Fourth Estate, and wields a power which makes kings and commons shake in their shoes. It may almost be likened to the rod of Aaron, which turned into a serpent and swallowed up all the other serpents. This change has not, however, taken place all at once ; it did not spring from the grub to the butterfly, but has arisen slowly, and like all things of slow growth, has become firmer and stronger by the delay. It has undergone the ordeal of persecution and hardship, and it is not long since any one who wrote and commented upon public acts and public men honestly and fearlessly, was in no very enviable position. For this Leigh Hunt, one of the finest writers of his day, for advocating popular rights, and daring to question “the right divine to govern wrong,” suffered two years’ imprisonment in Horsemonger Jail. But this has passed away, and men write, and are applauded for articles which, written by their grandfathers, would have brought them to the scaffold. (Applause.) The circulation and diffusion of the Press has kept pace with its increase of importance and usefulness. A few years back, the old squire, living in Devonshire, received his weekly newspaper, published in London on the Saturday, about the following Wednesday. This was a very small affair, and contained a very meagre account of what took place ; very likely its title was the “Weekly Intelligencer," so called probably from its containing little news. ,Now, not only is London news on every breakfast-table throughout Great Britain, but the merchant at San Francisco, on the shores of the great Pacific, reads at his breakfast the principal events that have happened in Europe the day before. We thus see what a mighty instru-

ment the Press has become; ami to its credit be it said, it has used its power for the benefit of the human race. It has fearlessly exposed abuses, and has alike defied threats and bribes. Questions of national importance have been discussed and thoroughly ventilated in its columns ; and even “ Paterfamilias,” who has been served with a cup of cold coffee, or who has been charged 4d. instead of 3d. at a railway station, finds a vent for his wrongs in writing to the Times. The Press has also been a foster-mother to men of talent, and. many men who have risen to eminence at the bar, or on the bench, commenced their career by reporting for the leading journals. Mr. Charles Dickens commenced his career in the reporters’ gallery. A British jury used to be spoken of as the Palladium of British liberty, but after the manner in which things are made public, and the comments of the Press, it is a question whether a portion of their functions could not be dispensed with. He would but briefly refer to the New Zealand Press. He thought it had not fallen off, but had proved a worthy scion of the old stock, having struck its roots deep into the soil, and bidding fair to become a goodly tree. Public acts and public men are discussed freely and fully, and for the most part in an honest and candid manner. The most able writers of the Colony have from time to time contributed to its pages, while the type and getting-up of newspapers generally will bear comparison with any in the Old Country. He would not detain them longer as the hour was getting late, but would remark that even in that social gathering the power of the Press was felt, for on casting his eye along the table, he perceived “ A d iel’s amang you takin' notes. And, iaith, he'll prent it*” Loud and long continued cheering followed this witty peroration, Mr. Johnson {Express,) was proud of the honor shown to his profession, both by the flattering terms in which the toast had been proposed, and the enthusiastic way in which it was received. Having had a varied experience of many years, he could corroborate what had been said relative to the Press of the Colonies, which was as fearless and independent, and as exempt from abuse as that of any country in the world. True, there were some slight exceptions to the rule j but these only served to heighten the charms of the rest. The views and sympathies of the Press were as large and boundless as the civilised world itself. It was the handmaiden to parliaments and councils, for without it, their magnificent theories and projects would fall dead and inert, since it was for the absent public, the listener, promulgator, and very frequently the expounder.' The progress of the world depended on the Newspaper Press, for governments and councils seldom dealt earnestly with any subject until they had tested public opinion by its means. The speaker concluded by thanking them for the handsome compliment paid that evening.