Frederick Follett

“ While we are conscious that the Press has been instrumental of immense good, in the spread of general intelligence, and enlightening the public mind, it is to be regretted that its moral character has been too often stained by corrupt and unworthy hands.—It is a mighty engine, for weal or woe, and would that all those who direct it, had a higher sense of their responsibility. As the first production of the American Press was the Freeman's Oath, so should it labor unceasingly to protect and defend the Freeman's Rights—to elevate his mind and improve his morals. ”

“ It is a proud reflection for the members of our profession that their great American Prototype—one of the earliest pioneer Printers of our country—was the exemplary citizen, the true patriot, the great statesman, and the profound philosopher—Benjamin Franklin; and it is highly creditable to the taste and public spirit of the Printers of your city that they have engaged in and resolved to continue the celebration of his birth-day—an era in the history of the world which will never be forgotten while intellect is appreciated and virtue honored. ”

“ When these enter into the qualifications of the managers of the Press, we may expect to see, us we now daily see, science and the arts—knowledge and virtue—adorning as well the cottage of the poor as the mansions of the rich. Dotted all over as our land is, with Printing Offices, and falling in every place like snow flakes, as are the pages of the Newspaper, daily and weekly, speaking to all classes in praise of real merit instead of factitious and artificial, the people cannot help feeling admiration for the real virtues of their distinguished fellow men. ”

“ But aside even from these considerations, could a nobler object—a higher or more intellectual source of enjoyment be ours, than to commemorate departed worth—to spend an hour in remembrance of the treat and good Franklin—of him whom "antiquity would have worshipped as a god, or praised as one having dealings with a supernatural power;" but who, viewed through the milder and truer medium of modern times, is presented to our view, a self-made man—his name first on the roll of enduring Fame, and his memory venerated and fondly cherished by an intelligent and patriotic people? ”

“ And last, though by no means least, the Craft can point with proud and glorious satisfaction to Benjamin Franklin!—He is an example, of whom, not only Printers, but the world may be proud. The Society of him who called, and tamed, the lightning from the clouds, has been sought and courted by the proudest monarchs of the earth! Other benefactors of mankind have lived—but none whose brow has been wreathed with prouder laurels than that of Franklin. ”

“ Dispensing with stick and press—with its stand and case at Washington, it strikes its impressions on a tympan-sheet at Buffalo! While the rail-cars are progressing with all the speed of steam, freighted with the product of the bones and sinews and brains of poor Printers—this new rat has, in less than no time, sent all the news in advance, on its railroad of wire—and all our news-papers cease to be new before they are printed! I hope that this unjust aggression upon the rights of the craft will be suitably noticed by the brethren. ”

“ This honor and this reverence, gentlemen, has dwelt in my mind from my earliest boyhood.—One of the first books I ever read—how well do I remember its worn-out type and coarse whity-brown paper—was a Life of Franklin; it was, in admiration of his character, that, before I had ever seen a printing press, my boyish determination to become a Printer had its origin; and for the measure of success that has attended my labor I am greatly indebted to the maxims of "Poor Richard." All must appreciate the lofty fame of Franklin—the Statesman and Philosopher—but we, gentlemen, can do more than this ”

“ Printers: Heaven bless them! May they stick to the rule of Virtue,—live by the guide of Wisdom,—run well in the chase for Honor,—never exhibit foul cases nor battered faces,—and, finally, when they shall be laid out for distribution on Death's imposing stone, may they exhibit a proof free from outs and doublets, and enter into the celestial office of the Great Master Printer of the Universe! ”

“ As the publisher of a Newspaper for several years, I had an opportunity of being acquainted with a large number of Printers, some of whom have gone to their last resting place, while others are occupying stations of influence in the world. Among the most prominent of those who assisted in conducting or printing the Rochester Telegraph, was a gentleman whose early history bears a striking resemblance to that of the illustrious member of the craft whose memory we have met this evening, to honor. ”

“ The most fertile imagination, one hundred years since, would have hardly dreamed of what is passing every day before our eyes; but time will not permit me to take even a hasty glance at the splendid and wonderful achievements of the human intellect; the peaceful acquisitions of science and art, and the general and rapid progression of the human race. Neither have I been able to more than barely alude to the general characteristics of the great philosopher and statesman whose birth-day we are assembled to celebrate. ”

“ The Printers of Rochester and Western New York have set a noble example to their brethren elsewhere. The spirit of the craft had lost its lustre. Many of its "high places" had been filled by those who have not "from youth up," inhaled the heart-expanding atmosphere of the Printing Office. However high-minded and honorable such men may be—however desirous of dealing justly by their journeymen, they cannot fully understand us, for they have not imbibed that inexpressible but felt sympathy which exists between practical Printers everywhere. ”

“ Who that remembers Western New-York thirty-five years ago, can look upon the change without amazement? Instead of the every day, gradual progress which industry and enterprise, guided by intelligence, accomplishes, it seems as if some Fairy had passed through the wilderness, converting, by a touch of its wand, tangled forests into waving fields, log-cabins into splendid mansions, Indian wigwams into Christian Temples, and blind foot-paths into Railroads and Canals. ”

“ But Franklin was not only a printer, he was a philosopher, a statesman and a patriot. He did not belong to our craft alone; that was his starting point, but in the race of life, the apprentice boy placed himself among the most distinguished of men. How fruitful of instruction is his example; how strong the incentive to honorable exertion it affords.
It was said by a celebrated Frenchman, Voltaire; and there is not less truth than beauty in the expression, "that some men are like statues, the higher they are elevated the smaller they appear." It was not so with Franklin. ”

“ Finding it impossible for us to attend in person the celebration of the birth-day of Franklin, on the 18th inst, we beg to offer this, our grateful remembrance, of the virtues of one who not only shed lustre upon the profession, but upon the American name and nation.
Please accept our thanks for the polite invitation to your festival, and convey to those who may be present on the occasion, our heartfelt wishes for their prosperity and happiness; assuring them that although not present in person, we are with them in spirit and feeling. ”

“ The legitimate province of the Press is the formation of the literary taste of the public. Whatever reading is required by the community at large, the Printer furnishes. Those who wield the power of the Press, possess the ability to lead the minds of the people in their search after truth, or bid them grovel in the depths of licentiousness and crime. ”

“ But with the re-productive energies of the Press at its control, books—Phoenix-like—rose from the ashes of those burned before, and the Papal Bull, consigning the works of Luther to the flames, became the surest means of their immortality. The results of that glorious reformation, effected by the Press while yet in its infancy, will be felt at time's remotest boundary.
This great reformation was the first, but not the only achievment of the Press. It has raised the world from the midnight of heathenism to the noon-day brightness of civilization. "But how are the mighty fallen!" ”

“ In the success of a man who possessed talent and intellect that raised him afterwards to important State offices, and of which he need not have been ashamed if he had, like his honored fellow craftsman, been called to "stand before Kings,"—who submitted with so much philosophy to circumstances of trial and difficulty in which he was placed,—in the success of such a man I say, I have always felt a deep interest, and such examples, may, I think, be held up for the imitation of young printers, who expect to carve their way by their own exertions "to fortune and to fame." ”

“ In one of the Territories of this Republic a Printer may be recognized, who has exchanged the stick and the case, and been robed with executive power,—again, among those "grave and reverend signors" who occupy that most august body, the Senate of the United States, and there you discover a Printer—look among the fighting men of our country, in the ranks and clothed with official dignity, and there you will find the Printer—look, also, among the Divines, the Doctors, the Politicians, and indeed, among almost every branch of industry or calling in society, and Printers are to be found! ”

“ As a man of genius, he had few equals, and certainly no superiors. Brought up to the laborious profession of our craft, and industriously laboring for its elevation during its infancy, he yet found time to employ his mighty genius for the advancement of those branches of science, the rapid progress of which emphatically mark the present age. Is it not, then, peculiarly fitting that we should claim him as our own: as the great and beloved representative of the "Art Preservative of all Arts?" ”

“ The name of Franklin is peculiarly endeared to Printers—a name honored and cherished by the civilized world. As a Philosopher, the god-like genius of Franklin towered to the very heavens—bringing the Thunder King down from his chariot of fire in the clouds, and corking him up in a bottle! As a Statesman, he exhibited matured wisdom and unerring judgment and forecast. As a Patriot, he exhibited the most exalted attachment to his country. ”

“ It is an often repeated truism, that "intelligence is the life of liberty." The degraded and ignorant mind is in bondage; it is fettered and stultified; and neither knows its own nor the rights of others; of every member of the community, and of the whole community; but the regenerating light of knowledge is spreading over the world, and commensurate with its progress is the advancement of the human race, in comfort and happiness, and in its moral, social and political condition. ”

“ This period, then, we mark as the most interesting and important in the history of the world; by one mighty effort of intellect, we see the shadows which had so long hung over the paths of the sons of science removed forever; we see improvement traveling in the car of time, and in the few generations which have followed, we trace a succession of the most brilliant discoveries ever announced for ameliorating the condition of the human race. ”

“ Gentlemen:—I regret extremely that it is not in my power to accept your kind invitation for the Anniversary you so appropriately celebrate on the 18th inst.
The illustrious Sage and Patriot, whose birth you commorate, will ever command the homage of mankind. To the world, scarcely less than to our own country, his life was, from first to last, a benefaction, which the world has acknowledged by all the tokens which confer renown or express gratitude. ”

“ Accept, gentlemen, my sincere thanks for the honor conferred, and present to the great body of printers, (who will doubtless be present on the occasion,) the compliments of one who, though doomed to be absent in body, will be present in spirit.
Please accept the following sentiment:
Benjamin Franklin: The faithful and fearless advocate of our national independence, the profoundly wise and benificent philosopher— his public services demand our lasting gratitude, while his bright name and untarnished honor will ever be the pride and glory of the American citizen. ”

“ So long may the common bond of Union, the Mother tongue of both, be spoken in the Father land of each, and Britain and America, having one literature, perpetually interchanging benefits, remain to the end of time as distinct and as amiable as day and night, which never encroach upon each other, but make the world beautiful and fertile for the abode of all the dwellers upon the face of it ”

“ In the infancy of the Art, printers were among the most learned men, and to their profound scholarship the world owed elegant editions of the most renowned Greek and Roman classics, till then almost utterly unknown, which editions are even now recognised as the most valuable extant. Especially are we indebted for these labors—to them a labor of love—to the Printers of Venice, a republic, then distinguished like our own, for the extent of her commerce, and the valor of her arms. ”

“ But, I may be tresspassing upon time which can be more profitably employed—or if not, I may already have arrogated to myself the utterance of suggestions more forcibly and appropriately made by more wise and venerable persons; I will therefore farther detain you only by offering the following sentiment.
The Press: A lever whose impressive power, if pulled by the united hands of the craft, will put a period to vice, and leave a fairer impression upon the face of our nation, and give the pages of as history in future, a brighter lustre than all other influences combined. ”

“ There it stands on the proud summit of human greatness, and could that colossal form be invested with life and consciousness, and think, and feel, and see, as Franklin; thought, and felt, and saw, with what mingled emotions of amazement and delight would it contemplate the changed aspect and condition of the world, and how would its throbbing heart be filled with ecstacy and wonder as its vision rested upon its own loved native land. ”