THE PUBLIC DOMAIN » 



Editors and Journalists: 



It is a pleasure to look into the faces of so many mold- 

 ers of thought for southern Iowa. In fact this organiza- 

 tion might be properly termed "The Thought Molders' 

 Union." It is surely a good purpose which brings such 

 an organization as this together and I am glad to be able 

 to speak to you. 



Roscoe Conkling said that there were only three classes 

 of individuals who can speak of themselves individually 

 as "we" and they are crowned heads, editors, and men 

 having tapeworm. 



Lord Coleridge said that a judge is a man who knows 

 the laws of his own country and that a jurist is a man 

 who knows something of the laws of every country but 

 his own. 



Definitions are always dangerous. I once got into 

 trouble by calling a violinist a fiddler. Artemus Ward, 

 fearing a similar trouble, referred to a sculptor as a 

 sculpist. 



I am at a loss whether to address you as editors or 

 journalists and have therefore on the score of safety 

 called you both. 



It is true that today's newspapers will kindle tomor- 

 row's fires but the thoughts of today's editorial will sur- 

 vive the cremation of the body. Thought is immortal. 



Courage and conscience are the foundation of all good 

 newspaper work; but courage is not demonstrated by 



i Address of Hon. John F. Lacey before the Southeastern Iowa Editorial 

 Association, Oskaloosa, Iowa, October 12, 1905. 



