Here Mr. Goldstick sighed and rolled up his eyes, and took a glass of wine. I felt encouraged in this sympathetic atmosphere to unfold to him my somewhat idealized views of what might be accomplished by the daily press, by editors as truly under moral vows and consecrations, as the clergymen who ministered at the altar. He caught the idea from me with enthusiasm, and went on to expand it with a vigor and richness of imagery, and to illustrate it with a profusion of incidents, which left me far behind him, gazing after him with reverential admiration. "Mr. Henderson," said he, "_The Great Democracy_ is not primarily a money-making enterprise--it is a great moral engine; it is for the great American people, and it contemplates results which look to the complete regeneration of society." I ventured here to remark that the same object had been stated to me by the _Moral Spouting Horn_. His countenance assumed at once an expression of intense disgust. "Is it possible," he said, "that the charlatan has been trying to get hold of you? My dear fellow," he added, drawing near to me with a confidential air, "of course I would be the last man to infringe on the courtesies due to my brethren of the press, and you must be aware that our present conversation is to be considered strictly confidential." I assured him with fervor that I should consider it so. "Well, then," he said, "between ourselves, I may say that _The Moral Spouting Horn_ is a humbug. On mature reflection," he added, "I don't know but duty requires me to go farther, and say, in the strictest confidence, you understand, that I consider _The Moral Spouting Horn_ a swindle." Here it occurred to me that the same communication had been made in equal confidence, by the proprietor of _The Moral Spouting Horn_ in relation to _The Great Democracy_. But, much as I was warmed into confidence by the genial atmosphere of my friend, I had still enough prudence to forbear making this statement. "Now," said he, "my young friend, in devoting yourself to the service of _The Great Democracy_ you may consider yourself as serving the cause of God and mankind in ways that no clergyman has an equal chance of doing. Beside the press, sir, the pulpit is effete. It is, so to speak," he added, with a sweep of the right hand, "nowhere. Of course the responsibilities of conducting such an organ are tremendous, tremendous," he added, reflectively, as I looked at him with awe; "and that is why I require in my writers, above all things, the clearest and firmest moral convictions. Sir, it is a critical period in our history; there is an amount of corruption in this nation that threatens its dissolution; the Church and the Pulpit have proved entirely inadequate to stem it. It rests with the Press." There was a solemn pause, in which nothing was heard but the clink of the decanter on the glass, as he poured out another glass of wine. "It is a great responsibility," I remarked, with a sigh.