The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-05-19
The Right spirit.


days before, which was read with much
pleasure. The Messenger proposes hereafter
to ''tliscuss the politics of the country, and
the policy of the Government, State and ma
tional, in fair, candid and dignified spirit
to let our different opinions be expressed
in language and tone becoming men, and
dismiss as unworthy OF discussion, every
subject that will not bear logical discus
sion.n The Messenger says that the press OF
this country has descended into low, person.
/ oil abuse, until its influence at home is mate
rally weakened, while it but excites the
pity and contempt of strangers abroad" As
the editor of the Messenger has recently been
travelling in other States as an agent OF the
North Carolina press, we suppose he has
learned what its character abroad really IS,
and feels Illuminated at the fact, that it COM
mands but little, if any respect out OF the
State. And the Messenger proposes To re-
form the tone and spirit of the North Caro-
lima press, if the opposition will meet the
Conservative press half way. To this pro-
position the Standard responds Affirmative
", and we hope soon to see such general
reformation as will give to the press OF the
State an elevated, manly und dignified tone,
that will exert hcalthful influence upon
the manners and morals of the people
and make it respected both at home
and abroad.
We have been greatly disguised at the
want OF dignity. the low scurrility and the
personal vituperation and abuse which has
characterized some of the leading journals
of North Carolina. The pander to the de-
PRAYED and vitiated tastes engendered by
the war; or resulting from the demoraliza-
OF the times, may possibly make a paper
popular, and enable its proprietor to make
money out of it, but it makes it an engine
of mischief that goes very far to perpetuate
the evils under which the community is suf-
fering, which ought to be its chief aim to
remove And we hail with de-
! light the expressed willingness of two lead
ing papers of opposite parties in the State
to join US, in addition to the Charlotte
| Democrat and perhaps one or two other pa
pers, which have always been with US, in the
course which we have endcavored to pursue
as the conductor of a public journal.-OM
North State.
The above is just what we expected from
the Old North State 1t has always dis
cussed the issues of the day in fair and
honorable manner. Thus far the Charlotte
Democrat, Gollsboro' Messenger and the Old
North State are the only papers which have
shown themselves willing to adopt better
course in journalism. The Western Sentinel
lodges the issue, while the Tarboro'
Southerner refuses to abate its bitterness, or
to act in any but the most bitter and
virulent manner From the other papers of
the State we have heard nothing. The Will
mington Journal and Star say nothing upon
the matter, but their columns do not show
any of the bitterness and senseless vituper-
alton shown by the Southerner and one or
two papers of that ilk. The Southerner is
especially bitter in its refusals, and upbraids
all papers who are disposed to use their en-
deavors to give better tone to the press
1t is like the dog in the manager, and does
not wish others to do right simply because
it does not wish to dn right itself The
STANDARD wished to bring about better
tone in North Carlina journalism he-
cause it considered that the present tone
was not to the credit of the press,
and was injuring the interests of
the State. As the leading Republican
paper, it made the proposition to the Demo.
cratic press TO adopt better course. That
it had NO selfish motives, will readily he
admitted by every fair minded man. for the
STANDARD has proven that it can easily de-
fend itself and friends against any tactics of
the enemy. Our aim was to elevate the
press and benefit the people at the same
time If our well-intentioned overtures are
rejected, and the present damaging course
of the press prevails, the people or the State
will admit that it is not our fault, aud that
the Democratic press is to blame. We have
urged the adoption of the course most for
the interests of the State. and in so doing
have laid ourself open to the abuse of any
sparling low minded pettifogger who may
have access to the columns of some obscure
country sheet. But we do not regret our
action, as it was done for the benefit of our
State and the dignity of the press Our
offers may be rejected but the people can
Judge who acts the better part-they who
endeavor to establish better state of feel
ing, or they who wickedly reject those offers
that they may crafty low personal spites.
The people have been witnesses to our en-
deavors to do away with state of feeling that
injured the interests of the people, and they
nov know who, by opposing the movement,
have acted against the welfare of the State.
As for the STANDARD, it has now done that
which it felt to be its duty. By some papers
the good has been chosen, by Others the
evil. To those who have proven themselves
willing to do that which they know is for the
good of the people and the press, we have
only to say, we will treat you as honorable
adversaries, and discuss all questions in fair
and candid manner. To those papers who
have preferred the old course we have only
to say, you shall have all you want, and that
between you and the STANDARD there can be
none of the amenities of the press, for your
course forbids it. If your Offices don't get
struck by lightning and the devil thus get his
own before we get chance at you, we will
convince you that, in the words of the South
ern1r, we are the rod that smites you.
With those who really desire the good of the
people, we are willing to fraternze. but