The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-05-12
- = - :
The Right Spirit.


newspapers of the State should conduct po
ltical discussions in a fair and candid man
ner. Wethink nearly every paper in tn
State will agree with us that the bitterness
and acrimony which has characterized thu
tone of the North Carolina papers has moi
only operated against The interests of tht
State, but has been far from adding to the
good character OF thepress. How this spirit
came to pervade the press and people 1t II
unnecessary to state in detail. Suffice i te
saw that it was one of the results of the war
That it has too long Influenced the press
and society, every thinking man will admit
1t then is the duty OF the press to use its
utmost endeavors TO do away with that
which is known to be operating against every
interest of our State. We do not expect to
find the whole of the Democratic press ready
to adopt this mode of action, and know that
some of them will sneer at the idea, but we
think that many Of the leading journals will
be willing to do that which they know will
greatly add to the prosperity of the State,
and promote better state of political and
social feeling.
The article below is from the Goldsboro'
Messenger, and if it foreshadows the course
of that paper under its new management,
we think it has set an example to the press
OF its party of which it may well be
proud 1t is in answer to the following ex-
tract from the STANDARD:
"'Let all wranglings and senseless resent
ments be done away with, and every man
and woman do all in their power TO build
up the South, and to conduee to the general
good The labor of love once commenced,
the bitter feelings engendered by the war
will disappear like magic. The strife of
party will be only to prove which can do
the most to build up North Carolina, and
to place her in the proud position which she
should occupy Let the efforts of little one
idead malignant partisans to produce strife
be overcome by the disapprobation of
people whose only thought is the common
good Then will the true prosperity of the
Old North State he regained, and the hap
piness of the people secured. standard.
Coming from the leading and most inAu-
entail Republican paper of the STATE the
above words are refreshing, and in endors-
ing them, as we most heartily do, we wei
cnme such expressions of cool Judgment and
good taste, with pleasure we cannot con-
yey in words.
Upon the newspaper press of North Caro-
lima, religious and secular, without respect
to sect or party, depends the prosperity and
greatness of the State, and nothing Can re-
lard that prosperity more than the senseless
wrangling OF a partisan press; nothing adj
vance such prosperity better than the com
bined efforts of our pressest TO encourage and
instruct the people in the industrial arts and
the development of the natural resources
which have been lavished on our State with
so omunifcent hand hl
Let US discuss the politics of the country,
and the policy of Government, State and
Nation, in q lair, candid and dignifed
spirit. Let our different opinions he ex-
pressed in language and tore becoming
men, and dismiss as unworthy of discus
sion every subject that will not bear logi-
cal discussion a-D DsfaI
The press of this country has descended
to low personal abuse, until its influence at
home is materially weakened, while it but
excites the pity and contempt of strangers
abroad. Cannot the press of North CARROLL
na teach American journalism lesson here
as wholesome to the profession as it must
prove profitable to the people9 We know
it can, and for the Democratic press We
undertake to say it will, if tue opposition
will meet US halfway" 1 iaaa
We now say that we will meet any or all
of the Democratic papers in spirit of fair
ness and good will We will discuss polit-
ical issues, State or National, in fair and
candid manner. five indulge in personal
ites 1t will be in a sportiye manner, without
one particle of malice. If we get chance
to give fair hit We shall give it. If any
other paper gives us a fair hit We will take
it in all possible good humor, and will do
our "evel best" to pay them back. If this
platform suits, let those who wish to con-
duct discussions accordingly specify their in
tentions, and we will meet them half way.
The STANDARD is willing to do all in its
power to give better tone to public feel
ing, and, if its overtures are rejected, will
at least have the consciousness that it has
acted in the manner most for the benefit of
the State and the dignity of the press.