The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-01

Lis'SoeS! I1O" DIOaQ It's range OF
power, how great its influence! What
sacred trust we have committed to
our charge, and how careful we should
be to exercise it Alright.
l am not of those who admire the
proud boast of the paper that claims
to print the nezus, and all the nezvs.
There is much that might he called
news{?) that should not be published
in any paper. | have reference 10
such things as are degrading and de-
moralzing in their nature and ten
dency. These may be grouped under
the heading Of. scandals in Their va
rious forms; particulars of shocking
and revolving murders the sickening
scenes of the gallows nauseating de
tails of cases of outrage the sensa-
tional and exaggerated, and all that
is immoral and corruptlng-reports Of
these, in all their unclean and repul-
sive natures should never be admitted
tn full to the columns of a decent
journal. Better publish no news if it
is not more moral and elevated in
tone than much of the gossip and gar
bage that finds its way into print
through certain channels. We OF the
South do not want to pattern after
some of the big metropolitan newspa-
pers of the North in this respect. We
do not care to be noted for enterprise
and progressiveness when this is its
banetul fruit. The conscientious,
painstaklng journalist must be discrim-
mating in his Judgment, and it is often
more difficult to determine what not
to publish than it is what to fill his
columns with The Church and the
Press are both grand institutions, and
should go hand in hand sowing seeds
of goodness; but if one scatter seeds
of evil instead, do we not see the harm
that is done? The rank weeds of sin
spring up and the good is contami-
mated by the bad and its force and
effect is weakened if not destroyed.
The Press of North Carolina is to be
congratulated upon its purity and
prosperity. 1t shows improvement in
appearance as compared with former
years, and believe its tone is more
dignified and its standard more ele-
waited. The editors are imbued with a
greater love of their profession and
! take deeper interest and pride in
their work. They arc as rule indus
trlous and enterprising, energetic and
hard working. Devoted to principle
and full of local and State pride, the
editors Of North Carolina, from one
end to the other, are doing grand
and glorious work. By disseminating
the knowledge of our wonderful re-
sources and advantages, they have
done more to induce capital and de-
slrable class Of settlers to seek invest
ment and homes in our midst than
any other agency. The story, true
and simple, of our past history, our
present prosperity, and our future pos
sibilities, has been told over and over
again and on every hand we sec the
good that has been accomplished.
And ere long, let us fancy, North Car
olina will be the brightest star of all
the AZ that glitter upon the blue field
of our national banner.
With quickened pride in our chosen
| profession, and higher ambitions for
the full and faithful performance of
the duties that lie before US, with re-
newed zeal and a more resolute pur-
pose, as the inspirations of our meet
ing and mingling together here, let us
return to our different fields of labor
throughout our beloved State, and
with the light of past experience before
us, strive to improve the future SO that
we may have the consciousness of duty
we'll performed, regardless of whether
we ''make money" or not. There
are things TO be desired beyond the
possession Of gold. And this is one
of the principles the Press must incul-
cate. That greed for gan-that in
satiate desire to become rich-aye,
that worship of the god Colds as
great in the human heart to-day as
when the Children of Israel, led bv
Moses in the Wilderness, wandered
away from the true and living God
and worshipped idols. In this civil
lied and enlightened age the Amer-
can people are doing the same thing.
The only difference is that the Israel
ties worshipped a golden calf, while
this latter day generation worship
brazen bull.
Get money, is the one great object
in lite-honestly, if you can, the rule
any way, if you must, the spirit and
practice. Every other consideration
is of secondary Importance to that of
gaining wealth. Look at the various
schemes and devices set up to rob the
masses. Consider the speculations,
trusts and combines every description
into which unprincipled men plunge
tor the purpose Of wringing and ex-
tortlng money out Of their tellow-man
to satisfy their wicked thirst for gold.
What startling forms they take. Even
the very articles of our daily food
the necessaries OF life-are not free
from their unholy touch. Well may
we ask, TO what is our country com /.
ing?