The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-27
THE STATE PRESS.
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY JOSEPH
P. CALDWELL, ESQ, EDITOR OF
THE STATESVILLE LANDMARK,
AT THE CHARLOTTE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BANQUET,
FEBRUARY Q.
Charlotte ChrOIicIc.)

Charlotte Chroricle.)
When President Weddineton an
nounced the toast s'The State Press"
and Joe Caldwell, as the speaker ;,
the audience broke out in loud
burst Of applause. When quiet was
finally restored, and the popular edit
or could proceed, he said:
The progress of time brings mary
strange things to pass. Nothing
would have seemed more unlikely in
the fall Of 1872, than that the raw
recruit who was then commencing to
practice Journalism at the expense
nf this patient and long Suffering
city should rise IN this presence in
1890 10 rc,pon0 To the sentiment
which has just becn proposed. And
yet 1t eau with sOnc fairness be as
eumcd that these seventeen years Of
uninterrupted association with the
prcss have carried him beyond the
experimental stages of the GOrk to
which he has consccrated his life.
The press. What is it? What Of
it,
1t is FIRST aud foremost a news
purVcyor; this is The first demand the
public makes upon 1t; that it shall
print the news. Bat 1t has mis-
sion apart from this. From facts
presented it is its duty to draw con
cIusions. Upon the wisdom ana ,hc
fairness With Which It does tins de-
ponds TIC measure OF its Influence,
for the reader, more acute, more &C
couratc in his estimate Of him than
the average journalist is wont to be-
lieVC, Will accept or re Jet the con
illusions Of his editor according as
he has learned TO rely upon or to
dIstVust his Wisdom and his fairness.
Thus The influence Of the press va
rics with each fractional part of the
whole, and not with the size Of 10
audience in each soro-
v.;s,s IL urawny muscle and cctic;ii.S
brain. -~r~rate case, bu
..tTh something else, as | hav'
sought to show. The paper mus
depend upon its news columns 70
its popularity but it is the editoria
column which establishes its charac
ter. 1t exerts a wide and healthfu
influence if it's editor be recognize
as q man of information judgmen
and integrity if he be known to b
under no outside influence; if he b
free of suspicion Of any Interior d.
sign. lie who looks to politician
or parties, rs such, for fayors, {
who has his own aspirations, hos
ever secretly entertained, fixed upo
politics, cannot be faithful, single
hearted or safc guide to others .an
will lose his lutl4ence as his amt
ton is disclosed. The Occupatlo
If is highest possibilities are to
attained. is to be followed, IS is Il
higher ministry for itself alone, al
ret IS Il stepping stone TO SON
thing else, nor yet as mere mea
Of nnn2Y-9etting. That editor d
toaors his profession who for mon
pauderA to derravcd or yicio
put!ic clamoc Wlca his conscien
s&ys nag. In like manner he d
credits 1lm.tlr when he allows 7
sexual pi1ut 30 contvol his column
and thus NC have tolay tie spec
Gle Of two 81 more Of what are call
the great papers Of our count
practically without influence or
lowing, Notwithstanding they hs
immense circulation.
arc not here TO discuss the c
rupt, The scr,lic or the lceuti
press-scourges Of God.
The press generally is anima
ny high purposes. Considering
temptations. it - slnguiarIy
fro:n venslitY. 1t Is rare that
leads liz couHtenance to meas
which oppos = the general Welt
1t is always in the van Of prosr
Il throws itself into the breach w
the campaign is on, and is the
to leave the trenches. For the 6
OF the public, it imperiIs the /
AMI the property OF its conduc
when no personal end is to be
served. 1t is first and last the fr
auti defender Of its own commu
a spokesman which is ais
loyal, al advocate which Sc!
needs to be prompted
III rising, gentlemen, in Charl
to speak Of and for the press |