The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-02-27
The STATE PRESS.
A TOAST TO WHICH MR.J. P. CALD-
WE'LL RESPONDS.

A TOAST 10 WHICH NIX. j. +. CALD-
WELL RESPONDS.
The Editor Of the Statesville Land
mark at the Charlotte Chamber of
Commerce Banquet, February 9Th.
The Charlotte Chamber of Com
merce on the evening Of February 9th
held a grand banquet. Covers were
laid for more than one hundred guests,
among them being Mr.. ]. P. Caldwell,
editor OF the Statesville Landmark,
who responded to the toast "The
State Press" The Chronicle publishes
the speech in full, prefacing it with
the following remarks. 1t says:
When President Weddlngton an
nounced the toast "The State Pres"
and Joe Caldwell as the speaker, the
audience broke out in loud burst of
applause. When quiet was finally re-
stored, and the popular editor could
pTOCeeu, ne Sdlu
"The progress of time, brings many
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 jour
nalism at the expense of this patient
and long suffering city, should rise in
this presence in 1890 to respond to
the sentiment which has just been pro-
posed. And yet it can with some
fairness be assumed that these seven
teen years of uninterrupted association
with the press have carried him beyond
the experimental stages of the work to
which he has consecrated his life.
sThe press. What is it3 What of
it2
alt is first and foremost news
purveyor; that is the first demand the
public makes upon it; that it shall
print the news But it has mission
apart from this. From facts presented
it is its duty to draw conclusions.
Upon the wisdom and the fairness
with which it does this depends the
measures of its influence, for the
reader, more acute, more accurate in
! his estimate of him than the average
journalist is wont to believe, will ac-
cept or reject the conclusions of his
editor according as he has learned to
rely upon or to distrust his wisdom
aud his fairness. Thus the influence
of the press varies with each fractional
part Of the whole, and not with the
size Of the audience in each separate
case, but with something else, as l
have sought to show. The paper
must depend upon its news columns for
its popularity, but it is the editorial
column which establishes its character.
1t exerts a wide and healthful inhu-
ence if its editor be recognized as a
man of information, judgment and in
tegrity; if he be known to be under
no outside influence if he be free of
suspicion Of any ulterior design. He
who looks to politicians or parties, as
such, for favors, or who has his own
aspirations, however secretly enter
tanned, fixed upon politics, cannot be
a faithful, single hearted or safe
guide to others, and will lose his in
huence as his ambition is disclosed.
The occupation, if its highest posi-
bilties are to be attained, is to be fol-
lowed, as is the higher ministry, for
itself alone, and not as a stepping-st stone
to something else, nor yet as mer e
means of money-getting. The editor
dishonors his profession who for money
panders to depraved or vicious public
camor when his conscience says nay.
In like manner he discredits himself
when he allows personal pique to
control his columns; and thus We have
to- day the spectacle of two or more OF
what are called "the great papers, OF
our country practically without influ-
ence or following, Notwithstanding
they have immense circulation.
sI am not here to discuss the cor
rupt, the servile or the licentious
press-scourges of God.
"The press generally is animated by
high purposes. Considering its temp
tations, it is singularly free from ven
ality. 1t is rare that it lends its coun-
tenance to a measure which opposes
the general welfare. 1t is always in
the van of progress. 1t throws itself
into the breach when the campaign is
on, and is the last to leave the trenches.
For the sake OF the public, it imperils
the lives and the, property Of its con
ductors when no personal end is to be
subserved. 1t is first and last the
friend and defender of its own COM
munity-a spokesman which is always
loyal, an advocate which seldom
needs to be prompted.
"In rising, gentlemen, in Charlotte,
to speak of and for the press, bring
myself into the same condemnation
with him who spoke Of war in the
presence of Hannibal. You have a
press that is all that l have said a
press should be-one worthy of the
choicest of North Carolina's cities. 1t
has always trumpeted your attractions
and has contributed in a large meas
ure to give your city the enviable
character which it enjoys throughout
all our borders.
"Allow me, gentlemen, in conclu,
sion, to thank you for this opportunity
to enjoy the hospitality of the Cham
Der of Commerce and to renew my
vows to the good city Of Charlotte,
If there is one not citizen or a
native who is as fond of her as you