The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-04
THE PRESS---THE GREAT NEWS
GATHERER.
Toast Responded to by the Editor of
the Gold Leaf at the Banquet Ten
dered the North Carolina Press AS
ISOLATION by the Citizens of New
Berne Thursday Evening. April
oath.

ISOLATION by the Citizens of New
Berne Thursday Evening. April
18th.
Mr. PREsIDENT:-SOme where / have
read that wisdom does not consist in
much speaking, but brevity is the soul of
wit" Believing that if at all might ap-
pear either wise or witty, it would be in
the observance rather than in the breach
OF this rule, and at the same time wish
ing to deal fairly with the subject as
signed me, find myself in a dilemma
handicapped as am. 1.-The Press-The
Great News Gatherer!'' Such theme is
worthy OF an essay, and were | competent
to do it Justice under any circumstances,
| could not in a tive-minute after-dinner
speech. SO, sir, by way of apology and
to dispel any fears that may have found
Judgment in the breasts of so congo
NAL a company that my purpose is to
"spread myself in an effort to cover the
whole range of thought suggested, and
thereby cause sadness to reign where good
humor alone should be supreme, l now
declare to the contrary. shall attempt
nothing of the kind.
Briefly, then, by way of showing a dis
position to discharge the obligation i'm
posed, and not with view of treating
the subject as fully as it deserves, | re-
mark in the language OF the toast: "The
Press-The Great News Gatherer," yields
a power second to no agency OF modern
times-a power for good or for evil.
Whether it is arrayed on the side OF hui
man progress, the cause of Christianity
and the betterment of mankind-or the re-
r., no 4 ;Ino n hoe Il
and hearts of the men who control this
mighty engine and direct its course
There is no better gauge OF Nation s
civilization and progress than the Press.
1t is the prime factor-the principal edu-
cator-of a people, The newspaper is a
reflex of the intelligence and progressive
spirit of community,-and the people,
no less than the town, are judged by the
character and excellence of the Press
they support.
The Press should be dignified, honor
able, fair. 1t should tell the truth, but
it is perhaps best some times that the
uhole truth should not be told. There are
times and occasions when the good sense
and discriminating Judgment OF an ed
itOr are more severely put to the test in
determining what not to publish-sifting
the chaff from the grain-chOOsing be-
tween the good and the bad, the purely
private and personal, and the legitimate
and public--than in getting something
to "fll up his columns with Every
thing of depraved, immoral, false and
unreasonable character should be eXclu-
ded from the pages OF a respectable
newspaper and there ought to be no
demand and no place for any other kind,
however far we may be removed from
such an ideal state The Press can not
afford to deceive or mislead the people.
1t should be free from all unsrcupulOus-
ness-above pandering to fictitious,
vulgar and prurient taste. Broad and
philanthropic, it should seek only to up
lift, to ennOble, to purify;-to & i've more
correct views and higher forms of life
to instill the principles OF patriotism and
exalted citizenship;-to teach the virtues
OF honesty, uprightness and industry.
The Press loves human progress and
guards with Jealous care the cause of
civil and religious liberty. 1t despises
sham and hypocrisy, and is the enemy of
fraud and wrong doing in high places as
we'll as low. Not even the ministers of
the Gospel have a greater responsibility
resting upon them than the editors and
publishers of the land: and the Press, no
less than the Pulpit, needs brave men,,
true men, courageous men. There is no
place in it's ranks for the moral or phys
zeal coward the weak, vaccilating, pn-
ling sycOphant the man of corrupt
mind or corrupt heart. The true editor
loves Justice, loves Right, loves his Eel
lOW-man.
public thought, the shaper OF human al
60; ha
chrOnicler of them. 1t should always be
in the lead, with it's banners proudly
waving in advance of the procession in
the march of progress and development.
1t should stand out as q beacon light
along the highway of life guiding the
| people into the paths of virtue and the
ways OF pleasantness and peace. 1t must
| go forward, not backward. 1t should
| take high ground on all enlightened,
moral, industrial and economic ques-
tions and bid the people come up to it.
Broad and far reaching in effect, the
Press exerts an influence most potential.
at will last through all time; extend
through all extent,
| Spread undivided and operate unspent."
Its power for good is limited only by
the capacity and character of the men
who WELD the pen, which, indeed, is
"mightier than the sword"
| 1t has civilized the world, enlightened
the people, developed new countries, built
up towns and cities, energized business,
stimulated enterprise, established ~factO-
ries, founded hospitals, endowed colleges,
created fortunes, carried elections, ex-
posed fraud, hunted down and punished
criminals, followed abscOnding bank
presidents and defaulting cashiers to the
ends of the earth and delivered them into
the hands OF justice. 1t has made and
unmade statesmen, crowned princes and
dethrOned kings, overthrow political
parties and put the stamp of disapproval
upon the dogmas and false doctrines of
cranks and heretics. 1t has discovered
and rescued from obscurity budding
sprigs Of struggling genius and con-
signed to the capaciOus NAV of the waste
basket the illusions OF spring poets and
made their fOndest hopes decay like oyster
patties and corn dodgers before the North
Carolina Press Association at banquet
table. Aye, sir, it has done more than
this: 1t has made the good people OF
New Berne open their hearts and homes,
put on their store clothes, turn out
on regular holiday picnic and show
the spirit of genuine Tar Heel hospi-
| IdnlN tHdu Is III tnclli-dS DeIleVo no
Others could have done-until we have
been overwhelmed almost with kindness
and courtesies that will ever make this
our Dist annual meeting in the pictur-
esque and delightful elm City'-Qneen
of the majestic Neuse-one of the most
memorable and pleasant gatherings in
the history of the Association.
But lest there be some here who Der-
chance might he led to imagine there are
no shadows along with the sunshine in
an editors life, let me assure you his path
is not strewn with roses, nor is his couch
a downy bed of ease. / but speak the
truth when say he is The hardest worked
the least thanked, the most generally
"cussed' and frequently the poorest
compensated mortal in his bailwick. 1t
is true he some times falls heir to a peck
of turnips, a pumpkin of jumboistic pro-
portions and such freaks as twin pota-
toes and the first cotton bloom-and