The state chronicle., 1893-05-23
An Interesting Address.
Wilmington Messenger.


Never having belonged to the Press
Association of North Carolina, we
have give1. for decade or 80 but
little attention to its proceedings,
now and then reading an essay or
poem. We have had time to read
but one contribution to the last ses-
sion-the address Of Capt Samuel
A. Ashe, editor of the Raleigh NEWS
AND OBSERVER, at the banquet. de
spoke to the toast-"The Press as
the Defender OF the Liberties OF the
People" It was we'll done, digni-
fed, thoughtful, instructive. Capt.
Ashe did not pass the bounds OF
truth and modesty in his entertain
ing eulogy of the guild he adorns
We were gratifed to see he did not
overlook the services of the Raleigh
Sentinel when owned by Hon. Josiah
Turner. It did great service to the
State in times that tested character
and made bare and naked many
pretender. Capt. Ashe said:
During that period two incidents
happened that were especially note
worthy. Here in North Carolina
in 1869 and 1870 unhappy differ
ences arose. Iu the course of the
memorable struggle that followed,
the Raleigh Sentinel, then edited by
Josiah Turner, became indeed q
!. faithful sentinel On the watch tower
of liberty, and made defence of the
liberties of the people in manner
, that deserves to live in song and
, story until the last syllable of re-
) corded time. The other was in
/ 1877 at New Orleans"
5 For some months in 1S69-at the
: hottest time-this editor was MIR
Turner's Associate and did q great
deal of writing and other work fol
lit Twice afterwards he was Asso
ciate and did four-ffths of the edi
torial work in the long heated gu
9 bernatorial and Presidential cam
e psigns of 1S72-when Judge Mer
Q rimon WAS cheated out cf the off ic'
o of Governor by the fraud ulent vote
of the Radical gang and Horace
9 Greeley was defeated for the Prssi
4 dency.
f Capt. Ashes account of the manly
d defence of the people and thei
j liberties in the the past is inspir
e ing. His account of toe newspspe
a that contained the account of tn,
e battle o. Lexington is interesting
and will De new to many of ou,
g readers. We quote it:
# ga fine example of the value o
e the press in arousing the people by
n the dissemination of news is afford
e ed by an historical incident. A news
G p per containing the account o
7. the battle of Lexington was hur
t. riedly sent by horse and rider from
l. the committees OF safety at on'
town 20 that of smother along oul
entire coast. Thus dispatched
'e from New Haven, it spread the ne "
II throughout the entire country al
y il. went TO its disant destination
l. reaching Baltimore In three days
Edenton On May 4th, Bath the mex
y day. New Bsrne on the 9th, Onsloy
1T the next day, Wilmington On tn
O. 9th, then brunswick, and orossin,
80 the South Carolina line on the 81
As on its course to Georgia 1t wa
as receipted for by nine separate com
mittees III North Carolina IN tn
oi course on FIVE days. At ever
ct point along the route it Was rea
t. with passionate eagerness. Neve
is did newspaper bstter service i
OF wing the hearts of men, inspirin
IL them with fierce resolve 10 defen
en their liberties aud avenge the bloc
ne OF their brethren who had fallen
tn a common cause"