The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-04-06
PRESS AND PEOPLE.
OPPORTUNITY THEY HAVE TO
BENEFIT THE COUNTRY.

Should Give More Time and Attention
to the Material Interests and Indus
trial Development of the South and
Less to Political Discussion and the
Dissemination of Sensational, Re-
| voting and Debasing News of Crime
| Action of Southern Publishers.
| (Raleigh Post)
The Post, in its issue of Yesterday,
commended most heartily the action
of the Southern Publishers Associa-
ton at its session in Richmond in
| declaring for more general attention
to the material development Of the
South and less to politics and politi-
cal discussion. We believe we can
claim for the Post an already estab-
lished reputation for earnest and con-
stant endeavor in the discussion of
those questions and the urgency of
those means by which the material
interests Of our State are to be up
builded. 1t has been our province,
as it was duty we owed to our peo-
pie, to condemn the various attempts
born of Populism and instigated by
those who would thrive upon the dis
orders, if not the destruction, OF
popular confidence and time honored
privileges to make political footballs
of matters which involve the mater
ial prosperity and business integrity
of our citizens. And it is owing
to these attempts at direct or in
direct blackmailing of business en-
terprises by so-called politicians
through threatened legislation, that
have forced these but too often into
the field of politics for self-preserva-
ton. Some papers, like some polti-
clans, think they can only live by
such methods; but this, with the ex-
perience of the past, and especially
with the hopes of the future to aspire,
should arouse to greater energy those
papers and people who honestly desire
that politics shall be put upon 3
higher plane, and the people in THEN
business undertakings, of whatever
character or magnitude, be left with
as little interference as possible, save
such as will restrict bad men from
doing injury or injustice to their fell
lowmen.
For over a quarter Of century we
have written and urged, as much upon
the attention of our own people as
upon others, the advantages and pos
siblities of this old State for the high
est physical development, a develop
ment that would give to all connected
Herewith not only contentment, but
the pleasures as we'll as the benefits
of wealth. just as conditions were
reaching that point where the essen
tials for this development became pos
sible, our State was overrun by But
lerism, which, though oyerthrown by
the uprising of an indignant and de
ceived people, left its taint to be aired
by those who affect to think ant
endeavor to teach that those who ac
cumulate wealth are knaves to be
avoided or bounded from the State
and those who feed upon pre- iudict
thus created, rather than by honest
labor, are saints, who are only to b.
entrusted with official power and
pie"
Let the press of the State unite in
zone grand, sweet song Of the rea
grandeur of our people, of the vas
opportunities for the requirement O
wealth within the borders of oul
State, of the attractions of this local
ity and that, for such special industr,
as its environments will justify, as
suring both the labor and the capita
and the brains and the Drawn tha
may enter upon the enterprise th'
earnest cooperation and confidence
protection and just treatment of thu
people and the laws. The Post il
future, as in the past, will be foune
earnestly and honestly in this ser
vice.
We cannot conclude this article
with better or wiser or more timel,
words or words more applicable t.
North Carolina at the present tim
than the following, from speecl
delivered some time ago in Atlant
: by Hon. S. G. McLendon, of Thomas
Vile, Ga. That gentleman said:
The day of honest thought ant
courageous speech seems to hav
l passed away. The cry Il am for tn
people has swept many an ass int
the public councils, while giants VIII
could think, and did think, and VIII
had the courage to tell the peopl
, they were wrong, have gone down t
oblivion. The man who had rathe
hold office than be right, who canno
e think honestly. or fears to think hon
D estly lest he might not be on the win
= ming side, is the deformed Offspring
of universal education and universe
| suffrage, and his knavish instinct, O
5 his criminal imbecility, is the bligh
e and curse of the country.
e I'VE need more security in stable
: wise and just laws promptly enforced
We need more safety from th
/ vagaries of empire craftsmanship
e We need stronger and better an
C braver men in our public places, hig
e and low. We need speedier collet
d ton of debt. keener sense of tn
Il inviola bility of contracts. and less II
i reference and threatened interfel
e ence on the part of government i
e private business affairs.
: Draw YOUR lines broadly an
= leave business untrammelled. Purg
5 your statute books of all laws thu
f carry on their face the admission {
declaration that the borrower is 70,
e and the lender thief. and revers
the Legislative presumption that
a shareholder in a corporation is a puI
Il lie enemy to be punished by the col
a tiScation of his property.
n Make capital safe, and you wi
d make it abundant and cheap: make
s safe, and the dirge of idleness Wi
C melt into the glad anthem of col
e tented labor; make capital safe. ar
: the battle of standards will pass I'M
history. Make capital safe, and Il
only clouds that will darken our ski
5, will be the curling smoke of furna
5, and factory. Make capital safe. al