The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-18
EDITORS ORGANIZE.

''If an able lawyer serves his party
with conspicuous ability, he is pro-
NOTED to place ON the bench; if an
eloquent orator, he is elected to Con-
gress; if business man, he is chosen
Government; if an able editor, The as
cursed for the party mistakes during the
campaign and after the victory is won rs
sued for libel"
In these words spoke an editor in con-
versation with some OF his professional
brethren yesterday lust before the North
Carolina Democratic Press Association
was organized. 1t was rather a strong
way of stating "a situation that IS not
wanting in the foundation Of fact. When
Mr.. Cleveland was President, an edtor
in a certain town il North Carolina
made application for the position Of
postmaster. He had spent his time
and all he had made working for Dem
ocratic success his a:ess was mort
gagged and he found it almost impossible
to keep alive the party organ. lie
desired the pay from the postotfice III
order to keep the paper going as an
aggressive party paper. He lid not get
the office, but it was given 10 a good
man who had never devoted thirty days
or spent thirty dollars. in all mis- life
working for the party. 1t was bitter
pill to that editor, and if he had been
less devoted to his party ne might pave
sulked; but instead OF showing his cIs-
appointment this editor went To woi
mere actively than ever and showed
that he was a Democrat of the highest
type.
The Democratic editors os the State
met yesterday to organize Democratic
of acting together ard conducting a
campaign olf education that will carry
the Constitutional Amendment i'm Aug
ust, 1900. OF course that is only its
immediate purpose, for the organization
is to be permanent and to labor to adj
yanceAthe cause of true Democracy. Its
those editors who advocate adopted
Democratic principles and support Dem
ocratic nominees. 1t is an association
of fire-tried, faithful and tue Demo
Gratis who in 1898 were the wheel
horses in the States salutary revoiu
ton. Long before the orators and cam
paign managers had begun to arouse the
people in 1898 the papers by printing
the details, line upon line, of Fusion
nlisdoings had undermined the confidence
of the people in the Fusion office+holder'
and made them eager to hear the fuller
facts that were printed during the cam
paign that followed. The editors are
in close touch with the people and they
understand that the time 70 sow the
seeds of truth is before the tares OF
falsehood have obtained root. Iht
amendment will carry by big major
ity if the people understand it, and
they will understand and support 1t II
it is correctly explained to them before
the enemy of pure suffrage sow the
tares of Misrepresentation in their
minds. Therefore they have in almost
every issue of their papers, precept upon
precept, explained every provision of the
amendment so clearly that no unletterec
white man could fail to see that it pro
tected him in his right of suffrage as
fully as it protected the ballot of the
most accomplished scholar in the State
The editors know that the Republicans
and their allies will have all the none,
they want to circulate misleading lit
erature and corrupt the voter, and the.
are resolved to SOW the fruitful seet
of truth long before the actual cam
paign opens. In this they ale wise il
their day and generation.
Today the Republicans are circulatin
broadcast over the Sta.e copies of tn
Asheyille Gazette, which pretends TO b
Democratic paper-stealing the liver
of heaven in which to serve the devil
so to speak-and filling it with plausibl
incorrect statements about the amend
ment. The Republicans know If the
wait till 1900 to SOW their crop OF false
hoods, they cannot deceive the people
They therefore seek to create false IN
preston before the voters have rida
up their minds. To counteract III
method of deception the Democrat
editors will address themselves midwife
ually and collectively, and the organ
cation effected yesterday will he
long step in that direction.
The new organization has no purpos
to dictate candidates or nIatfnrm Ii