The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-12

Dle. II Will De puplS1leQ Oh IHe uISI VI
January every year, with such additions
as experience shall suggest. In furnish
ing this valuable Year Book, the News
and Observer has added to its other en-
terprises that have helped the State
and has already made the Year Book
a paying and solid institution.
In the political campaign, which is
now in progress, the News and Observer
WILL as in former campaigns, lead in the
fight for Democratic success. The plat
form adopted at Greensboro was exactly
in line, in every sentence and plank
with the policy advocated by this pa
per. While proud to be the organ of
the great Democratic party in North
Carolina, the News and Observer is in
the best sense of that much misunder-
stood word, truly independent. 1t does
not wait for a party convention to de-
clare it's platform before expressing its
opinions. 1t has it's convictions of what
is best for the State and the Republic
and seeks to impress it's views upon
public opinion and convince party lead
ers and the rank and file of the party
that its policy is the policy that should
have the official sanction of the party
1t does this always in q spirit of de-
votion to the creed of Jefferson. by which
it's policy is measured and governed, and
with the willingness always to submit to
the arbitrament of the State and Ma
tional Conventions. 1t has no slavish
worship of party, and it vigorously
advocates the principles of the Democratic
party because it believes them essential
to that government that denies special
privilege to any and guarantees equal
rights to ALL 1t has no party favorites
to reward and is in no sense the per-
sonal organ of any faction or element
in the party, and is a foe only to those
who would use the glorious name of De-
mocracy to secure favoritism in legis-
lation, or to cover the advocacy of doc
trines repugnant to the teachings of
Jefferson.
The News and Observer is Independent
in the best sense of that word,free to
advocate whatever policy that will best
promote the public good. 1t chooses to
be aggressively Democratic because, in
addition to an abiding faith in Demo-
cratic principles, experience has shown
that it is the only party in North Caro-
lima that can be trusted to protect every
legitimate interest, put the best men in
office, educate the people and maintain
good, stable government without scan
dal.
The News and Observers course in the
future will be changed in no particular.
Its past record is guarantee of its future
1t will stand for popular government; for
just taxation, and will fight the tax
dodgers; for the rights of the people and
prove the foe of those who seek special
privilege; for the industrial, manufac-
turing, commercial and agricultural prog
ress, demanding that there shall be a
clear field and no favors; for education
in the public schools-(the mudsill of our
educational structure), the high schools
and academies, the UNCONVENTIONAL col
leges and the State institutions, using
all it's influence toward maintaining the
harmony in educational circles that now
prevails; for clean men in office who
shall regard themselves as public SER
wants and administer their trust for the
benefit of all the people, and it will
criticize any public officials who make
fish of one class of people and fowl of
another; for that free discussion and in
terchange of opinion that is not phara-
saical or mugwumpian; for temperance,
for progress, for public virtue, for what
soever things make for the highest de-
velopment of North Carolina and it's
people,
1t will stand for the things in which it
believes earnestly, aggressively, and
press them upon the public mind and
the public conscience day in and day
out. 1t will never have a personal or
fractional end to subserve, buc will be
influenced only by a high sense of duty
to that great class who can employ
no lobby or secure legislative or other
public favoritism.
1t will appeal for continued support
and confidence by it's public service,
knowing full we'll that the good people of
this State will give to it that measure
of commentator and patronage its pro-
gressive policy and honest advocacy of
right measures shall merit. Those con-
nected with the paper have no ambition
except to make it a mighty engine for the
spread of right principles and the pull
ing down of those strong holds of special
privilege that have always sought to rob
the people for the enrichment of the few.
Those influences exist in North Carolina
today, though less potential than else
where. In this State they often seek to
accomplish their purpose by indirection
and in the dark. A recent instance
taught them that, when they fight in the
open, the honest manhood of North Car
DINA will smite them hip and thigh.
Warned by that experience, they will next
seek to accomplish their purposes with
out disclosing them and through agents
not known to be under their influence.
The work of opposing and defeating such
foes to just taXation-the paramount
duty of the hours not an easy or pleas
ant one, but it is duty that honest
journalism cannot shirk. This pa
per will expose and try to defeat all,
open or covert agencies seeking to die
tate legislation for tax-dodging corpora
tions as it helped to expose and defeat
the same agencies that sought to pack
the Supreme court in the interest of gov
eminent by and for railroads.
The stockholders of this paper, who
have received every year, even before the
paper paid expenses, as a dividend the
daily paper, have also the satisfaction of
knowing that they are helping to build
nm in North Carolina a great State pa
per that depends upon no selfish inter-
ests. but that is true to the rights OF the