The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-14
THREE THINGS--FREEDOM,
FAIRNESS, FAITHFULNESS
The Annual Grafton Before the Press Convention by
Mr.. Archibald johnson Was Full
of Wisdom.

- 49,
lima Press Convention held in Wrightsvllle,
the Grafton was delivered by Mr.. Arch
bald Johnson, editor OF Charity and Chi
dren, the vivile organ OF the Baptist Or
rhanage, His subject was three things:
"Freedom, Fairness and F~aIthfulness,
and it was SO full of wisdom that we
know every reader OIL this paper viii enjoy
1t, MIR. Johnson said:
| wish that | might be able on TINS &C
casion to speak "a helpful word TO my
brethren of the honorable profession to
winch we belong. This Is the motive that
led me to accept tins task winch your
klndness has imposed upon me. IL | IAN
to drop a single seed Of truth INTO Il
heart and mind, it Will be because / 40
not know how to SOW. | have mad d
wear for reflection and preparation. l
have had some leisure, at least, to devote
TO this purpose. 1 have a field OF uI-
measured fertility, and a theme OF rlch
suggestiveness; there Is really only one
reason that | know why | should not
make a good speech, and that Is hat l
do not know how, which, by the way, IL
not a bad one. But II L do tall to inter-
est and instruct you, L have too much
respect for the occasion and for my
brethren to say that / did not do my
level best.
Time after time we have been told by
orators on occasions similar to this one
that our profession Is a high and holy
one. Again and again we have petted
and praised ourselves for occupying one
OF the widest fields OF usefulness IN all
the world. Year IN and year out our at
tention has been directed to the honor
-, vol n- hA pa
spectability OF belonging to the newspaper
fraternity, but brethren, | desire to say
with all the emphasis that l can command.
that our place in this field is high or
low, according to what we make 1t. AS
in some other things it Is not the office
that honors the man, but the man the
office. 1t is not the newspaper that
brings an editor honor or prosperity
but it is the intelligent, persistent and
ccnsecrated effort that he puts INTO his
profession that win and hold the respect
and the confidence of men.
Perhaps we have not been quite defm-
tie enough, as a general thing, IN our
speeches and general discussion along thus
line. The mere g~lorying IN any line OF
work as if the fact that we are engaged
in it were a need Of merit, Is wrong and
misleading. Because a man Is an editor
is no reason in the world why he may not
be a fool, or a rascal. Indeed, | think
it is rather generally conceded that even
In the Christian ministry there are wolves
wearing the garments that belong TO the
sheep, and it is entirely possible that our
own calling, high and holy as 1t Is, may
be prostituted and scandalized by men
who hinder rather thar help in the up
ward progress of the race.
T Jo-;,a 10 ho nprfppt1v nr9ctip9I and I
am obliged to be very simple III the few
things that [ wish to bring before you at
this time, and so | will enter at once upon
the discussion of the subject that | have
chosen and which have called Three
Things" These three things are qualities
which in my judgment every newspaper
or magazine editor must possess III order
TO magnify his calling and render effec-
tive service in bringing men to the truth,
These things are: Freedom, Fairness and
Faithfulness.
Much has been said about the freedom
of the press; very little about the tree
dom of the editor. Laws have very prop
erly passed our Legislature guaranteeing
the right to us to tell the truth without
let or hindrance, and 1 am glad to say
that no State in the Union has a better
law than North Carolina, thanks to the
DCl tiIt ms
one of our foremost brethren, Major Lon
don. but there is another and q higher
law than those on the statute books OF
our State that touches US at a more
vital point than statute laws, and that
is the law of the liberty OF the mind and
soul
No man can be effective as a Journalist
who is in bondage. And many a man l.
a galley slave who has always believed
and boasted that he is a free man, There
Ere other chains than those of iron
which fetter the hands, and they are
stronger and more Calling. We are living
IL All age of slavery. The almighty dollar
j. the absolute monarch in our society.
His DEGREES are obeyed and without know
ing it ourselves sometimes, we find that
we are before him on Bonded knee beg
ging his favor and his grace. Hear me
men! Right at this point we must guar6
we'll our lnmost souls. In the most in
siduous ways this tyrant comes to US ant
robs us of our strength. 1t may be that
In the sacred and holy name of education
cur virtue may be assailed. 1t has been
done In the name of education. The CT
garette trust and the Standard OIL Com
pany forge no letters OF iron, but OF
shining gold; but they are as strong "a
steel and more cruel and relentless. The
Florida Legislature suffered itself to be
tied hand and foot with the golden cord;
Of a millionaire, and led captive at his
Will. Do not say it cannot be done. It
can, and it will be done right here IL
North Carolina unless free men will spurn
the honeyed phrases of the money kine
and turn their backs upon his splendid
promises.
Who, of all the men in the wide world
ought to be the freest? Who can least at
ford to wear the collar of any mC.e!
king? Upon whom does the responsible!
of keeping the public conscience pure am
clean fall first and heaviest? Why, yOl
men of the watch towers of North Caro-
lima. If you yield to the siren song o
of the money changer what protection j
left for the people? 1t may be hard t
:. resist. it Will be, but if you are faithful
to the trust committed to your hand
YOU must be free from the bonds OF tn
big concerns which bind men with tn
strength OF an iron chain. But you mus
be free in another sense. No man ca
c.If;lI tLo r,i.cion of a journalist who Is