The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-12
THREE THINGS---FREEDOM,
FAIRNESS, EARTHQUAKES
The Annual Grafton Before the Press Convention by
Mr.. Archibald Johnson Was Full
of Wisdom.
of Wisdom.

]
on a log, mere puppet in the hands of
designing demagogues who pet him and
praise him with lip but despise him with
the heart. But hope will not be mis-
understood along here. believe in par
ties. They are essential and necessary in
the economy of a free government. l do
not believe in that so-called ''independ-
ence" that betrays the party and while
preaching loyalty on the one hand, prac-
tees treachery on the other. / belleye
furthermore that the best time and place
to be free and outspoken Is IN the midst
OF a heated campaign and within party
lines. The newspaper organ socalled
that owns its soul and stands for the
truth, albeit in the face of opposition and
abuse, is the highest type of the editor
who is really free. The New York TIL
bune In its palmiest days was an intense
ly partisan newspaper, but Horace Gree
ley was a free man.
In the religious realm the matter / am
discussing comes out more clearly. The
religious organ ought to be the treest
from the bondage to tradition, or custom,
or policy, that hinders or obscures the
progress of truth. Instead of condonlng
or excuslng a mistake In the policy OF It's
denomination it is offered the best oppor-
tunlty to correct error and lead to truth.
1t is despicable in a religious journal to
be so bound up by its bigotry and Intol-
erance as to be blind to all the errors
and mistakes of its own denomination.
1t is human to err, and the eyes of the
religious editor ought to be wide open to
every ray of light that falls from heaven.
To be more explicit, every editor OF
every paper of whatever creed, or of
none, ought to be truth-seeker, and as
far as may be, a truth revealer. He must
be willing to sacrifice preconceived opin-
ions, prejudices, pride and prosperity to
the truth. And he who walks in the
light OF truth is free indeed. Our sphere
may be small and our influence limited
and circumscribed, but our aim may be
as high and our hearts as true as though
we were directing daily edition of a me-
tropolitan journal and a free conscience
behind a holy purpose in any place wheth
Ell large or small are sure to bring forth
blessed fruit.
The second thing l want to impress is
fairness. A newspaper once brought a
charge against a man that was wholly
untrue. The editor was intensely pre-
JUDGED against this man, and probably
published report that came to his ears.
His attention, however, was called to the
fact that he had done the gentleman an
injustice and he was courteously asked to
make the proper correction. He failed
to do SO for the simple reason that he
preferred to leave his enemy in a bad
light before his readers though he was
rife ~ ha hp lIlh
was false. This thing was done by a
man who yields wide influence.
1t is harder to be fair and just than
may be supposed at first. 1t takes
good deal of manhood to resist the temp
tation to use widely circulated paper to
compass what may appear worthy end
by taking a short cut on somebody, espe-
cially if he is not in a position to defend
himself in the same way. We have heard
OF papers making an assault and then re-
fusing their columns to the assaulted to
defend himself. This is not fair and
sooner or later is bound to react on the
man who takes advantage of his superior
position to hurt another Some papers
think it no harm to abuse the Mormons
or the railroads. Nobody ought ever to
be unfairly treated by North Carolina
a
liquor man. Rebuke wrong doing every
where and in anybody, but be fair about
it, brethren, and if you are misled, own
up like a man and apologize. AS a judge
holds the scales of justice in an even
hand and administers to each and all the
simple justice he deserves, SO a. newspaper
without fear or favor, without malice. or
prejudice, or Partially, ought to deal
justly and fairly and honestly with all
those whose conduct comes within the
domain of its criticism, Sometimes we
venture an opinion or announce policy
that subsequent events show is wrong.
1t is not only unfair, it Is dishonest to at
tempt to bolster up the position we have
taken in order to appear consistent. IL
is a great deal better to be falr ana
square and honest than 1T is 20 BE con-
sistent, when consistency costs us fairness
and honesty. And another thing: Be falr
with the brethren. Do not assume to
know it all. Wisdom will not die with
any one of us nor with all OF US put to-
gether. If your neighbor happens to be
in the right and you in the wrong, when
you have found it out, for heavens sake
do not hurl at his head such eplthets as
Ignorant" and narrow" but come out
like a man and confess that you are on
the wrong road and thank him for set
ting you right.
But further yet: Even if the man
wrong, according to your honest conwc
ton, do not say he is bribed, and do not
even intimate that he has been ''intlu-
enccd" unduly. Treat the man fairly. 1t
Is possible that he is honest as yourself
though wrong. Many man has been
both wrong and honest. II our beng
wrong were the sign of our rascality,
many of us who are here listening to the
song of the sea ought to be working the
roads, wearing ball and chain. | think
we newspaper men ought to bring into
our lives little more of the charity we SO
often urge upon others.
/ 1t will pay us ip dollars and cents TO be
| fair. Any paper that is accounted honest
and just will count for more-tenfold
more-in the community than the one
| which is notrious for taking unfair adj
vantage by garbling or suppressing or
concealing the truth. For, after all, we
are really opponents of the truth in so
far as it is given us to see the truth. II
| ,va would fulfill olir high mission What