The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-02
Editors Meet i'm Annual
Session.
Continued from First Page.)
ing to the second subdivision of his
speech, Mr.. Marshall said:

speech, Mr.. Marshall said:
TONE AND CHARACTER.
considering now the tone and charac-
ter of our newspapers, it may be observed
that if the press is poor in cost 1T is in
deed rich in character The high moral
tone and the public and private virtues 0i
her newspapers are one of the browning
glories of North Carolina. Sensationalism
does not flourish and venality, that I'M
clean bird is as strange as it is unclean.
I'm the quality of the work done there
has been in ten years notable advance,
particularly in the daily press. Feats of
newsgathering are now possible and even
facile of accomplishment, which were not
undertaken ten years ago. Rich contribu-
tons to State and local history are con-
stantly brought to light by the daily
papers. Through the same columns, the
humors of our folk have found fitting por
trayal, and the beginnings of a native
literature found public appreciation at
home and abroad For the work they Gre
doing in the cause of local history and in
the creation of a native literature, the
daily press deserves the applause and sub
stantial recognition Of every devoted son
of the State.
81 do not believe the great American
novel has been written. ] believe it will
be piece of historical fiction, but not of
the days of Hugh Wynne or Richard
Carrel 1t will deal with the DAYS of
vaster agony when two mighty peoples
of a nation were striving with each other,
and one was overcome and suffered long.
Red Rock, The Crisis and Leopard's Spots
are chapters in the story but are not the
story itself 1t will be cast on lines broad
and deep after the fashion, may / say. of
Lew Wallace's marvellous masterpiece
tale of the nation and the Confederacy;
and composite of Lee and Jackson, and
Charles B. Aycock and Jefferson DAVIS
will be its Ben Hur. | believe that the
story belongs to the South. l believe 1T
will be written in the South. and since
North Carolina suffered most in the ter
riblc drama. which furnishes the theme,
why should not her voice more truly thar
any other declare the epic OF those trying
years and more sweetly than any other
sing the songs of a re-united people2 God
grant that the work the press is now be-
ginning to do for a native literature NAV
in some day not far off find such glorious
fruition in the promise of letters as / have
ventured to hint. If / have seemed to
digress here, / beg your indulgence; it was
because of a sincere conviction that at
tention to local history and literature is
a duty which the press owes to the pres
emf, past and future, and which. when
well performed. can but add strength and
beauty to its own character.
THE EDITORIAL PAGE.
ut is the editorial page which gives
character, not only to the newspaper as
d whole, but to every department of it,
shall not, however, discuss the relation OF
the editorial page to other departments
1t is enough to suggest that the editorial
page sustains very important relations to
the community-which supports the paper.
Let us of the weekly press especially de.
vote more editorial space to matters next
to us. things we know something about.
local affairs, if you please. Why should
we consume gray matter and white space
advising Governor Aycock or Colonel
Roosevelt how to run the government.
They are not subscribers to our papers.
Why should we indite supposedly bright
paragraphs on far-away topics for the
conjectured edification of our fellow edi-
tors? There is not cash subscriber to
our papers in the whole lot. Let us in our
editorial writing get down to things at
home, and l verify believe we shall write
better stuff, improve the appearance of
our papers. and add to the character.
popularity and influence of our papers at
home without in the least diminishing
their welcome abroad
Again, there are relations which the
editorial page sustains to the public in
larger sense-sometimes involving the duty
of arraigning men and measures at the
bar Of public opinion and vigorously ex-
posing their dement's. 1t is duty calling
for wisdom, prudence. clear perception,
and strong adherence to what is right.
The safest guide for the editor here is en-
bodied in the law under which our coun-
ty is governed every day.
81 trust this session may be pleasant and
helpful to all, and that after this bret
respite from exacting labors, we may re-
turn to our offices with renewed zeal re
plenished energy, a keener appreciation
of the dignity of our high calling and
with a devotion to the welfare of the
whole State which shall constrain US to re-
peat with increased affection the senti-
ment of our own Stockard:
love the fairest of all lands. my home,
come
thy dome.
North Carolina.
The remainder of the morning session
was devoted to hearing a report of the
executive committee through Mr.. H. 3.
Warner Six new members were enrolled.
The report of the secretary and treasurer
was referred to committee.
The venerable DR.. Theodore B. Kings
bury responded to very fiattering reso-
luton OF appreciation of his presence of
/ fered BIZ Mr. w. G. Dowd.
At the afternoon session papers were
read by Mr.. D. j. Whichard, of Green
vile, upon the subject ''The Local Ad-
vertiser;" How May He Best Secured,
Served and Retained. and by Mr. j. ID.
| Bivins, of Albemarle, upon "Typographi-
cal Correctness and Excellence. are they
Wy W. IL