The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

{ tteville Observer until Sherman de-
stroyed the office ana property of the
newspaper in 1865, and soon after his
father and himselI removed to New
YCrk and oDened there the publishing
house of L. j. Hale & Son.
In 1876 Mr.. Hale returned to North
Carolina. and in conjunction with Col
William l.. Saunders began the pub
iication of the Observer at Raleigh, at
once establishing that paper on high
er plane of journalism tnan had ever
before been attained by any North
Carolina paper.
The work performed by Mr.. Hale in
this new field of labor redounded to
bis honor and received the merited
applause of his fellow citizens. No
other instrument had ever been so po-
tent in developing the resources of the
State and furthering the advancement
OF those works of internal improve
nent which have in more recent
Jears contributed to her prosperity.
Particularly may we say that his firm
espousal of the measures inaugurated
or the completion of the Western
North Carolina Railroad won for him
he lasting gratitude of those sections
If the State whose development de-
pended upon the completion Of that
work And the events justified the
The great prosperity and advance
nent and progress we today witness
across the mountains. is largely due
20 the untiring efforts of Mr.. Hale to
secure for the people of that section
hose adequate facilities of transpor-
alton which are the basis Of their
crescent activities.
''As a political writer, he was 10
ess sound and energetic than when
ind 10 nf
.erial resources. He was always true
e conviction and 70 principle, and
his leadership was largely acknowl-
edged by the press of the State. His
style was easy, clear and forcible. He
was an omniverouS reader. was class
ical in his tastes and a fine belles-let-
tres scholar. So well equipped, and
early trained to journalism under the
eye of one of the best editors of the
older generation, he never failed to
elucidate every subjct he discussd. and
n his augmentation he brought TO
hear the full armament of his unusual
powers.
but the enterprise he had engaged
in was not to be accomplished, ex-
eept at an expense beyond his limited
means. The Observer, under the edi-
torial management OF MeSsrs. Hale
and Saunders, commended itself TO
but the outlay III establishing it was
very great and, Col. Saunders having
been appointed Secretary of State.
thus separating him from the paper,
Mr.. Hale had the unhappinesS 10 see
his paper fail financially because of
debts incurred in its establishment.
OF the value of the work OF the
Observer the above paragraphs writ
ten by the accomplished Captain Asne,
sNes the accepted opinion.
Let Us see what the other leading
editors of the principal papers in the
state had to say Of it, Mr.. Josephus
Laniels in the State Chronicle writes:
IL was the best paper published
IN north Carolina in the recollection
OF the writer. 1t has had no equal
since IL passed out of the hands of Mr.
1iaie; Measuring our words. we may
ss'y mat it was q Great Paper and met
the needs OF the people OF the State
~ was right arm of strength TO the
democracy. 1t was vigorous conser-
Natlve, and aggressive. II advocated
democratic principles and Democratic
measures with an ability and yigor
that mas since characterized no Demo-
cratic paper in the State. In this &C.
innate We believe most thinking men
will agree
AIR. Joseph P. Caldwell made This
estimate;
The Observer was by all odds the
ahlest paper ever published in North
Carolina"
John ID. Cameron, in the Asheville
Citizen, said:
Mr.. Hale was an industrious work.
er. a vigorous and scholarly writer
7S90s. % e q
and of large and varied information
1t is fair to say that he did not make
himself popular with his brethren of
the press. nor did he ever become so
Mr.. Hale had a very lofty idea of
journalism. and he was at no pains 10
conceal his opinions or his feelings as
excited by its shortcomings. But all
readily recognized his ability and pro-
fitted by his labors. No man per-
formed more valuable service to the