The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
DR., K|NGSBURY
TELLS THE STORY
Of His Connection With
Newspapers in
Raleigh.
10. TURNER'S SERVICE
Estimate by Competent Critic of The
Men Who Made the Sentinel,
The News and The 0bser-
yer. Other Raleigh News
paper Men.
paper Men.

The war closed. and William w
Holden continued to edit the Raleigh
Standard until he became Provisional
Governor. He was far ADLER journal
list than he was a Chief Executive. He
was decidedly strong political writer
and had gifts also in some develop
ment for verse and essay production
He was acute. artful plausible, persua-
sive. and revehgeful. He was q Wing
at the start, and in one night became
n Democrat, and succeeded L. W.
loring as editor of the Standard.
There was a merchant at Raleigh
named Benjamin Smith. He was a
Democrat and a friend of Holden.
They walked out to the rock quarry.
where the stone TO build the solid. i'm
rressive Capitol building was obtain
ed. some mile or SO distant. Return
ing Smith said to Holden: "Bll. Tom
Loring is to retire from the Standard
and now is your chance Holden re-
piled: 81 am a Whig." "Oh, yes"
said Smith, II know where you stand.
j have had many talks as to Wing
principles with you, and | do not find
that your views are so very far from
my own. Tomorrow Loring will close
must decide by tomorrow if you will
succeed him. The place can be got
for YOU" The upshot, as 1 learned
long ago, was, that Holden was
agreeable, and soon became editor of
the Democratic organ. 1t did not take
him long to develop into an active,
eager advocate of all basic Democratic
policies and principles. l have heard
ii mentioned, and more than once,
l. L.
tankerous partisan he abused nearly
every prominent Wing in the State.
Holden was printer and very in
telligent and excellent one.
Governor Holden.
Governor William w. Holden was
born. / think in Orange county. He
was really a plausible, pleasant, ur-
bane man when he pleased to be. l
knew him from my boyhood-1
when 1 met him in his office while l
was a student at Lovejoy's Military
Academy at Raleigh. I went to see
him to have a correction made as to
published statement concerning a
relative of mine, who was West
Pointer and an officer in the United
States Army. He treated me with all
kindness and consideration, and
obligingly made the correction in a
style of approval and even laudation.
In spite of his bad conduct in the war.
and after the war, and being so de-
servingly broken of office forever in
his native North Carolina, for a good
reason to me, / was somewhat kindly
disposed towards him. although as an
editor in Reconstruction times, / was
forced to criticize his evil political
acts with severity and sometimes with
iidicule. After he had been in retire
/ of
him, having learned from friend of
his that it would be highly agreeable
10 him to resume our former relations
as acquaintance. / talked with him
some times after he was in full con-
nection with the Methodist church.
said to him one day: Il am glad to
zee you looking so we'll and being so
cheerful and placid" He replied
why shall / not be all this when l am
at peace with God and MANI 1 have
no doubt that through the Astounding
grace of the Almighty Father, and
the mercies secured through the sac
Iificial death of the adorab BILE Son of
God. that he is at rest i'm Heaven. So
be it. When / was editing ny first
venture in the newspaper line, the OK
ford Leisure Hour" literary week
ly, in 1858, / met Mr. Holden at Kit
trell's Springs, of extraordinary cura-
tive value. but now completely extinct,
and slept in the same room with him.
lie was chatty intelligent of course
and most agreeable. / met him at in
tervals, and our relations were always
kind. L once or twice wrote commu-
nications for his paper, and he was
what is so rare in newspaper Offices
generally, capital proof-reader. |
must tell here why / was inclined to
Ike him personally even after the
ugly figure he cut in the war, and af-
ter. / have very agreeable recollec-
ton of him as to one action of his in
" hich i was personally concerned,
and on an important occasion to me.
Eleven prominent Republcans-som
conspicuous leaders then--in Febru-
airy. 1869, met in the Governors rooms
in the Capitol, and on a Sunday morn
ing. 1t was not q pre-arranged gath
ering, but one and another just
dropped into this favorite headquar-
ters to hold familiar chat, and perhaps
devise plans. One question that came
up was who shall edit the Stand
ard"? The Northern hummer and
scoundrel who had been editing it had
gathered his carpet-bag and savings.
and in great haste had fed the State
because of his villainous editorial
about the pure, noble white woman
hood of North Carolina 1t was head
ci Work" If he had remained he
night have met his fate for there were
great excitement and indignation. One
Ct the eleven said, "Kingsbury has
Just returned from Memphis, Tenn, a
disappointed man and poor. Let us
offer him $500 a year to edit the
paper Another one amended by
making it $4,000. A third suggested
t. leave the salary open as they had
Plenty OF money, and to tell him to
name his price. Then it wac that
Governor Holden spoke and said: 81
have known him ever since his how
hood, and | do not believe you can Sc
cure him. ! My informant still lives
who brought the offer to me. NV re-
Ply was, and he was my personal
friend l much esteemed: 81 thank nv
God that | have never thought. said
or done, anything In my life to Am,
thoriZe such an impudent offer as
that / did not become the editor
OF the STANDARD" but worked on at
$50 a week for the Sentinel with q