The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-10-31
Editors Holy of Holes.
New Bern Sun

New Bern Sun.
In an address delivered at the last
meeting OF the North Carolina Press
Association, Mr.. Archibald Johnson,
editor of Charity and Children, made
some remarks that not only news
paper men, but readers OF the paper,
should take into account. lie sad:
"The editorial page is the editor S
holy OF holes. He should shut the
door and bolt it on any intruder, no
matter how distinguished or capable.
1t is his domain and his alone. Others
NAV be able to write more fluently
and more forcibly than he, but they
have no business within the sacred
precincts he has builded for himself.
This is not egotism. 1t is not that
the editor thinks himself better than
others, or that his readers are more
anxious to read his illusions than
those OF other people, but it Is his
domain, and in it he must stand or
fall. 1t is the editorial excellence OF
a newspaper that gives it tone and
standing. Into the editorial columns
the editor pours his blood-his life.
1t is his picture stamped upon the
page. 1t may not be beautiful, but
it is his, nevertheless, and not some
body ele's. If he is fit to run a news
paper he is able to express hlmsell
day by day, week by week or month
by month in the spare reserved for
this purpose; if he find that he can
not fill this space he should consider
it call to vacate and let somebody
ascend the throne who can WELD the
sceptre.
"Again il good deal has been said
about the Importance of keeping the
local columns full and this is impor-
tnat, but by no means the most i'm.
portant, thing in the making OF a
paper. A certain class of readers dc
estimate the value of paper by its
capacity for gossip, but the people
who set the standard are not of this
class.
"They demand character first and
news next. | can pOint tonewspapers
in North Carolina today, weekly OF
semi-weekly papers that stand at the
very forefront of North Carolina
journalism because of their convic
tions which they are not afraid tC
express and maintain. Who are the
men in your neighborhood who are
the moulders of public sentiment an(
the effective forces in public matters.
They are the men who believe some
thing and not the cabbage heads who
follow others. 1t is precisely SO will
the newspapers. The local items ar'
weakened by compliment. They art
never taken seriously because the,
are designed to please rather thar
help. Every bride is beautiful an,
every bridegroom is prominent ant
prosperous; every man who dies, es
pecially if he leaves a good estate
was apublic benefactor and patriot
every new born baby is cherub
every spinster is u peach. Thes
things have depleted the local col
umns of their vigor and the claims @
this department upon the serious at
tention of the public are discredited
But the editorial column stand
without suspicion and without dis
paragement. Ii the editor is ma,
what he says is accepted and believed
He is preacher, educator. states
man, sage and counsellor, all in one
He is on his throne, and Yields hi
sceptre over the widest domain in a
the world. He may become o might
force for every worthy cause, if
will; and it should be his highes
ambination to fill the largest possibl
place in the life of his community
His opportunity for doing good t
Others is limitless. and here he ha
his rich reward. A record OF helpful
ness to Others is better than fol-
tune piled about ones feet. Henri
Grady is remembered not for tn
money he made for ''literally lovin
the nation into peace"