French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1918-07-25
SPIRI1NhF THE PRESS

AAAA AANGOC -
The past year has been an eventful
one. Tie civilized world has been,
In a death grapple with the arch en-
envy of human ideals and our coun-
try has set itself to the task of pre-
venting the further encroachments of
a brutal power which seeks to domi-
nate the nations of the earth.
In this gigantic enterprise the edi-
tors of North Carolina have respond
ed generously to every suggestion of
cooperation with the government and
are assisting, to the utmost extent of
their ability, in the prosecution of the
part the United States has taken in
the world struggle for democracy. All
OF them realize that it was not
through greed for gain; not to crafty
individual or national ambition, but
purely in defense of our national and
individual rights and liberties and the
maintenance and preservation of our
free institutions that America finally
drew the sword. The battle line of
liberty has stood unbroken and is still
holding firmly against the Onslaughts
of a heartless foe. 1t is a relentless
struggle in which we have been en-
gagged the past fourteen months, but
victory will surely come to the Amer
lean arms and with it the assurance
that the United States has creditably
maintained the honored position she
assumed long ago among the Chris
tian nations of the earth.
Throughout this crisis the press of
North Carolina has given itself wholly
to the allied cause 1t has been the
strong right arm of Governor Beckett
in mObilizing the full man power of
the state for service at home and on
the field of conquest. 1t has dealt
Mercilessly with slackers and shfrk-
erS of all classes and conditions. 1t
has preached Liberty Bonds. Thrift
stamps, War Savings Certificates, and
the unstinted exertion of every citizen
of the state in producing for the gov
eminent maximum results from this
grand old COMMONWEALTH.
. Through the powerful influence ex-
erted by the newspapers the state has
exceeded, more than once, its quota
in subscriptions to the Red Cross and
the Young Mems Christian association,
organizations which are rendering in
valuable service in administering to
the needs of our soldiers in training
camps and on the battlefields.
Through the medium of the press the
people of North Carolina have been
admonished to live economically and
spend wisely and that true patriots
are those citizens who show loyal
ty by actual service, either on the
firing line, or in some field of ade-
quate and useful employment.
And this is not all. Scores of the
best and brightest young men in the
state have exchanged the pen for the
sword and their names are enrolled
upon the honor rool of the nations
defenders. In proportion to number
the newspapers of the state have
given as many men to the service as
any class or profession. 1t is doubt
full if a single paper in North Caro-
lima has escaped the call for soldiers
and sailors and not one of them stands
charged with being in the Stacker
class.
We are proud of the newspaper boys
who have given themselves to the
service of their country and ours.
That they will continue to receive
the united, earnest support of the
brethren constituting the "home
guard; admits of not the slightest
doubt. The kind of support that will
not only hearten those who have gone
frUm the ranks of the newspapers,
but prove a source of comfort and
assurance to every brave North Caro-
linian who is Offering his life in de-
Tense of the flag and the great and
lasting principle-it represents~ir this
confict.