Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/280

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THE AFRO-AMERICAN PRESS.

printing-office, the second in the state run by one of our race. He did the mechanical work on this paper in Charlotte, N. C., under the editorship of Rev. J. A. Tyler; also in Concord, under A. S. Richardson, Esq.

In 1882 he established in Charlotte, N. C., The Charlotte Messenger, which has met with fair success, though by hard fighting against intemperance, immorality, and all other evils coming in its way. The Messenger is very popular with the better class of our people and a terror to evil doers. It has experienced some very heavy tilts with contemporaries, preachers and others, but has carried off the palm in every instance.

Among the most prominent of the controversies in which its editor has been engaged was one with the late Prof. Robert Harris of Fayetteville on Sunday excursions, which he condemned. Another was on secret societies, which he condemned also, and engaged in a lengthy and bitter controversy with Rev. C. S. Brown of the Good Samaritan order. Brown was driven to the wall, also. Another was the fight he made for a college for the colored youth, supported by the state. Another was the strong and memorable fight he made, and is still making, for a female seminary for his church. In this fight he completely demolished the brilliant Dancy and all others who dared oppose it. The heaviest fight, and the most signal victory this editor boasts of, was the controversy between Bishop S. T. Jones and himself. He dared to criticise certain remarks in a sermon delivered by the Bishop, which he regarded as calculated to injure his race and church. The Bishop called him to account, at some length, in his usual sarcastic way; but after this he will inform himself as to the size of the game before he makes another attaek on a Smith.

Mr. Smith is a conscientious man, and means to be honest in all things. He tries to take the right side of every