The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-18
Patrons of Husbandry and Fellow
Citizens


That North Carolina. among the most
honored Of the great sisterhood. OF
American States, has fallen back in
the march of public improvement.
cannot be disguised or gainsayed, and
that there Is no necessary condition Of
such ~short-coming, is equally true.
That We have our share of brain and
bone and muscle, always have had. as
Il history will abundantly show, and
that We possess q physical hcritage.un-
surpassed in richness by anv one of
our sister States, no intelligent man
VIII question. Oar rich and varied
domain OF agricultural lands, our ex-
haustless stores Of choice lumber and
minerals, our truly amazing network
OF creeks Il broad rivers, and our ca
paclty to produce every variety OF the
necessities of human subsistence and
comfort, all conspire to arouse us to
concerted and u~nrelaxing endeavor to
place ourselves along side OF the fore
most OF u great natural sisterhood.
/. Our first and chief object, in or
der to this, is education. That our own
public journals dare to assert, that our
proportion of unlettered citizens, is
greater than that of any other State in
the union Is humiliating Ill the ex-
treme, and is certainly the chief cause
of our backwardness in almost every
thing that makes a State great and
powerful.
Whilst your committee charged
with this memorial, in obedience to
the behests of becoming modesty, de-
cline to dictate anything specifically
on this subject, we must be permitted
to call attention to it, as that upon
which our salvation socially. greatly
depends. Let provisions at whatever
cost of material treasures, at once be
made for the education of every citi-
zen of North Carolina, at least to the
extent of respectable and successful
business qualifications, and the results
of q few decades will demonstrate the
wisdom of the measure, and place us
far in advance OF our present status,
in all that constitutes the greatness of
a State.
Whatever we do, or leave undone.
we should see to it, that our industrial
classes, be qualified by school advan-
ta3es. to exert their due Share of in
N,,anaa -, tla rnnl,,nt - tI, ,N,11+;.ol
affairs of the State. The material values
of the State, are in much part owned
by the cuitivators of the soil, and just
SO long as these values are controlled
and directed 10y other classifications OF
our people, than their real owners,
poverty, want. discomfort, and debas-
ing ignorance will abound, and an ele.
waited degree of civilization be impos.
sible.
We appeal to the owners and cult.
vators of the soil, the producers of the
supplies indispensable to the being, and
ongoings of society, TO see to it, that
adequate provisions be made by tho
legislators of your State, for youl
rightful elevation to power and place
i'll this great social compact. So long a.
you shall consent to be "hewers o.
wood, and drawers of water for the
minor and dependent classifications o.
society; just SO long shall be perpetu
atcd the dominion of ignorance, pow
erty and social disquiet which every
where abound, subjecting us to vexine
imputations by outsiders and driving
scores of our most promising sons t.
to seek honors, employment and socia
position in the States, you owe it t.
yourselves, to you children and to thu
generations which are to come afte
you, that the means in your hands. an,
the power now at your command, b
employed in securing to yourselve
and to your State the priceless advan
tages of a high grade of agriculture
aad industrial education. With this
will inevitably come improved mode
in every department or ~husbandry, an,
corresponding improvements in all tn
arts and professions Of social life
There are hundreds growing up IN ou
State, without any education, hun
dreds more whose education is unsui
ficient for the intelligent Conduct @
ordinary business, and hundreds G
all classes, whose educational qualif
cations are III 10 way adapted to tn
development of the agricultural, min
eral. and manufacturing ,
the State. AS it now Is, if our rio
stores OF minerals. lumber and agricu
tural and manufacturing advantage
shall be made available in building u
/. and enriching u State, it ,nust be b
the intelligence and skill OF outsider
1t truly cause of blusling shame, thu