The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-07-12
Delivered by Mayor w. B. Fer
EuSOn.

Gentlemen of the Press Convention:
+ We all hail your visit here as the
, harbinger of good; trusting your
soiourn among us will be such as to
create the highest order of mutual
friendship and esteem trusting the
itidings you may truthfully bear OF
our county and people will be good
news to thousands of the honest sons
of toll. whose skill, labor, and CAPT.
tai would find profitable investment
here, and help us to beautlfy and
improve what is by nature symme-
trically grand and sublime.
Trusting in the great works OF
nature to inspire our sublimest and
hottest thoughts,-we will not expect
you to worship at different shrine,
and sigh for the stately palaces,
magnificent halls, and flesh pots you
left behind. In all ages, climes. and
countries the highest ambition of
truly good people has ever been to
preserve we'll their own self respect,
and to deserve we'll of their whole
country.
In keeping with that ancient idea
of honor the citizens of this town
and county have required Of me the
most honorable service-tO welcome
the Press Association of the State of
North Carolina to the highest point
at which it has ever been the pleasure
of that, or like body, to assemble.
Onward and upward for eleven
years your association has risen, till
now it stands aloft, thousands of feet
above the oceans strand; and are
not these your annual gatherings
prophetic Of the elevation of the
Press to high and pure literature !?
Now, in an humble way, outdone
with honors, let me extend to the
Press Association here~e gathered reed a
1orna.t welcome to the town of
Waynesville and the county Of Hay
wood. This greeting and welcome is
formal because the power and use of
language is too imperfect to express
the joyful ovations of the patriotic
hearts of those for whom / am now
required to speak, and in speaking
to press their invitations to you to
} share their bounties, and to enjoy
their hospitalities.
Shine ON with FURNISHED splendor,
and untarnished be forever the fame,
glory, and honor of North Carolina,
while a Free Press, like the vestal
virgins of old, keeps watch over the
affairs where the fires of patriotism,
honor, virtue, and religion forever
brightly burn.
| Warned and encouraged by the
the voice of history, grand conjec.
lures, and marvellous wonders take
hold upon theimagination and we paint
the future of our State in bright,
beautiful, glowing colors, with ribs
of steel binding the everlasting hills
and the eternal mountains to ocean
, steamers, and the entire land bloom.
ing as the rose-teemlng with the
lgolden grains, and luxurious fruits.
To hasten this beautiful picture we
Invite the patient industrious Ger
man, the gay, versatile, philosophic
, Frenchman, and the careless, open.
hearted, fearless son of the Emerald
Isle, all of whom soon become as our
people, and enjoy and respect the
, spirit of our institutions these we
t desire to settle mong us and make
theselves homes.
We imagine, what we should know
Z that in this Press Association to whom
), we again give a hearty welcome
s every section of North Carolina is
d represented.
We imagine that every vocation
- industry and honest calling has here
9 a learned hero and that every shade
and color of political opinion ha.
# here bold and fearless exponent
n We imagine that all the forms o
christianity, that every church ant
- religious belief has here pure ant
), exalted advocates. And, we imagine
g that all have been endowed wit
n beauty of the ught, wisdom of words
f richness of style, and eloquence o
:. expression, and that by love
u Almighty love, the sweet music O
y every heart. is touched and tuned
=. and that unseen there dwells here
o pilgrim from above-the bright ange
: of charity, ready and willing to pas
all our imperfections by as we pro
'o nounce the salutations of welcome t
you, our countrymen, coming hithe
3. from plains, low lands, and the Sc
le coral strand to our mountain homes
the high grounds of earth vergin
the heavens.
ie We welcome you here! wher
ne nature, in ten thousand diferen
u. forms, has forever mixed and mingle
IS. her handiwork in symmetrical, grand
~ beautiful, and sublime combinations
:. we welcome you here, wher
81 health restoring potentates rid,
every breeze, mingle with tn