The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-09
THE MECKLENBURG
MONUMENT.


ham. resolutions were adopted to
the effect that every editor in the
State be asked to open books Of
subscription on the first of October,
asking their readers 10 contribute
to the fund tor the Mecklenburg
monument. \ committee consisting
of Mess. JnO. D. Cameron, Robt.
Haydn and Z. F. billiard, was
appointed to prepare ali address TO
the press of the State. The address
has been sent out. and in it the
Committee sav,among other things,
the following:
We appropriate with laudabIe
pride the honor claimed for North
Carolina Of beng the first OF the
colonies of Great Britain to declare
openly and defantly for lndepend-
ence. But we have more than
qualified our boast-we have made
it of little eflect-When we seem to
distrust the authenticity of the
great Declaration, by refusing or
delaying to confirm our belief by
such public memorial as may dem
Onstrate our own faith, and Chal.
Icnge or defy the admiration or
criticism of the world.
1t may be that we obey a North
Carolina instinct of disregard to he
roic memories; it may be that, with
US, the practical sentiment of obllv-
ion of the past, 'Let the dead bury
the dead" rules supreme; it may be
that North Carolinlans prudently
content themselves with the ref1ec
ton that upon the community Or
upon the section 10 which the noble
deed was done rests the RESPONSE
billtY of proper c0mmemOratiOn. If
any one or all of these motives have
retarded those long delayed honorS.
let the candid cOmpunCtiOn of an
awakened public conscience make
haste to retract the wrong it has
done. These heroic memories sbOuId
be cheerful; for they associate
themselves with all the freedom.
prosperity and national happiness
now diffused, as on no other people
on earth, among Americans. These
illustrious dead, men of no common
clay, cannot be consigned to the
oblivion of obscure humanity as
long as the influence Of their cOur-
age, their wisdom, their sacrifice
remains among us In the heritage
Of Its fruits. And though the peal
of liberty was first rung in Neck
lenburg, it's sounds aWoke the
spirit Of liberty throughout the
whole Of North Carolina, and was
echoed back in ringing response,
that the spirit Of MecklenOurg, had
found an echo in every North Car
olinjan's heart.
It IS not therefore the sole work
of Mcck.enburg to honor the mom-
cry Of the immortal signers in the
move that is proposed. It is not
the purpose Of the rest of North
Carolina that it should be so, if only
the call for cooperation Is made to
then pride and their patriotism.
What is needed for our people to
feel, is proper appreciation of the
value and good influence Of I'M
peTlShable mementOS of distinguish
ed patriots and their noble deeds,
among people so brave, so daring,
so liberty loving, so Wise-the prin-
ciples that governed the signeIs Of
the Mecklenburg Declaration are
lntuitlve; they exist as an instinct
to rouse into action whenever IlbeT-
ty is threatened. Perhaps too much
trust Is placed in the instructive
tendency. Civilization is corrupt
ing; all its agencies operate to
degeneration of public spirit, all it's
habits tend to weaken resistance
to the encroachments upon liberty.
What is needed to recall the public
sentiment to its healthy function is
the presentation of an ideal Of the
heroic past, the picture of wisdom
that was almost superhuman, of a
courage that was sublime, of a de-
termination that was unshrinking.
Of tOrtltude that was answering.
and Of a h0pefulness that was I'M
clOuded. The eye Of the youth
when he regards such memorial
will be infiamed with emulation. his
thoughts will be elevated with
sublime emotion, his patriotism
will be aroused and encouraged.
because, IN the prosperous condition
of a country practically called into
existence BY the deeds of men like
those names are inscribed upon