The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-06-16
DAVIS MILITARY COLLEGE.
The Close Of the Schools Most Successful
Year.

The Sham Battle-The jefferson So
ciety Celebration-A Synopsis Of
Hon. r.. A. Doughton's Address
Davis Military College has closed
the most successful year of it's exist
ence, and its second year in Winston
Salem. Twenty three States and the
district of Columbia have been repre-
sented and $50 cadets have been in
attendance.
The prospect for the next year is
better than ever before.
Mr.. Doughton's Address.
A synopsis of the address of Hon
R. A. Doughton before the literary
societies of Davis School was neces-
sarily crowded out of last weeks
paper.
"Our Civilization" was the sub
ject of Mr.. Doughton's address. The
speaker contrasted our country of
today with that of 100 years ago,
and traced briefly the history of
American progress and the effect of
American inventions. He spoke of
the great resources of America and
gave some interesting figures about
the agricultural, mineral and manu-
featuring products of the country,
and the magnitude of our foreign
and domestic commerce.
AS to the causes that have pro-
duced the American civilization he
said:
"Civilization is product of relig-
ion. philosophy, letters, art, trade,
ment. The kind and character of
government under which people
live, have, in my opinion, much to
do in making their civilization.
1.-The germs of development of a
nation are co-eXtenslve in scope per-
fectness and inherent life with the
government it enjoys. Our system
of government, with all its faults,
is the best ever established by en-
lightened craftsmanship. In Great
Britain the Parliament or legislative
body is governed by precedent. Our
constitution, ithe Magma Charter of
American Liberty, with the triple
departments or functions, has stood
all tests thus far. 1t has been on
trial in time of war and in time of
peace, and has guarded the rights of
the people, protected their interests
and promoted their welfare. Great
as was the humiliation of cur peo-
pie, when writhing in the throes of
reconstruction, but for the shield and
protection Of our constitution would
have been infinitely worse.
1.-THE wise and just division of
power between the States and the
general government by which local
self control is guaranteed on the
one hand and national unity and
equality on the other hand, charac-
terize and distinguish our system
from all others and gives us individ-
ual liberty and national power. The
constitution is our great safe guard
for life, liberty and property. 1t is
indeed pleasant to dwell upon the
marvellous growth of the nation and
the wisdom and justice of its funda-
mental law. But what will another
century bring forth? What is to be
the destiny of this vigorous, aggres-
sive, self covering Anglo American
racer And what the fate of this
grandly projected government Will
the nation die and the civilization
expireq These questions are preg-
naut with interest to the thoughtful
and anxious student of our history.
We have hopes but they are mixed
with fears and anxiety. We are
boldly confronted with grave, moral,
social. and economic problems that
boldly challenge our consideration
and will not down at our bidding,
and they must be met and dealt with
by young men like yourselves-must
be met in spirit of justice of states
manship and christianity"
Speaking of the dangers which
threaten this country, Mr.. Doughton
spoke at some length about foreign
immigration and the centraliza ton
of wealth in the hands of few. OF
the latter which he called still great
er menace he said:
"This soul desiring all absorbing
determination to get wealth and to
get it at all hazards is a political
cancer gnawing at the yitals of the
Republic. Honorable means are pre-
ferred but if they are not practical,
dishonest ones are resorted to. Trusts
and combinations prohibited by law
both State and Federal are resorted
to. Conspiracies are organized con-
trary to law. with vast aggregations
of capital, controlled by the keenest
and most unsclupulous brains for
the avowed purpose of raising and
maintaining the prices of the necessa-
ries of life, contrary to the laws OF
supply and demand.
But am not a pessimist on this
question of wealth. l do not SYM
pathize with the spirit or belief that
men do not have the right to make
money in any honorable way, and
then be encouraged and protected in
the enjoyment thereof. But we know
that all men do not get their money
honorably-31 900 men own one half
of this country. Less than a two
thousandth part of our population
have obtained possession of more
than one-half of the entire wealth of
the country. How far government
partnership in trade has brought
about this result will not say here.
Single individuals possess property
of greater wealth than the assessed
value of all the property in the State
of North Carolina. Our aristocracy
is one of wealth and not of virtue.
81 fear it is the tendency of our
civilization to destroy the easy gra-
In&;or frov,, ,,onr RI rich mh;ob hos