The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-18
THE STATES MOTTO.

The North Carolina Teacher for
April publishes as a frontispiece an
engraving of the new coat of arms of
the State, the only material changes
being the introduction Of "May Goth,
1115," III the upper circle, and the new
State motto, s. Esse Guam Videri," in
the lower. In the same number of the
Teacher is an interesting article from
the pen of Judge Walter Clark who
was, we think, the first to suggest the
motto, upon this and the coat Of arms.
We make quotations from his COM
munlcation as follows:
The General Assembly Of 1898,
by a unanimous vote in each house,
passed the bill providing a State motto.
The act provides that the words
'2Oth Of May, 1775," shall be placed
in the upper part Of the States coat of
arms. This is. a proper and just
recognition of the first declaration of
American independence. 1t is
memorable date in the annals liberty,
and will be proud addition to the
insignia of our State.
The act further provides that the
phrase, Esse Guam Videri, is adopted
as the motto of the State, and shall be
engraved on the Great Seal of the State
and at the bottom Of the coat of arms.
These words mean $ To be rather
than seem to be- and suitable rec
ognition Of the honest, sturdy, unpre-
tending character of our people.
Beginning with the national motto,
''E Pluribus Unum," neatly every
State has adopted motto. With rare
exceptions these notices are in Latin.
The reason for their being in Latin
and not in English is not far to seek.
Owing to the Latin expressing the
different form of the verb and Of the
noun by mere changein termination, :,
and not, as in English, by the addition
of particles and propositions, Latin is
far more condensed and terse. The
three words, "Esse Guam Videri,"
require the use of seven English words
to express the same idea. The Latin
is therefore more sought after in the
adoption Of notices for States, societies,
badges and all like purpose. x
1t 1.-THE motto] has been adopted by
many associations, especially literary
societies. In this State it is the motto
I Of Wilson Collegiate Institute, and,
with some modification, Of one Of the
societies of Wake Forest.
The sentiment and the phrase are
good enough. Let North Carolinians
now make it as memorable and as dis
tinguished as any that has ever decor
ated a royal banner or the shield Of a
courtly knight. The figures on
our court of arms are Liberty and
Plenty. 1t has been objected that the
motto has no reference or application
to the figures on the coat of arms. 1t
is very rarely that such is the case.
The national motto, E. Pluribus Unum,
has no reference to the Eagle and
Shield which are the national coat OF
arms. Is it inappropriate
to say that we prefer TO be free and
prosperous than to merely seem to be
so? There have been States which had
all the appearances Of liberty and pros
perity, when, in truth, having lost the
reality of both, they were totterng to
| their fall
It has been a little singular that
until the act oflS93 the sovereign State
of North Carolina has not had any
motto since its declaration of indepen-
dence. 1t was one Of the very few
States which did not have a motto, and
the only one of the original thirteen
without it. 1t isvery appropriate that,
simultaneous with the adoption of the
State motto, there should be placed on
the State seal and coat of arms, the
date of the Mecklenburg Declaration
of dependence-the earliest of all
American declarations-the ever mem
orable Goth Of May, l775.-Charlotte
| Observer.