Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-06-17

oAA0O 44OO 6oNO1 I1l11C1U IL NC
founded upon intelligence and char
acter." And these communities have
educated their people until, in intel
ligence and capacity, they surpass
any in the world. The foreigner who
comes to this country to look upon
the results of more than a century
of. free government goes to New
York and New England; he never
comes to North Carolina. The great
inventions originate there; the great
wealth-producing manufactures, the
powers that control the finances and
the transportation of a continent are
there, the great free public schools
are there, the great Universities are
there, the great scientific technicaland
art schools are there, the greatnews-
papers are there, the great writer's and
thinkers T there, and, rebel against
it as we may, there is found the pub
lie sentiment that rules this country.
Intelligence trained and made eff
f~ective, has told it's wonderous story.
1t has made better farmers, better
mechanics, better merchants. better
manufacturers, and has quickened
and inspired all classes.
LII 0OSSCoU111S UIlCtO \ u Ill LII JIG
of the means by which the whole
people of North Carolina may be
helped most efficiently lies in better
educational opportunities in which
every child may participate, [ am
not unmindful that the question of
taxation is a great stumbling block.
[ know that many of us find it diff
cult although we are lighter taxed
than almost any civilized commu-
nifty, to pay the taxes we already
have, after paying the necessary ex-
penses of living, but other people,
poorer than we, have shouldered the
burden of a heavier taxation, and
have borne it uncomplainingly, be-
| cause, it was a tax which meant en-
lightenment.
Scotland, one of the poorest couu-
tries i'll Europe, early began educat=
ing her children, and bore the bur
den with heroic self-sacrifice, and
the most intelligent people in Eu-
rope. The Scotchman, wherever you
find him, stands in the first rank in
character. learning and ability; and
the literature of Scotland has been
to all people an inspiration aud a de
light. Great historians, n~ovelists,
poets, preachers, scientists, and
masters of commerce have been the
product of the indomitable struggle
against a poverty, the like of which
| we can hardly conceive, of a people
brave and self-denying to the point
of starving their bodies in order that
they might feed their minds.
Germany was a poor country but
she founded and has maintained
schools, the fame of which attracts
students from all over the world.
Her people are educated, She has
| tigation, of exhaustive learning i'll al
| departments and is growing in wealth
and power until now England is
beginning to realize in her a danger
Gus rival to her commercial suprem-
acy. 1t would be easy to multiply
instances.
The opponent of universal educa-
ton, however honest he may be
usually shuts his eyes to the facts
of history, and bases his opposition
or some instance in which some mai
who has had great opportunities has
wasted them. He is Illogical an6
| takes shortsighted views. If he
would only extend his horizon and
look out upon the nations which have
| been important factors IN the great
movements which have been made
for progress and freedom the world
over, he would find that they have
| had confidence in the native strength
| I'D aIo,,oo4o. 90 4hD ooO~Ja ono
have been willing at any sacrifice to
develop their faculties to the highest
| degree. Can [ do better than to cal
your attention to these great things
that others have done and insist that
we can do as much. / do not believe
the NewEnglander andthe NewYork
er, the Scotchman andthe German are
superior to the North Carolinian-
they have no better mind, no high
er character, no o vigorous body
they have one thing in which
we are lacking and without which
we will forever lag in the progress Of
the world, they had and have the con
viction that even man has in him the
germs of usefulness and power, anc
that they can bedeveloped and util
lied by flooding the mind with al
| the illumination that comes from
those lighthouses of knowledge, the
institutions of learning, and they
were willing to denysthemselves al
the Injuries and comforts, and tx
stint themselves in even the neces
saries of life in order that the light
might fall upon every hill and into
every valley and illuminate with its
glory every cottage as well as ever
palace within their borders.
Whenever we are willing to pay the
price, to assume the burden and un
dergo the sacrifice the day of our re
demption is at hand.
No good thing is ever gained ex
cept by effort and struggle, and nc
people ever became great until they
had demonstrated their fitness by
suffering and self-denial.
Instead OF a nation dwelling IL
contented ignorance, and rolling IL
wealth, / would rather see a people
in rags, thirsting for knowledge
with the passion for enlightenment
burning in their souls and demand
ing the qualification which God Al
mighty intends for immortal spirit:
for out of this come all things thai
make man great, wise and God-ike
Among the many helpful things We
do to those about us, let us cultivate
this good spirit until it shall take
possession of us all and remove ou1
reproach among the nations, anG
make us in intelligence, knowledge
and power, what we have always
been in honesty, virtue and courage