The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-02

profound sacrifice; and the supreme sac
rifce for ones country means an oblationI
of human blood BY some strange fatal
itv the sons of this State seem to bel
called first when such an oblation is toI
hn niadp. In that dreadful moment when
Tho North and South were about 10 bel
torn apart North Carolina, a border State
who loved the Union as she loved her
life. held out her pleading hands to her
brethren ON either side in the hope that
by kind and tender words She could put
away wrath and avert the impending
strife. Not until her most strenuous eff
forts had failed. not until she had been
cruelty maIigned and misunderstood. did
she finally resolve to enter into that pro-
longed and bloody conflict to which she
contributed the first victim in the person
OF Henry Wyatt, who fell at the battle
of Bethel on the soil of Virginia. May
II not have been that North Carolina,
through her heroic though unavailing
efforts to avert the civil war and save
the Union won for herself the post of
honor when the time came for the first
victim to be offered up upon the altar Of
the united nation in its first war against
a foreign foe? In a proud, yet stricken
spirit. we can all feel that the victim
was worthy of the sacrifice When the
brave and pure young life of Worth Bag
lev went out on the tide at Cardenas we
yielded up one worthy of Il race of heroic
men. or such life, and such death,
typical as it was Of great national
event. there should be some permanent
memorial. We owe it to ourselves to per-
petuate in bronze or marble the memory
not only of our heroic son, but of the
noble mother who gave him to his coun-
try.
'If we can do no more let us fix a tab
let upon the walls of the capitol at Raj
eieh. and carve upon ii those fateful
words from his last letter in which he
told her: "You have enough of the Spar
tan in you, if YOU wish. to say. With your
shield or upon it.. and that is what you
must always say to me- Such words
have an eternal meaning coming as they
did from one who was about to die Let
MS hang them up for monuments so that
that
AT the altar of their nation,
Stood that mother and her son;
He. the victim of oblation;
Painting for his immoation:
She. in priestess' holy station.
Weeping words of conservation.
While God smiled his appreciation.
Blessed the boys self-abnegation,
Cheercd the mothers desolation,
When the sacrifice was done"
The prediction was made that the re-
suits of the present war will greatly en-
nance our position in the world. The
Venezuelan controversy had begun the
good work. Europe was then made to
feel that American diplomacy is to be a
factor in the worlds politics. The vic
tory Of Dewey at Manila will illustrate
the fact that the American navy will
soon become Il factor in the worlds sea
power. Thus everybody will soon under
stand that the two great branches of the
English people are to march in the van
guard Of nations as friendly and co-equal
forces battling together to advance the
common cause of humanity and ciyiliza-
ton. The speaker said that the only
alliance necessary was a moral alliance
involving the idea that both bodies would
stand together upon all the great qups-
tions that vitality interest both. The great
end to be attained was declared to be the
advancement of higher political ideals,
and the promotion of liberty under law.
Then turning to the students, the speak
er said Let each one of us help on the
good work by raising our own standards
Of what the future should be. Let each
one take fresh inspiration from the
"Chambered Nautilus" Let each soul
say to itself:
Through the deep caves of thought ]
hear a voice that sings:
Build thee more stately mansions, o my
soul.
As the swift seasons roll
Leave thy low-yaulted past!
Let each new temple be nobler than the
last
Shut thee from heaven with dome more
vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving this out-grown shell by life's