The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-01
MR.. PAGE ON 1.-THE EVIL or OUR LAND. ;

The Southern students at Haryar'
have organized Southern club at tina
University. and ON Washington birth
day held their annual banquet. Thu
year Mr.. Walter H. Page, native oi
Wake county, incorrectly call IAN ole
Virginian," was the guest of honor. The
account of his speech written by one
present for the Atlanta Journal, shows
that he understands the gigantic danger
of his e-commercialism. We are told
that Mr.. Page combatted Professor
Cummings's view that the southern man
had no traits TO distinguish him from
tae northern man. and said that one
notable characteristic of the southern
man was his store of strength. There
was always something lhard to define)
that served him in good turn when
needed, and gave him the final superiori-
ty. He elaborated his idea, and said:
No matter who else has this quality,
we can be sure of one thing, that we,
too, have it,
After some moments devoted to a
humorous dissertation, he affirmed that
mo man is a gentleman who has not
a sense of humor"
The Puritan of old belonged to New
England, but in this day of commercial
ism the south is the Puritan section of
this country. and is destined 10 be the
final salvation of our land" He dwelt
upon the evils of commercialism, which,
he said, oyerran politics.
'Commarciahsm is the evil OF ouI.
land ut this time, and the fate of our
land depends on the strength and prin-
ciples Of the south. You are in a land
with millions of another race, and your
solution of the problem of proper living
among them will decide the most mo-
mentous social question ever presented
10 man. 1t is upon your principles and
strength you must rely. But if your life
ever becomes entangled in the meshes Of
oommercialism, God help your character,
for many an ADLER and better man than
anyone of you has sunk beneath the
surface of this deadly evil.
Always remember that the recrea-
tons of II man are often his most i'm
portant and most lasting works. You
should choose for yourself a by-play that
will add TO the power and stability of
your government"
He spoke of the fruitful results of
Geo. w. Curtis's leisure hours, devoted
to civil service reform, and quoted sew
eral other examples of great works ac-
complished in odd hours.
lie then concluded with: Young
gentlemen, / say that the south needs
every one of you, and that every one
of you can find his place and success
there. There are realms beyond Mason
and Dixons line yet undiscovered, treas
ures yet unclaimed, and these await the
touch of You who, with the strength of
the south and the learning of Harvard,
shall enter into the joys of your king
dom.
Then, aside from your life work, take
up some line Of study. There are plenty
of problems to solve, plenty of fields to
roam, amid the plains and forests of
Dixie.
why, the man that points out to
the south the solution OF the negro pro-
blem will earn for himself fame second
only 10 that of Washington or Lin
coin. But above all, gentlemen, devote
your time to the SOUTH and developing
the south as you should do, fail not to
live in the south with the full strength
and steadfast principles that betokens
the southern man.