The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-01-20
CONSERVATIVE SCOTLAND
NECK.

some years ago SOOu HAL wiz
meant we'll in all that he said and did,
advised us to be conservative. That
good man has been dead for some time
and has gone to his reward, which we
have reasons to hope and believe is IN
the "better land.'
And while his counsel was prudent
and wise, it is just possible for one to
make mistake by adhereing to it too
long and too far. Conservatism is in
deed desirable in all and every business
and in every sphere of human activity
but it is worth while to make some dis
tinction between conservatism and fos-
silism.
Some men think they are wisely and
beautifully conservative, when they
are all the while becoming fossilized.
Some people who are no more than a
bump on log, so far as activity goes,
congratulate themselves that they are
the balance-wheel that holds other peo-
pie in proper place. Most of us have
seen such cases of delusion. It is just
possible for people to make such mis-
| take and all the time think they are
acting very wisely.
The COMMONWEALTH wishes to make
clear and plain application of all
this to Scotland Neck. Time has been
when people in almost every commu-
nifty in North Carolina, and in many
communities outside OF North Carroll
ma, thought Scotland Neck a progress
siye town but that opinion has chang
ed during the past year or two.
The town seems to have made a
great effort to be conservative during
the stringent times, and we give it as
our opinion, which all can take at
what they think it is worth, that Scot
land Neck is on the verge of fossillza-
ton. Simply because times are said
to be hard Is no reason for sitting still
and letting the tide of opportunity flow
by us. We doubt seriously if, when
all things are considered, times are
much harder than they have always
been. Hard times has been a cry
time whereof the memory Gilman run
meth not to the contrary certainly SO
far as we remember. If the people OF
many slow towns had had the op.
portunity in 1776 that the PEG.
pie of Scotland Neck have to-day, we
dare say these towns would not be
what they are and we dare say further
that they would have done much more
with the opportunity than Scotland
Neck seems disposed to do now.
This paper has repeatedly pointed
out mistakes that Scotland Neck has
made as town, thereby losing some
fine opportunities to "lengthen its
cords and strengthen Its stakes" and
many have agreed with us when it, was
too late.
And, now, let us say to the people
of Scotland Neck, among whom we
have lived for more than a dozen years
that we think them capable of great
things and great development if they
Will only combine their energies; but
we sound the warning, ominously too
that this town is in danger of becoming
an oat patch, compared to what it
it might be, by settling down to an
immovable conservatism.
Wake up, gentlemen, or the day is
not far ahead OF you when you will
wish you had "got up at six"
We do not wish to see any Wild
cat enthusiasm but we do say that
unless the business men of the town
bestir themselves little more and ex-
hlbit little more unanlmity of pur-
pose the tide will recede and leave
them "high and dry" on the shore,
when they might have foated out on
the flood of success.
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