The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-12
vs. educational facilities for

il destroys educational facilities for
many people.
There were four prepared speeches, it
is safe To say, that there have been
many delivered in the Congressional
halls of the United States on this very
interesting subject Fiat were not near so
good or thorough. After the prepared
speeches, each speaker had ten minu-
tcs To demOlish the speech Of his an
, tagnnist, and IL was done in the HpoSl
happy and effective manner, chaSihg 'he
large audience TO be kept IN a cohuhu''
upronr Of laughter The debate was
chen submitted to the audience iof ~
First Grafton Of the evening ""@ ~
r. Neil johnson, of Tennessee, TFpic
sentmg the Elzeli0n Society. llls SUI
iect was, Our Civic Mlsslohs' il'
Introduced his subject by re"
view Of our civilization. lie pres"IIeu
a view of the beginning Of Angi"-An"F-
fc,n empire on our eastern COast, and
and traced that conquest in II westward
rnnrse until continent is dedicated 10
unrsnuaI freedom and constitutional lib
rrty. lie then pictured the struggles
of our ancestors for the principles Of
freedom in the Revolutionary war, and
the sacrifices Of men ana women ~
their country's cause. A special tribute
was paid to the women Of the Kpy0lu-
tion He then went into the development
Of our industries and the cultivation Of
our home life which followed was shown
as n basis for the structure of cnlighteH-
| ed citizenship. 1Nis century Of pcacc,and
dcepqning of hOmelife was the time
when our people grew into one h0mOgen-
cous organism whose mission was to
preserve personal liberties and dssemin-
ate these principles among her sister
STATES.
The civil war crushed our Industries.
broke mp our home life and change the
current Of our civilization. Driven by
necessity to look after our material re-
sources, many of our young Southern
men turn their attention to manufac-
turing and our ideals take on a decid-
eddy materialistic tinge. Old customs and
habits give place to new. There grows
up in our midst large communities Of
people engaged in manufacturing. who
are gradually without any intent on
their part. changing our old institution.
More than 200 factories, each with it's
community Of operatives, are within our
borders. We glory in this remarkable
development. but forget to inquire about
the effect of this development and these
communities upon our civic life.
The tenement system which prevails
leaves little opportunity for the develop
ment of any home life. So much de-
ponds upon this. The twelve hours sys-
tenn, with labor both day and night
leaves little opportunity for home intiu-
ences even il they could own their own
homes. which under the prevailing sys-
tenn is the exception and not the rule.
Picture to your mind the life of thou
sands of little children from nine to
fourteen years of age, laboring twelve
full hours each day Where is the
time for the development of their minds.
souls or bodies. Think of the twelve
thousand women who spend their days
ana many of them their rights within
these temples where human sacrifice is
offered to the idol Coin. Where is the
home life which shall train our future
citizens. g
Nearly half Of the thousands of child
rem are under fourteen years of age
any many of them are on the night
force, turning night into day.
These are our future citizens. Depriv-
cd of development Of their minds, dwarf
ed in their bodies and cramped in their
souls. This is the price we are paying
for our boasted manufacturing develop
ment Is there any hope for the future
of our State when its interests are COM
mitted to such hands? We do not forget
the thousands of other children native
to our soil who are likewise deprived
of proper development Of their minds.
But no one boasts of the conditions
which bind these thus. Our attention IS
directed to this new development which
all praise. to this evil which wears the
cloak of Good These arts are in them
selves benefcent but only when man
becomes their master not their slave,
We need an eleven hour low for these
women and children. No child should
be allowed to do night labor. We need
n compulsory school law for these child
rem under fourteen, who should not be
allowed to work under this age.
Let us not forget that these are our
future citizens. Let It's not lose sight
of our God given Mission as Il State and
with His help, let lis try to perform it.
Mr.. John ID. Larkins, was the orator
Of the Philomathesan Society. Sub
ject: "The Federation Of the World.
1t is with Il degree of hesitancy that
| attempt to address you on II subject
Ike this especially so when | remember
That, L address an audience composer
principally of North Carolinians who
are known as fighting men. All glory
and honor to the men who fell asleep
in their country's harness, because next
to the love | have for the noble wo-
manhood of our land. is the love | feel
for the men who barred their breasts 10
the deadly bullet and met in their man
hood the conflict of arms. / would not
rob their crown of glory of one shining
gem, nor pluck one lily from among
those which stand guard around their
silent tombS.
But war can never make a hero out of
Il poltroon, nor saint of n sinner Be-
sides, whatever scope war may give for
chivalric deeds, peace gives a wider
score for the exercise and development
of true virtue. We cherish the hope that
the time is coming when war shall
smooth its wrinkled front and we shall |
hand up its bruised armor as the mon
uments of repeated folly.
The natural and normal tendency |
of man is toward unity of thought and |
interest and action. This unity does |
not involve the destruction of national |