The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-04
WILMINGTON. n. G..
TUESDAY, JUNE 80. 1899
STRICTLY NORTH CAROLINIAN.

An excellent contemporary at Char
Iotfe, The Observer, pronounces DR..
Walter HI. Page, editor of the Boston
Atlantic Monthly, the greatest man
born in North Carolina in a half CEN
fury. It may be correct in its opln-
ion We cannot affirm or deny, for we
cannot say who is really the greatest
mar born in this state within the last
fifty years. DR.. Page is unquestiona-
bly, a superior man mentally, and may
he above all his fellows. We cannot
determine this interesting question
even among those of whom we nave
more or less knowledge. Some very
bright. accomplished men have been
horn i'm fifty years in this state. There
have heen some who are decidedly dlS-
4ine,,ished, honored, useful. But what
narticular man outranks and overshad-
owzs all the other able and well equip
ned men in natural endowment ana
ACQUISITION we are not able to deter
mine Certainly with the present Ignt
before us we must leave the question
unsettled on our part. The Messenger
is glad indeed as a faithful North Car
oIina newspaper that the state Is So
well supplied with men of fine intel
IectuaI parts, and that there IS educa-
tfonal progress as we'll as material pro-
gress. We may say that OF those Oh
whom we have information or with
whom we have personal acquaintance
--- -;kI;r n ho1f Pantl1rV-
there are five of whom we would brief
Nv write. They possess excellent men
tai gifts naturally. They are all we'll
informed in some fields of study, some
are learned in a high sense-ln the
sense the word is used in England, but
all have manifested u~nmistakable ab1l-
ity in certain fields Of intellectual ex-
cursion. Who nave won best the atten-
ton of the higher and best filled minds
and have made their marks more IN
- es~--e--ay ~ 1.-The world Of thought
and culture time will revea
We wish Ito write a few lines con-
erning five notable men who have lived
in the time specified above. No doubt
there are some others who might be
included if we had wider information
and a more accurate discernment. we
are not we'll enough acquainted, for IN
stance. to write of the lawyers of the
state. We could briefly particularize
and characterize some OF the famous
lawyers of the past. but we do know
who are the ablest and most learned
wye under so years Of age in this
state, and how they could compare
mentally and in accomplishments with
those we shall nam personally.
Hon. Hannis Taylor, Ii. D.,
ister to Spain and distinguished au-
thor; Rev. w. w. Moore, D.. D., Ii. D.,
professor in the able faculty of Union
Theological Seminary, the superior
Presbyterian school Of the prophets at
Richmond, Va; Walter H. Page, LII.
D.. gifted journalist. and successful
editor of the Boston Atlantic Month
Iy; Edwin A. Alderman, LII. D., pres
ident of the University of North Car
olina, and George T.. Winston, Ii. D..
president of the University of Texas,
are men of decided force, n ampll-
tude of mental resources.
We are quite sure that by much odds
the ablest work that thus far has been
produced by any North Carolinlan.
living or dead, past or present, is Dr.
Taylor's very superior and famous
work on the British constitution. It is
a. work of which to be proud. It is the
production of a finely disciplined and
vigorous mind. and shows wide reading
and ability to grasp n formulate
great principles. 1t is in two large VOL
umes, octave. and is a textbook IN
important seats Of learning In the Ola
and the new worlds. 1t has been well
praised by writer's of fame in speclai
departments, and by eminent authors
i'm fields quite similar to that in which
DIR. Taylor has achieved such a pro-
nounced success. In our reading Tor
some years we AVE met but WITH
one adverse opinion to the merits OF
the important work. and that was from
a northern writer. So we feel warrant
ed in the opinion that 1t is a work or
more intellectual consequence than
aven Hon. Thomas Hart Benton'S
Thirty Years in the United States
Senate" q work of uncommon interest
and Astounding in instruction in leg1s-
ton and political history during the
period of which it treats. Colonel Ben
toms huge work is, we Delleve' the
best expression of vigor OF thought
and political wisdom of anything that
emanated from a North Carolina natlVe
prior to the publication of DR.. ray
lor's work. He was born in orange
county, two or three miles from the old
town of Hillsboro, and attended the
University Of North Carolina. DR.. Tay-
is a distinguished lawyer living in
Mobile, Ala
DIR. Walter H. Page has had the ad-
vantage of a superior education. After
attending two colleges in his own land
he had the. privilege of instruction m