The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-11-01

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'"s ha'i"h' hlIed with enexhaustible
wealth aud why should We no,
>hdi" III H. apprOprIstiunr What =
picture this II! The eagle OF lIter,, ,
stumbling Ike d buZzard IL grow r.,
over Hn expected corl7e
"lii iare- the land, H. ha-,.nin,
III a prey,
w here wealth accumulate, ani
mru decay"
hr Csc5ars saw the 3.,-ar, ,,t,pl,
victorious leglon3 flash IL the -uu.
llsht Of every known land. and IL
their triumphant return they brought
win them the accumulated wealth,
oi all the natiuns they had sub
duCd. The oplendor OF imu.rial
Rome out-hOne the world, but the
wealth thus obtained without value
giVen dermined the ELI
pre- aud the glory ut Rome l. sim
ply memory. NapoleOn beheld
the shining star Of destiny; and
then? Does human nature change
through the centuries? We stand
today iaclng the temptation which
coin'-a from the possibility OF rapid
~ accumulated wealth. What rlyhI
nave We 10 nuticip pat" that the, ,at1I.
result Will not follow II We pursue
the same course Of taking what We
have not fully earned?
.orE PRESENT FOEM or GuVlEN-
MEN1.
The problem We have sought t.
work out III this nation is That OF
government OF and by and Tor the
u Ople. y great nation upon that
principle seems possible Ouly under
federal system, system which
regulates all matters OF local inter
est To the several states and cxcr-
clo,'S through tn" national govern
neht only those powers and i'unc.
lions which make tor the general
welfare. We have wonderfully proS-
pered III administering such system
IN compact, continental territory,
each part OF which has been pOs-ess-
eel and controlled by race capable
OF self government.
"DCTY" AND "DESTINS" DIVIDED.
This Ii no triiiing question and
is not answered by any gush abOu,
duty and destiny. In fact, all this
talk about destiny is wearisoine. We
make our own destiny. We are not
the victims, but the masters OF fate,
and 10 attempt to unload upon the
Almighty responsibility tor that
"hiCh We choose TO do IL not only
an Insult to Him, but to ordinary
human intelligence.
BLESSINGS or OUR EXAMPLE,.
We are told We have become 50
great and powerful that the worlu
needs Us, tut what the world most
needs Is not the touch Of our power,
but the blessings OF our example. 1t
needs the bright example of free
people not disturbed by any illu-
,'OnS OF territorial acquisition, OF
pccuniary gain or military glory,
but content with their possessions
anl striving through all the aDili-
| Ties, activities and industries of their
Hisest and most earnest leaders to
make the life OF each individual cit
lien happier, better and more con.
tent.
TWO COURSES WHICH WILL HOU
| CHOOSE!
Two visions rise before me-:
One OF Il nation growing In popu-
lation, riches and strength, reaching
cut the strong hand to bring within
Its domain weaker and distant races
and lands, holding them by force ioI
the rapid wealth they may bring
with perhaps the occasional glory
success and sacrifice of war; Won
dIously luxurious lite INTO which
the fortunate few shall enter. an &C
cumulation OF magniticence ~hlcr
lur term will charm and dazzle
and then the shadow oi the awful
question whether human nature ha>
changed and the old law, that his
tory repeats itself, has lost its force
whether the ascending splendor O
imperial power is to be followed By
The decending gloom ofluxury, dc
cay and ruin.
| The other OF nation where tn,
spirit OF the pilgrim and the Hugue
Hot remains the living aud control
ing force, affirming that the Decla
ration OF Independence, the farewell
address OF the Father OF His COun
try and the Monroe doctrine shat
never pass into inOcuous desuetude
devoting its energies to the develop
ment OF the ineXhaustibls resource
OF its great continental territory
solving the problem of universe
personal and political liberty, OF
| kONClLIhCht ~ viz NoiENhS Va III
governed, where no king, no c.as
and no race rules, but each individ
: ual has equal voice and power in tn
; control OF all, where wealth come
) only as the compensation of homes
toll OF hand or brain, where publ
: service is private duty; nation
whose supreme value TO the wOrl'
lies not in Its power, but in its III
, failing loyalty to the high ideals 9
: Its youth, its forever lifting it
strong hand not 50 govern, but I
protect the weak, and thus tn
bright shining which brightens NOR
and more into the tadeles, ami etel
nal day.
= IL. fx.., k.a