The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-17
SPLENDID SESSION
At MOREHEAD CITY
A Number of Helpful Papers
Were Read.
THOMPSON'S ADDRESS
The Instinct For Rule the Bane of
the South.
SPANISH WAR WIPES OUT WORD REBEL
/" Our Country Extends From Ocean Into
Ocean as Expansionists Would Say"
The Assembly This Year
a Success.

sions of the Teachers Assembly have
been well attended, not so largely as
usual, but by many representative teach
ers in all part of the State. There is re-
greet that the session of the General AS
sembly conflicted with the Teachers AS
sembly. denying us the presence of many
who are always with the teachers. Inc
addresses have been above the average,
instructive, inspiring and helpful The
opening address by President d. Matt.
THOMPSON, superintendent of the States
willie graded schools, was warmly APP
plauded. He said:
Mr. President, Members of the North
Carolina Teachers Assembly, Ladies
and Gentlemen:
l take this my first opportunity to
thank you, face to face, for the honor you
conferred on me a year ago, in electing
me to the presidency of this body OF
North Carolina teachers. l consider it
no small honor to be chosen as the
executive officer, of not only the largest
and best, but the best-looking body OF
professional men and women in the State.
Again, l thank YOU
In these latter years, we see and hear
much said, about presenting papers. and
reading papers before meetings of teach
ers, editors, lawyers, manufacturers,
medical men, commercial men, women's
clubs, etc. ad. infinitum-as nearly every
body now belong to the liners"
At some point in the history of this
organization, the custom of the president
presenting a paper was inaugurated In
compliance with this custom, l have pa
per. 1t is programmed, as usual, the
Presidents Annual Address. That you
may understand the situation, l will state
that l will talk about one thing, and then
another. When | am talking about the
lone Thing. you may know that it is
not the 'other'' When l am the 10Th
err l shall off the lone thing
Seriously, what l have to say may be
included in the subject:
SOME THINGS FROM THEN TO NOW.
AT this juncture 1 have a favor to ask;
and that is, as the young man who was
about to be married, said, hope, friends,
l shall have your sympathies.
1t has been said "All Creation is on
march," We believe that all things both
animate and inanimate are not only un-
der marching orders now, but have been
moving forward directly or indirectly ever
since the day dawn of the universe
We are told THE worlds above or
about us revolve." The crust of earth be-
meath us feels the necessity for change.
The vegetable world, year by year, de-
clares to all who will look that it is NOV
ing onward and upward. The animal
kingdom without seeming to understand
from whence comes the impelling force
keeps step to music unheard, while
man, as though he hears the music in the
distance, and sees the banner afar off
falls in line with this. strange any mys-
terous procession, and moves onward and
upward also
From necessity the movement is slow
and there has always been great waste
of the power and energy developed, while
immense forces are still latent waiting
for the mind and hand of some genius
some wizard to wake them to life. This
movement is seldom on straight lines,
and there is at times something of the
retrogression. But from an impulse We
may know not what, and from sources
we may know whence, all things tend
toward a higher excellence, better flu
ture.
From the coming of man upon the
earth, to the advent of the Prince of
Peace during these many long centuries,
the tide of human civilization ebbed and
flowed, but each succeeding wave rose
higher than the preceding one. Empires
were founded, grew, and flourished: and
then weakened .tottered, and fell, but
Z was the political organization only
that fell. The impress and influence of
the ideas which were in harmony with
the laws of Growth still remained.
Upon these wrecks of dissolving en-
pres greater than they have arisen. Also,
there arose beacon lights, which have
shown down the long vistas of time, even
to the present. The blind old man OF
Sco's rocky isle is a living force to-day
and has made glad and has made better
the school children of the civilized sworld
The Montuon bard is still singing, and
there is a host of others-warriors, all
unconsciously, perhaps, statesmen, al
thors and philosophers. Nor must We
omit the most potent influence of all
that of the strong old Israelitish heroes.
All these helped to move the old sluggish
world just beginning to awaken to life,
until it was prepared for the coming of
the King of Kings.
From that glad night on which the
angels over the hills and across the
plains and through the valleys of Judea
sang, ION earth peace, good will to men,
10 this good day of 1900, there has been
an unfolding, a developing, a lifting UP,
to better things. To be sure the bright
CLEANS and the bright flashes OF sun
light have been followed by lowering
clouds seemingly threatening destruction
but after the storm and tempest and
clouds passed away the sun of progress
shone all the brighter.
The coming of the Saxons, heather as
they were, and their mastery of the NBri-
tons, the introduction of Christianity
among them by Gregory and Augustine,
the work OF King Alfred the law-giyer