The semi-weekly messenger., 1901-08-23
HOME MERIT VERSUS FOREIGN
MERIT.

MERIT.
There is a sense of duty as well as
of propriety, sense Of fairness as well
as of justice and right. If young men
educated in North Carolina are to be
ignored. and good places given to
strangers of no higher qualification and
no greater accomplishments, then it is
unfair and unjust to the natives. and
an unworthy discrimination IN favor
of the strangers. There is not we'll
balanced, high toned man in this grand
conservative state that will not agree
to that.
The Messenger was particular to say
that schools and colleges should pro-
cure the best teachers possible. mo
pent up Utica contracts our views in
this important matter. If you are to
fill a given chair, and can not find the
man at home. then search elsewhere.
Go to Europe or Asia or the Philippines,
or South Africa or the north. and find
him. But if a we'll equipped alumnus
of a North Carolina college or of the
University, is able ito fill the bill,
then The Messenger chooses to say
that to ignore him. to set him aside
ruthIessly arbitrarily, is neither be-
coming, fair nor in accord with the
eternal principles of right and equity.
If any one thinks otherwise we are not
responsible for it. The paper that is
willing to discount home product, and
to throw up hats to the fellows who
come from other states with no higher
qualifications, is not The Messenger.
1t is for North Carolina first. The edi-
tor who is a North Carolinian by birth
and prefers strangers TO young men Of
his own state should be remembered
Because a few North Carolinians
have been called to places in other
states, shows the superiority of the
men called. or the estimate of their
supposed superiority over other avail
able material. 1t is a great compliment
to North Carolina, and yet a great loss,
that Rev. DR.. Walter W. Moore, is put
at the head of a theological school in
Virginia, or that DR.. Edward A. Alder
man was called away from our own
University to take the presidency of
Tulane University. Louisiana. They
were thought to be better equipped
than others nearer home or they would
not have been elected
Another thing is observable, and we
made the point in our first reference
to an unworthy discrimination against
our own native teachers. 1t is that II
there were no properly equipped natives
to be found to fill the dozen or more
places in North Carolina schools re-
Gently filled, then it is apparent that
the education hitherto impaired in our
home institutions was imperfect, in
sufficient. unsatisfactory. If that can
be gainsaid, then the discrimination
against our home talent and learning
is without justification, and is very CEN
surable as we'll as naughty.
We find in the Charlotte Observer
the following:
The Raleigh Post observes sarcas-
tically upon this that there must be
something wrong somewhere and suS-
gests that something ought TO be done
to put a stop to this comfy among
states The Statesvllle Landmark
takes the subject up and says the facts
AT
true now as it was in the time of the
Master that a prophet is not without
honor. but in his own country, ana
among his own kin, and in his own
house 1t imagines two young men OF
equal talent, both of unusual talent.
They are appreciated at home, In a
way but don't amount to much there;
they exchange homes and eacn becomes
distinguished AS a rule, says The
landmark. a native born home man
cannot succeed in any line OF endeaVor
at home as we'll as he can elsewhere,
because people will not appreciate MIN
and take to him as they Will 10
stranger"
We believe that DR.. Moore would be
just as highly appreciated if he had
been a professor at the University or
president of Davidson college. as he is
appreciated at the head of the Rich
mond. Va, theological school. And 80
with DR.. Alderman. He displayed
great gifts, and they were lauded and
liked from Cherokee TO Currituck, and
his name became a household word.
He is accomplished and richly furnished
and greatly deserving anywhere, and
Tulane can not appreciate him more
than the best people in his native North
Carolina appreciated him. We do not
believe that youth born in North Car
olina must flee from home, and sees
an abiding place in other states among
other people because he would die un-
successful at home. That has not beer
true as to the past. While Benton anc
Allen and others went to the Senate
from other states, Macon and Badge
and Graham and Bragg and Haywood
and Vance and Ransom and Jarri;
stood by their old state, and went intt
cabinets or the senate. Davie, Saun
ders, Barringer. Jarvis and others le
mained and went upon foreign mis-
sions also. Most of the North Carohhs
Governors have been natives. Anc :
on to the end of the chapter. LOOK a
our present able Governor. A RODE
aspiring, toiling, obscure youth nSh'-
ing his way brevely UP. and with Iti-
in% ND