The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-18

their immortai action TO our children:
what graphic pen has made this scene
living one to our people? Stnal Col
Carolinian can claim that he Is ce.
seconded from those stormy peTelS OF
victory who piloted Anthony Wayne 20
find etea nal fame on the summit OF tnas
ridge?
VIVA has been said or sung or en-
grayed as to the North Carolina nne-
steady as the Old Guard or Napoleon -
self at uta Springs and on many other
fields?
And at a later date. where are our en-
cravings OF other patriotic sons OF Nortn
CAROLYN who would have been an honor
It was Theinisuocles who declared chat
the trophies OF Milttades would not allow
him to sleep. The Israehtes. when they
had passed over Jordan built twelve Pill
lars that their chifdren'S children mlSnL
ask. What mean these ~stones?" that
posterfty being told the story OF Israefs
greatness in war and the unity OF the
twelve tribes might bear It in remeqn-
phies. the proud memorials OF h great
deeds of our ancestors. whose aspett
shall stir the hearts OF aspiring youth 10
muFate them. and to repeat our Mara
uhons on future fields? The tail shaft
at Bunker Hill still rises to greet the
sun IN his coming, and on its summit the
genius of Webster'S grafton viii linger
as a halo forevermore. On every he
roic spo< in all that land shaft. or
sculpture. or inscribed tablet. recoTds
that there man has died for man. But
what of US?
OF recent years. We IA made a small
beginning. A crumbhng monument TO
Governor Caswell. blasted by fire. stands
in the streets of Kinston; a
IN the Capitol square. facing the setting
sun. recalls the already fading tradition
of the 125 900 soldiers who belted North
Carolina like a living wall in the grand
days of 1875; a bronze statue of our
great tribune of the people stands on the
same square. appropriately facing the
East. forever hopeful of the progress and
prosperity of the people he loved so w:ll
and served SO faithfully-he ever stood
praying and hoping for the dawn or a
brighter day.
You are arousing this people as they
have never been aroused before TO the
LIE ns them to The last bow and girl.
You propose to give them the Increases
capacity for learning. for enjoyment. for
usefulness which comes from education.
But what then? Shall you lay before
them histories wherein Massachusetts.
with some aid from one or two great
VirginianS. conquered the British lion
books which represent no North caro-
lima historical event. and the features of
no great North Carolinian. in which our
revolutionary history is a desert. with,
perhaps a wild reference to the militia
at Guilford Court House. and in which
our ante-revolutionary story is a mere
terest in the study Of North Cardinals
history by such books as tirat? Can you
inspire any young Themistocles to emu
late the deeds of Militiades when the
story of those deeds is left untold?
I will not touch upon the ground OF
the misrepresentation of the events of
1875. Public attention has been drawn
to that and probably "a true story or
those %eventful years will be laid before
our children. But will it be interesting?
Shall you give them the bare facts and
barren list of names? Where can better
subjects be found for painter. for sculp-
tor. for graphic writing?
Take among 50 many. a single incident.
AT Newbern the battle went Sorely
against us Four hundred soldiers were
cut off. with a pursuing enemy in the
rear and an unfordable river in front.
the men in despair throwing their arms
in the river to prevent the enemy from
getting them. a single canoe is found
carrying only eighteen men. there g
danger of its being swamped in the mad
rush, two young officers. both fresh from
stead Of saving themselves and pushing
of to safety. take their stand and count
off from time to time eighteen men who
pass beneath their crossed sabres. till
boat load after boat load is ferried
across. With immediate peril Of yankee
bullets and yankee prison. they resolute-
ly keep their guard till every man Is
over and those two the last to enter.
float across to friends and to freedom.
What a picture for a painter. for a poet.
for Instructor How it would have been
emblaZoned if told in Roman story by
Iiny or by Macaulay to match his stir
ring lines which tell
How we'll Horatius did keep the bridge
In the brave days of old"
But what audience in North Carolina
this clay cam name these two beardless
boys who came of the race of heroes?
And this incident is but one of the hun
dreds showing that this people of North
Carolina IS n which produces heroes
and men fit to command. If we do not
sufficiently honor them it is possible be
cause such deeds are not rare among US.
What pen or pencil can portray to life
the heroism of the men whom Tyler Ben
nett. Frank Parker and George b: An
derson were proud to stand beside in
the men under Pettigrew, who fell far
thest in the front of the southern line
| at Gettysburg; the men, many of them
fresh from the pillow and without a
thought OF heroism or fame. who. like
an avenging flame. swept down the brok-
| en- lines at the Salient. retaking and
| holding it against fearful odds; and those
North C~arolinians in the seven days fight
around Richmond who left more than
twice as many Of their dead and wound
ed upon the field as Virginia herself or
| any other southern state: those brave
men. from OUT mountains to the sea. who
| with no other motive than their duty.
were first at Bethel and last at Apo
mattox. and who at all times during
| those four long eyentfuI years proved
themselves the peers of any troops thar
came against them or fought by Their
| side?
II you wish to encourage the study of
| the history OF our state. can you do bet
plainly and simply. as BELTS the men who
did them? Can the story be more need
| ed: can the teaching come better than
| in these days. when worship of the dollar
Is growing and when youths are taught
that the greatest among men is not he
who sheds his life's blood for his fellow
men at the call of his unit and duty.
but rather he who gathers. by whatever
device. the greatest quantity of the
product OF the labors OF others into his
own keeping?
I'LL fares the land to fastening Ills a
prey
Where wealth ancumulates and men
decay"
The state has O great history. Its peo-
| pie have shown themselves equal to ev-
cry call upon them and equal to every
occasion. But b a history has not Yet
been presented as it should be. To e1-
cite interest in its study we must make
1t interesting. Telrit as it happened. is
| grand deeds. its heroic sufferings. its ul-
Wanting performance OF duty in the face
of every danger. its accomplishing en-
durance of every hardship. Paint its
| striking. historical incidents by brush as
well as by PEN; engrave them. hang them
| on the wallis OF your school rooms, yo1r
| libraries and your public buildings. put
u them I'm v101rr >nhn.o1 hooJ- Do;o-a- o,l