The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-16

they are yet fighting. Meanwhile they
have done wonderful amount of build
ing From Printing we at length arrived
at the Free Press. From the schools
were brought forth the Free Schools.
These two make the Free State and the
Free Church-whence shall come your
free man, and the free soul; in no mean
freedom, but free as yonder ocean would
be, were there no continents to defy it.
This is Gods most desired thing. The
stars in their courses fight for this
THE press is not directly so powerful
as it once was Multiplication of papers
has dissipated both energy and power
an opposition paper is easily established
corrupt paper is easily set up.
but the press is still powerful in dis
seminating information, in expressing life
and opinion, and in discussion or agita-
ton.
In these three aspects we shall find its
present opportunity with regard to the
free schools to lie. The people need in
formation. Who here knows the status
of the free schools? Who can tell lie how
many boys are in our free schools and
how many are not? ] warrant the state
ment that there are 10000 white boys in
North Carolina who cannot read and write
and who have not been reached and will
not be reached by the present system.
They are coming to manhood. unless they
shall be qualified by the free schools for
the ballot. there will be a mighty i'm
parchment.
Here is the word for the press: We
must improve our free school system
The people must be told of its Ineffective
ness. We must have a special relief to
save these 10000 white boys; and we
must have a general Improvement of the
whole system to do our duty by the other
coo, 900 boys and girls in North Carolina.
Finally this is the great work for us
all All the rest of creation is done In
horse and tree and body of man. natural
selection has done its work. But one
thing remains unfinished; one thing is in
it's infancy That is the mind of man.
We are building for it--widening its doors,
opening its windows, making way for God
Whose dwelling is the light of setting
suns,
The wide air, the round ocean, and the
mind of man
so then this cause of the free schools
is not simply politically paramount in
North Carolina; it is the paramount call
from every point Of view-upon us all.
The College Professor And Public Ed
uctiOn.
DR.. Sykes, of Wake Forest.
Education is an introduction to the
past; there are great possessions in the
past" there are great possessions in the
realms of literature, science, institutions
and religion, To educate is to secure
these possessions. 1t is secondarily the
function of the editor and the preacher
to do this, but it is primarily the duty of
the teacher Whoever leads the child
from wandering in the field and playing
by the rivers bank into the temple Of
Minerva the same is q teacher.
THE college has been a great factor in
civilization. Wyclilfc, the morning star
of the Reformation gained his inspiration
in his class room. From college walls
Luther blew the blast that shook the
Papacy and only the Jesuit colleges
stemmed the tide of the Reformation.
From the University came Wesley and
Whitfield in that great movement that
saved England
THE colleges of Europe respond to the
highest movement Of politics. They have
been the cause, in part, of many revolu-
lions in Europe during the last century
THE college trains for leadership, but
the college professor must never be un-
mindful of the fact that a democracy
chooses its own leaders. Many a Milton
has sung his song in lindness and in
silence, many a Hamden remained in the
village, because their constituency chose
o different leader. Leaders are as their
people The college teacher must see to
it that the public do not put the hemlock
to the lips of Socrates, nor build a rock for
Calico,
There is unity in an education. The
humbest teacher in North Carolina has
the same purpose as the great Glider
sleeve. However the college has its
specialized function. The industrial
school furnishes skill; in the law school
only law is taught; the University seeks
to make scholars; the college covers
such variety of subjects that its aim
must be different. The college aim is
not primarily scholarship nor skill, but
the making of the man. There is no sub
stitute for the college work. A new
civilization may come among us; It's
banner MAJ Nc the SluOhG anu us music
the shuttle; it may call upon US to sub
stitute something for old college course,
but see to it, We college teachers, that it
is never done. for in the college course
are the essentials Of civilizations. May
no voice ever call the sons of North
Carolina away from the feet Of such
teachers as were Governor Swain, Brax-
ton Craven and Manly Wingate. From
the feet Of these GamaleiIs only will rise
up the young Pauls
I'VE, North Carolinians, must learn
what the outside world thinks of us We
boast and brag of little things, and set
our standards lew. We boast of our deeds
Of war. but what boasts it ito be first
in war" but last in knowledge, or to be
first at Bethel and last to turn our steps
toward the temple of learning or to the
last at Appomattox and first in the army
Of ignorance.
The redemption of North Carolina is
before us. Here may dwell the chosen
race" but Egypt's bonds are on them
and not one, but many Moses shall break
them