The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-25
OPINION and
Personal Point of View.
BY FRED. L. MERRITT. .<SNMm

1T begins to look as II at last sOme-
thing Is to be done to commemorate the
life and character and work of Nathaniel
Macon
1t is we'll. No people can be strong and
great that do not cherish the memory
and recount the deeds of their great men.
The historic sense has too long been
wanting in our people. In the histogy Of
the good old State there has been much
good -natured neglect, not to say indiffer-
ence, of many things Of which other COM
munities are very proud and not at all
reticent. While such modesty or superior
Indifference has its good points, it is
something that may be overdone. II will
do, let others talk is not bad motto il
the two sides of the contract are evenly
adjusted; but if the other fellow Is doing
and talking TOO, then you are somewhat
at disadvantage.
When distinguished citizen dies there
is an effuson of grief and an eloquent
celebration OF his merit and services, then
we straightway go off and forget what
manner of man he was. Sometimes, di-
rectly after his death, there is a propo
sal to raise a statue or build a monu-
ment, and it is received with acclamation;
but too often We get no further than the
acclamation point.
The plan proposed by Mr.. Pittman, of
forming an association to acquire and
care for the Macon grave and homestead
is most excellent one, and one that can
be easily carried out, for there should
be little difficulty in raising all the money
necessary 70. the project. Macon was the
gicat,st statesman North Carolina has
ever produced and every loyal son of the
State regardless OF political views, cher
ishes a patriotic respect for his memory.
know nothing of the plans of the pro-
posed association, but / would suggest
that the pile of rough stones above the
great mans grave be left undisturbed.
Rugged solid and enduring, no better
monument can be chosen to mark his last
resting place. OF course the ground about
the grave should be carefully kept and
the old home be preserved. Such historic
relics are already too few. The house and
grounds and grave are at once a monu-
mcnt and history of the man.
Ultimately bust or statue of Macon
may be placed beneath the immense oaks
that have been left in his grove spread
ing their protecting arms above the sacred
IAnNt. TEees,-sfssociated with famous men.
are beAutiful memorials. The winds sigh
in theil boughs, their shade invites the
traveller and their beauty is renewed with
the seasons. 1t is a tender sentiment
this association of the giants Of the for
ests with the giants among men, and
poets often give voice to sensitive feel
ing for this sylvan association. 1t was
Wordsworth who wrote for stone on his
own grounds--and the strain is wonder
III sotn TO f1,o ny,d
homestead:
I'm these fair wales hath many a tree
At Wordswortli's suit been spared;
And from the builders hand this stone,
For some rude beauty Of its own,
Was rescued by the bard
So let it rest; and time will come
When here the tender-heagted
May have gentle sigh for him
AS one Of the departed
SO under Macon's trees the musing citf-
zen may pace, and like the village maiden
at her Wheel revolye the sad vicissitude
of things.
There studious let me sit,
And hold converse with the mighty dead"
And perhaps the preservation of the
Macon home may stir the people of Raj
eigh to take some steps in regard to the
old home Of President Johnson in this
city now fast falling into decay. Grad
ually the city is encrOaching upon 1t and
it must one day perish unless some steps
are taken to preserve it.
AS such historic landmarks become
fewer the historic sense of people is
dulled, and the city loses more and more
OF that charm which the cities of Europe
B0ssess and which makes a pilgrimage to
them really worth while.
The Constitutional Convention OF Ala
bama has recommended as a design for
a great seal for the State the figure of a
soldier in the uniform of a Confederate
general on horse with a young woman
behind him pointing forward the legend to
read, "I'll show you the way 1t illus
trates an interesting incident in Alabama S
war history--Emma Samson showing the
ford Of Black Creek to General Forrest. |
This story is told by her in DR.. John a. |
Wyeth's Life of General Forrest" which |
here copy:
when the war came on, there were |
three children--a brother and sister older
than l. In August, 1861, my brother en-
listed in the second company that left |
Gadsden, and joined the Nineteenth Ala
bama Infantry My sister and / lived
with our mother on the farm. We were
a. home on the morning of May 2, 1863,
when about eight or nine o'clock COM
pany of men wearing blue uniforms and
riding horses galloped past the house and
went on towards the bridge. Pretty soon
great crowd of them came along, and
some of them stopped at the gate and
asked us TO bring them some water. Sis
ter and / each took bucket of water,
and gave it to them at the gate. Cne OF
the m asked me where my father was.
told him he was dead. He asked me IL
had any brothers. told him had 'SIX.'
He asked me where they were, and | said
they were in the Confederate Army.
do they think the South will whip?'
They do
".Nhat do vo.- sh',,Iy about it,?
:. Il think God is on our side and we will
win
You do? Well, il you had seen us
whip Colonel Roddey the other day and
IL IT,. V.sD l