The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-07-04

manufacturing interests is in uniform
laws, which shall apply to every part
of the Union equally and give us op
portunity to ''buregeon out of al
within u.s."
We shall probably never live to see
the day when we shall dwell apart
from the nations of the earth again
Their affairs will always be Of interesI
to US, and their business will in large
measure be our business, but in order
that we may make that business pro.
fitable to us we must be willing tc
encourage products which we eau
make at less cost than they for the
products which they can make at less
cost than we, and in our struggle fol
commercial supremacy we ought
never to forget that the liberty of the
individual is essential to commercial
prosperity.
We may not tolerate the notion OF
a great and ever powerful govern
mental control, for with this doctrine
comes the idea that the individual is
incapable and that the Government
alone can care for the citizen. and
with this idea we shall lose the enter
prise of the individual, and that
strenuousness and intelligence of
thought and action which have made
us what we are.
J We are living in an age of concen-
tration Of capital and of energy. The
individual grows less and less, but to
those who love liberty and desire to
see the upbuilding Of individuality
there comes a conviction that it is
time to call halt, and while recog-
nizing the necessity for commercial
combination o deny the right to these
combinations to destroy individual
effort.
Lot us learn all that may be learned
of machinery and science and the
laws of business and of industry and
apply them with aptitude, with econ
omy, with carefulness to business,
but never let US forget the traditions
which have been most honorable to
our State, and which will in the
future. as in the past, preserve the
liberty of the citizen.
Your prosperity and growth are the
prosperity and growth Of North Caro-
lima. You have a great mission.
You have to work out for yourself the
problems Of trade as affected by the
competition of other people, and you
have to do this in harmony with the
people of the State, whose Legislation
can affect your future. You are the
center of the cotton manufacturing in
dustry. You have enterprise, you
have love of liberty, you have a hot
headed independence of thought
which has been made permanent in
the ideals of North Carolina by your
employment of the Hornets Nest as
your emblem. You sting when as
sailed, you hit back, you are a fight
ing people and also a brave people
and are, therefore. the gentlest of
people.
With these qualifications you will
continue to dwell in harmony with
and send forth her industry with a
mighty progress, growing out of the
support which will come to YOU from
all her citizens in recognition that
you are in harmony of thought and
action with all her past traditions.
cannot close without adverting TO
the educational awakening which is
abroad in the State, and to urge you
with all your might and power to put
yourself in the front of this great
movement for universal education of
the citizens. With education will
come renewed activity. increased and
better work, higher skill and conse-
quently higher wages. Every one
must recognize that the wealth of the
State is dependent upon the wages
which are paid to the earners and
these wages in turn are dependent
upon the capacity of the wage Garner,
and this capacity is dependent in
large measur upon the quickness and
skill which come with an acquaintance
of books.
When the glorious day of universal
education shall come our State will
stand among those in the fore rank Of
the nation, our opinions upon all
questions will be ascertained before
dCllOU. ouT "IIttl Shall uo IuSlICt
to the memories of the past. our his
torians shall give US an adequate ac-
count OF the sufferings and sacrifices
OF our ancestors. Our novelists shall
find rich material for the illustration
Of the character Of our people and
shall be enriched by the culture which
comes from literature OF our own.
God speed the day when men shall
| be willing to labor for the good Of all
and when brethren shall dwell to-
gether in unity.
"God give US men. time like this de-
mands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and
ready hands!
Men whom the lust Of Office does not kill !;
Men whom the spOils Of Office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and a Will;
Men who have honor and will not lie;
Men who can stand before demag0gue
And scorn his treacherOus batteries with
out winking.
Tall men, sun-crOwned, who live above
the fog
+t,i, ,l-fp pr,t''