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

tor OF power beyond their own Dor
ders? The answer Is easy. It need
not be repeated. 1t Is well known 20
every reader OF history who has
scanned the brief pages OF national
annals since men learned Z write. Sea
power. world power, commercial su-
premacy. national expansion and ag-
grandizement - those things have
uckled the vanity OF nations as a bit
Of ribbon and q fiower-bedecked hat
have pleased the maiden: as the paint
ed feather and elaborate headgeSr
have tckled the avage as the star
on the breast and the sash over the
nave delighted the man. They
are n and the same. Fellow work.
ers. We should ourselves happy
that OUR b is for the greatest
things: that We may deal with i'm
mortal minds and with h immortal
soul. The greatest thing in the evolu-
ton OF nations Is the love of liberty
m the greatest thing in the evolution
OF man is religion and moral charac-
ter. the greatest in the economy of
both is Observation-Disclosures art and
that literature which records the facts
and lends inspirations to the noblest
efforts Of both nations and men. The
man ~ woman who gathers about
him in the little red school house. or
maybe in the academy on the hill, or
under the classic shades OF the col
lege or university a group OF children
or young men n young women be
they few or many. who inspires them
with self-respect and love for free
dom and truth. h teaches them TO
fear naught but God. is in a business
great beyond his fairest conception
or belief. There is nothing comparable
in its Importance or its possibilities,
If / may be allowed to except the low
ING nara and fNifhfrl nocfl~.l l,syAz
of the minister of the Gospel. How
shall We. as North Carolinians, fill TO
h measure the holy duties which rise
before us? / like to think, with Rus
kin, about the old legend that, when
h people long 6 offered the gods
their greatest gifts they did not give
their prisoners of war, they did not
give their gold and silver and precious
stones. not their bit OF land and house
hold property, but they brought their
fairest IONS and daughters and they
gave Them" and we must give our Ia
Dor to fitting for Divine use our youth.
that great and generous tide which I
believe to be directed by Divine Wis
dom and controlled by Infinite Love
and surrounded by Almighty Power.
I give you with all my heart the best
G~od-speed that one man can give an
other, and ask that in the hours OF
difficulty and trial that may come.
you may not De discouraged, Dul
Let knowledge grow from to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell:
That mind and soul, according we'll.
May make one music as before.
But vaster."
The old state is stirred to its depths
as never before! 1t is coming to be-
lieve that fit womanhood at home and
fit manhood in the state is the need Of
the times. The character Of our gov
eminent makes the power of the indi-
vidual and Of the home tremendous.
The value Of our citizenship makes the
schoolroom the strategic point in
the struggle for the prosperity and
perpetuity of the state. The people is
king, our sovereign is not born in a roy
al palace: he is born anywhere out OF
the broad acres of our vast territory.
Give us men and women educated and
trained. sons and daughters worthy or
the sires who built this temple OF u
liberty and sealed it with their blood:
and no Goth or Vanda shall sweep
the race into the sea, but ever fresh
and young she will greet the ages as
they pass.
God keep the ~fairest, noblest land be-
meath the sun
Our country. our whole ana
our country ever one"