The news & observer., 1901-01-16

then, from any party or any politician
when we make liberal provisions for
education. But if there were opposition
our duty would be none the less clear. 1t
is demonstrable that wealth increases as
Industries will be benefited: our COM
mcrCe will expand; our railroads will do
larger business when we shall have
educated all the children of the State. 1t
is, therefOr2, of the utmost Importance
from a material point of view that our
whole people should be educated Care
must be taken on your part, Gentlemen
Of the Legislature, to bring the schools
i'm the remotest districts up to the stand
ard of the Constitution which sOlemnly
admonishes you as it did me but a mo-
ment ago when | took The oath to sup
port it, that at least four months of
school must be carried on in every school
district in each year. Our party plat.
form follows the Constitution and we
cannot afford to violate either. If there
are districts which are weak they must
be strengthened by those who are strong.
The Good Book tells us that the strong
should bear the infrmities Of the weak
and the lessons Of that great authority
are of utility in our political life There
has grown up an idea among strenuous
men that only the strong are TO be con-
sidered and benefitted that the poor and
weak are the burden bearers who deserve
no aid and are weak because of their
folies. a great State can never act on
this theory. hut Will always recognize
that the strong can care for themselves
while the true aim of the State is to
provide equal and just laws giving to the
weak opportunity TO grow strong and re-
strairing the powerful from Expressing
the less fortunate. II will be a glorious
day for US if cur people in the hour of
their prosperity and wonderful growth
and development can realize that men
can never grow higher and better by
rising on the weakness and ignorance of
their fellows but only by aiding their
fellow men and lifting them to the same
high plane which they themselves occupy.
II may require sacrifice TO accomplish
the promises which we have made and
mon may be compelled to bear additional
burdens, but | am persuaded that the
sacrifice will be made and the burdens
borne with that cheerfulness which has
ever characterized us when we were doing
righteous thing. Our fathers have done
well their work. They have sought this
day through many dlfncuItleS. llllterdte
or learned they have ever striven to dc
their duty by the State and they have
laid her foundations so strong and deer
that we have but TO build thereon the
splendid home which they saw only in
anticipation. Let that home be bright
with the shining of ten thousand lights
emanating from as many schools Some
of these lights will shine but feebly
mayhap with but four candle power
while others shall shine with sixty four
and some few with the radiance of q
thousand, but let them all shine together
to brighten life and make the State more
glorious and may they all have as theil
source that God who first said. Let there
be light" | pledge you, Gentlemen ot
the Legislature, such power as the Con
stitution vests in the Governor and al
the energy of my soul and heart to the
education of the people and | rely Will
entire confidence upon you and the prom.
ses which each of you has made Witt
these promises kept there will break upor
ne p dav such as has never before dawnet
upon our State. Our government i,
founded upon intelligence and virtue W.
shall provide for intelligence by a system
of schools which is designed to reacl