The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-23
WE'VE SOMETHING MORE 10 Do
Capt Ashe Reviews the Work of the Generation NOW
Passing Away. Happy
Suggestion

substituting East and West lines-in
ordor 70 secure a unifcation of state in
terestS.
In passing l may say that one of the
reasons why our great men are SO
speedily forgotten is that we have nad
few authors and we had so few authors
because authorship held out no lnduce-
ment; it was without profit.
The reading public in North Carolina
was so limited that one could not write
for it with expectation of pecuniary sue
cess.
That was the caseS it is probably the
case now. 1t is social condition; one that
should be recognized, and which every
effort should be made to remedy by fos-
tering authorship among us. But in the
mean time, cannot something else be
done to build up among us sentiment
tending to perpetuate the memory or our
| illustrious men?
In each nation, or state, every genera
ton should have regard to its own
heroes. we should laud and magnify
those worthy to wear the crown or
honor Are there any worthy of historic
Immortality? let it be declared and a
memorial erected that will perpetuate
their fame and assure posterity of the
esteem in which many are held.
The category we are in is that we
either do not produce illustrious men
or that we are Indifferent to them. The
latter being the trouble, let's seek to re-
move it. Let us begin to do something
that will awaken a state pride; that will
tend to animate us to a Just recogni-
ton of the excellence of our most
worthy citizens.
Political action has had its high pur-
pose in the past; to remove impediments
| to progress; to elevate our community;
to advance the social and material condi-
ton of our people. Now benefit will
accrue by fostering State pride in the
fame of our eminent citizens. Let us
try to do it.
If Gen. Hoke were a resident Of some
Northern city-or indeed of any other
Southern State, what honor would be
heaped upon him; what personal re-
spect, l may almost say, reverence would
be accorded him?
Was Ney-or any of Napoleons mar
shals more gallant, more worthy than
this modest, unassuming North Caro-
linian?
In England, France, Germany-how
heads would bow in the presence of
such a sveritable hero!
And yet, since, like his immortal
chieftain, Lee, he has sought no public
office, he passes among us undistinguish-
able in the crowd. Such doubtless is his
own desire. 1 do not question that it
would be disagreeable to him to attract
public attention.
But as to the lustre that attaches to
his personality there can be doubt.
If we are ever to begin to cure our
deficiency in regard to perpetuating the
fame of our great men, we may well
begin with Gen. Hoke.
l suggest that the legislature at its
next session request that Gen. Hoke al
low his full length portrait to be paint
ed for the State. If we should make q
start in this way, perhaps some other
means may suggest themselves for us to
move forward and awaken among our
people spirit to render appropriate
honor to an illustrious citizen. Such a
spirit will react and will tend to ennoble
| the great mass of our people. To prize
virtue, to recognize high attributes and
noble characteristics lead to the eleva-
ton of the citizens of community. I.
S. A. ASHE.
! Raleigh, n. c., Nov. 90.