The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-23

Carolina has been of vast Importance.
When these men came on there was no
railroad uniting the eastern and western
portions of North Carolina; there was no
unity of interests among the several sec
tion of the State; the public school sys-
tenn had lust been started and was in its
infancy. The deplorable condition OF our
neon1e about that period is portrayed IN
an address delivered at Chapel Hill by
the late General Barringer some ten
rcars ago, and the picture presented is
50 dark the situation so different from
what it has of late years been, that we
can hardly realize that such miserable
conditions ever existed in this State.
The completion of the North Caro-
lima Railroad in 1857, and the construction
of the Western n. c. Railroad to Nor
canton relieved some of the worst fea-
tures of the situation. The development
of The school system under Mr. Wiley
tended to relieve another deplorable fea-
ture.
Within the period of activity of the
generation then beginning and still &C
five North Carolina has been entirely
unified. the State has been reasonably
supplied with transportation facilities,
and every county brought into connec-
ton with the marts of trade
For four years we waged the most
glorious war in the annals of our race
in which North Cardinals part vas
| particularly notable and lustrous.
We successfully met the disasters
| that were incident to our defeat and re-
| established our public concerns on d
| reasonable basis.
| Until discomfort arose among our aSr'-
cultural population ten years ago, no
| people were more contented and napier
| in their homes than the people of North
| Carolina.
There had been twenty years OF ur-
| broken rest, of absolute quietudo, OF
contentment prosperity and progress.
We settled the State debt and re-es-
tablished the public credit. We erected
great institutions and provided for the
afflicted. We revived the State Uni
| versity. enlarged our colleges, and the
nublic school system and increased its
| efficiency.
/ New towns have been built and the
State is dotted over with factories. The
DEVELOPMENT of our State and the g1o-
gress of our people within the scope OF
| a single generation have indeed been
marvellous.
Industrially, financially and in edu-
cational lines there has been immense
progress.
| One who has, even in an humble way,
been associated with those who were
principally engaged in bringing about
the results. may we'll be content with
the retrospect To my mind they are
glorious achievements wrought by ma
tive North Carolinians-by our public
men who have strenuously fought the
fight of Improvement of our people and
| State.
But there is something further to be
| done.
What is it that constitutes state?
It is not mere wealth-wealth may be
| accompanied by pusillanimity. 1t gem
| orally is accompanied by commercial
spirit; by an overbearing, exacting
tyrannous disposition; and by shrinking
cowardice. AS desirable as wealth
is, it brings evils as well as benefits
and advantages.
The highest idea of state embraces
the noblest development of the men
and women who compose the community.
North Carolina has been poor, and is
relatively poor today; but she has been
and is a grand and glorious common
wealth. We need not revert to Sparta
to Athens, to Carthage, Syracuse OF
Rome, should we wish to point moral
or adorn tale. Among the 1llustrlous
of our own people can be found ex-
amples that would suffice for ample IL
lustration. But still alien forms arise
to our minds when we think of states
men, orators, generals, heroes, oul
great men, our illustrious characters
pass too quickly into oblivion.
| While there is always room for I'M
provement in every department, here
then is evident room for improvement
in this particular. North Carolina has
been neglectful of the reputation of hel
| eminent sons and forgetful of her he
roes. Even while Virginia and South
Carolina, on either side of us, have no.
| tably set us an admirable example, We
have been Indifferent to the good fame
of our State and of the honor of our IL
lustrious citizens. 1t is true that Nlr'
gina and South Carolina have been pro
life of great men; Virginia especially
But it is also true that North Caroline
has not been barren. When North caro-
lima hesitated to join the Union. 1T was
suggested that James Iredell should re-
move to Virginia, so that the presiden
might appoint him a member of the Su
preme court.
AT one time North Carolinians presid
ed over both the Senate and House.
1t was North Carolinian who was Sc
lected to bring on the debate with Web
ster, but because of illness in his family
Hayne took his place 1t was Norti
Carolinian who as chairman of the com
mittee of ways and means brought il
the famous low tariff of 1S45 tina
brought the Union to the height OF 1T
prosperity
Whenever Washington had to quell al
insurrection, he sent a North Carolinial
, to do It.
1t was a North Carolinian who plan
ned the Lundy Lane campaign whose
success inspired our country with hope
! We have had orators who were no
SURPASSED; statemen and jurists of tn
!, first water; soldiers, who in council or il
battle, had no superiors
1t would take a volume to particu
Iarize But the worth of the illustriou
citizens has not been appreciated by our