The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-15
A GREAT SPEECH.

The speech of Webster in 1920 at the
| second centennial of the landing of the
Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock was not his
greatest, but still great enough to inspire
spirit of emulation in our best orators
of this day.
The speech was delivered under the
auspices of the Pilgrim Landing on Octo-
Der 22nd, the anniversary of the landing;
and in view of the opportunity that may
be afforded some of our own orators by a
similar occasion among us few of his
eloquent words are not Inappropriate:
LET us rejoice that we behold this
day. Let us be thankful that we have
lived 20 see the bright and happy break
ing of the suspicious morn, which COM
mences the third century of the history
OF New England. AuspiciOus, indeed
bringing happiness beyond the COM
mon allotment of Providence to men
full OF present joy, and gliding with
bright beams the prospect of futurity is
the dawn that awakens US to the COM
memoratiOn of the landing of the Pill
gins.
Living at an epoch which naturally
marks the progress of the history of our
native land, we have come hither to
celebrate the great event with which that
history commenced. For ever honored
be this, the place of our fathers refuge!
For ever remember the day which saw
them, weary and distressed, broken in
everything but spirit, poor in all but
pn Of 1Ct fro
the dangers of wintry seas, and impress
inc this shore with the first foot steps
of civilized mani"
New England early adopted, and has
constantly maintained the principle that
it is the undoubted right and the bounden
duty of government to provide for the
instruction of all youth. That which is
elsewhere left to chance or to charity we
secure by law. For the purpose of public
instruction, We hold every man subject to
taxation in proportion to his property,
and we look not to the question, whether
he himself have, or have not children to
be benefited by the education for which
he pays. We regard it as a wise and
liberal system of police, by which prop
erty and life and the peace of society
are secured.
advance then We future generations!
We would hail you, as you rise in your
long succession, to fill the places which
We now fill, and to taste the blessings
of existence where we are passing, and
soon shall have passed, our own human
duration. We bid you welcome to this
pleasant land of the fathers. We bid
you welcome to the healthful skies and
the verdant fields of New England. We
greet your accession to the great in
heritance which we have enjoyed. We
welcome you to the blessings of good
government and religious liberty We
welcome you to the treasures of science
and the delights of learning. We well
come yOu to the ~transcendent sweets of
domestic life, to the happiness of kindred
and parents and children. We welcome
you to the immeasureable blessings of
rational existence, the immortal hope of
Christianity, and the light of everlast-
ing TRUTH
At that time the population of the
whole of New England was about one
million seven hundred thousand or lit
tie less than that of North Carolina now
There had been celebrations before as
the anniversaries came round. but it was
only when they became\ great people
with great orator at their head that
they attracted the attention of the
world.
In taking care Of their history they
never failed to look after their present
welfare. They organized around their
traditions.