The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-15

a new century. An era OF material and
moral progress unequalled in the annals
OF history awaits us. Every section of
our republic pulsates with new life.
Amid these seething activities, in this
national development in the Twentieth
Century, what part is the South TO play?
What part is she to have in this mar
velous march of progress? Her history
of triumph in the past, the inspirations
of the present and her hopes for the flu
ture assert the eternal truth that the
South will stand as she has always stood
for valor and virtue, for purity and pa
triotism, for loyalty and unselfish devo-
ton to duty
The South is destined TO become the
leading section of this nation. Her his
tory and heritage give her the vantage
ground No drop of blood poured out
between Manassa and Appomattox was
shed in vain. The thousands who sacri-
feed their lives on the altar of their
country will serve as stepping stones
to higher things. The memory of past
rich in patriotism intellect and states
manship will inspire the South TO a
truer life and nobler endeayor.
The birth hour of the new century
gave broader significance to Dixie. 1t
meant that there would be a new South,
Industrious, progressive and prosperous.
The development of the South's material,
resources and the accompanying indus
trial revival in this century will find no
parallel in history. We are fast becom-
ing manufacturing people. The South
is richly endowed with all the three es-
sentials requisite for the production of
wealth, with natural resources, capital
and labor. It's territorial domains en-
close the grandest belt of forest, valley
and prairie that the world has i'll it,
Since the beginning of time capital is in
creasing and labor is cheap. A foreign
population will come in amazing num-
bers, proud cities will spring up as if
by magic, and steam and electricity will
do for the South what they have done for
the North. The commerce of the world
lies within our grasp. The Isthmian
Canal will give us the commercial ad-
vantage. Al Charleston on Wilmington
a commercial city will be built rivaling
| Carthage or Venice.
concurrent with this industrial drift
is the growing tendency towards educa-
ton. A revival Of learning is at hand. The
, forward march is being sounded by the
educational leaders, and If our people
advance our interest will be secure and
our country saved
| But we must have literature, a liter
allure that will immortalize chivalry,
| courage. patriotism and granduer of life
unspeakable, and which will daily weave
/ its golden threads in the warp and wool
of the character of our people. Our
debt TO ;he past. advantages in the pres
ent and obligations to the future call us
! tc the task OF literary production. On
account of the woefullness of the past
and the advantages present, these
Southern States will rear novelists,
poets, historians, scholars. and scientists,
who will stand above any that America
has produced. We may fondly expect
the South to become the Hesperian Gar
den of American literature.
In this country of transition and de
tvelopment the religious world is not ne
elected. Southern people adhere to the
faith OF their fathers. Here the nation
must look for it's spiritual life Churches
and religious organizations are increas-
ing AT a rapid rate. Crime and drunken
ness are becoming more and more IN
popular
But Utopia is not yet in sight Dan
gers also face us. Capital and labor
may fight, oreeds clash. rural districts
may be depopulated and radical changes
| flood upon US. Theories. faiths and in
stitutions hitherto unknown implant
themselves into our soil. The race prob
lem is unsolved. The home is the arb
and covenant of our safety. Let us pre-
serve this benign institution of South.
ern pride 1t IS the shrine where oui