The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-28

who kept aloft the Confederate flag the
longest; the mother of the celebrated
painted, James Mcneil Whistler. was
a North Carolinian; it was a North
Carolina officer to be the first slain in
the Spanish-American war; it was
North Carolina that had given to the
world of literature Page and Thomas
Dixon.
The speaker urged strongly the edu-
cational cause, saying that North Car
olIna should be first, as she had been
first in the declaration of independence:
EaG offered the first resistance to the
British stamp act; had won the first
battle of the Revolutionary war; had
been first at Bethel; stood now first for
The largest number of cotton mills. etc.
Continuing he made a strong appeal
for parents to see that their children
are educated and not to keep them
either in the fields or at home at work
when they should be at school. He
urged that North Carolina be devel-
oped fully along the educational line
aid pushed to the very front.
In closing he paid a beautiful tribute
to the distinguished orator TO follow
him.
A MASTERLY ADDRESS.
In a rev bright remarks Professor
Catlett next introduced Hon. B. F.
Acock, of Whiteville, brother of Gov
ernor Charles B. Aycock.
Hon. B. F. Aycock in the commence
nent Of his address stated hat when
first notified of his appointment by
the Southern Educational committee as
one of the speakers for the rally he
had thought of declining but, after
consideration, he decided to accept. as
he desired to visit the county which
had probably made better educational
Advancement than any other in the
He said in part that the object of
the educational movement was to pre-
pare the boys for manhood and the
girls for ~womanhood. He hoped the
day was not far distance when North
Carolina should be among the first
states in education For the people
not TO let any child Of North Carolina
go without an education and for the
people to give their time, attention and
work to the education of the children.
By education the children wouId make
be tter people. If education was not a
goOd thing the different churches would
not be advocating it. He hoped the
time would soon come when speakers
would not have to take the platform
$500 NAoNO ~
teachers should be employed at reason
able salaries. If the young men are
gong to go out into the world to battle,
why to go out and touch elbows with
their equals. Educate the negro to
some extent, for in that state he is just
as preferable as a mule hat has been
broker to farm work is preferable to
a green mule, but not to adhere to the
Roosevelt policy about the negro, as
that policy was wrong and the door of
hope should be closed against the ne
gro in that direction. Education meant
more usefulness and a betterment all
around. The men is casting their votes
at the ballot box had taken an oath to
support the constitutions of the state
and United States and that the consti-
tuition of North Carolina made it incum-
bent upon the citizens to educate the
children; consequently it is the sworn
GUty of the people to educate the chill
dreE and that he did not believe the
men of the Old North State, who in
herited honor and integrity, bravery
and nobility would violate their oaths.
A hopeful and remarkable sight in
North Carolina is that the wealth own
ers and wealth producers had agreed to
educate every child in the state. In
1908 that every boy who fails to read
and write his name will be debarred
from the ballot box. The day should
CCme when every white child of reason
able age should be able to read the
bible and write his name. For the peo-
pie of New Hanover county to lay aside
all prejudice n prepare every child
for life. The governor and all other
state officers had entered earnestly in
the great movement and We're with the
people.
The speaker during the course of his
address cOmplimented Prof Catlett
and also co~mplimented the schools Of
Duplin county. His closing remarks
were indeed eloquent.
FESTIVE TIME.
After the experimenting came the
basket picnic and the large attendance
for some time enjoyed the goodies"
repaired by the deft hands of the hos
pitable ladies of Masonboro and vicin-
ity. Three of the committee of ar
rangements. Messrs. D. J.. Fergus, B.
S. Montford and J.. P. Herring, were
present and graciously entertained the
guests. The fourth member, Mr.. Ad-
olson Hewlett. being sick could not
attend and his absence was greatly re-
GREETED. The committee deserves
special praise for it's energetic and
successful work.
MANY FROM HERE.
Quite a party attended the rally from
here, including Mr.. H. Mel. Green,
county treasurer, Mr.. ]. A. Orrell.
member of the bOar dof audit and
finance. Geo. Howell, Esq, Woodus
Kellum, Esq, and Messrs. Geo. w.
Branch, Frank P. Lamb, John W.
Batson, James L. Donnelly and others.
A party Of ten or more, mostly
ladies. also attended from Wrights-
vile beach, making the trip IN a steam
launch.