The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-11-05

them in just pride of State and home
and, finally, to place this State,
through training and self-sacrifice, in
the front of American life and Ameri-
can hope and American destiny. 1t
Is the work of men and patriots. 1t
will demand the exercise of faith and
patience and enthusiasm and energy
and love. God give them strength
for it. Let us mOrtals and brothers
to them, give help and love.
Il have said did not come to crit
icise or analyze or reform my Alma
Mater, and | apply the noble endear-
ment as well to the State at large as
to that dear spot yonder among the
hills OF Orange. Neither have l come
to rhapsodize or to revel in self-satis-
faction or vain boasting. That, per-
haps, has been one of our faults-the
tendency to over-praise and over
rate the little man, to Over-estimate
the unmeaning thing, to see ourselves
abnormally and provincially as un-
related to the great national move
ment. The spirit may well be par
dOned today. 1t is a day when the
heart flows like the sea, especially the
heart OF one who went away but yes
terday, toward these well-remember-
ed faces. glowing with sympathy and
friendliness-men whose love was
won and to whom love was given,
amid the unselfish dreams of golden
youth. But the supreme thing to do
in this world is to see u thing stead
lily and to see it whole, as Matthew
Arnold said. The absent, at least,
may contribute theirperspective, and
tell how it seems to them. YOU
may not say we-for | tried to do
my share in my day, have done much,
but it is the work of the pioneer, and
a very world of things needs to be
done
among American States no better
spot exists than this spot upon
which to work out the problems of a
livable and lovable democracy.
thank God for the inextinguishable
breath of democracy breathed into
ME by birth in this State. By demo-
cracy, | mean no party or creed or
war cry, but a blessed spirit which
wills imperiously to give to every
soul a chance to know and to be the
best. 1t is a narrow view which be
holds democracy as mere thing OF
ruggedness and homeliness. 1t is the
business Ofdemocracy to make out of
itself, an aristOcracy. There is moth
ing too good for a democracy. Sure
ly it's primal needs are strength and
virtue and simplicity and freedom.
Does it not also need beauty and dig
nifty and grandeur, if you will, and
all the things which minister to the
spirit, else itperish vulgar strength
This spirit will not come by obsrrva-
ton. One cannot say 10. here, and
10! there, and the spirit is achieved.
1t comes by obeying the law of
things. The law of things is training
as a result Of sacrifice Sacrifice
means vast investment of love,
energy and wealth in human life.
Twenty years from today North Car
olina will be a State of imagination
and faith in men of all creeds and
races and conditions. 1t will have
quadrupled it's investment in them.
It's type of men will be efficient and
knowing, free and sympathetic, ac-
quainted with facts, able to do, free
to speak and sympathize with every
mans aspirations, whether he be
white or black, high Or low, bond or
free. This is democracy, and nothing
else is democracy All history is the
shifting of the mental and moral
moods of nations and communities,
and the interesting time-the time
for men-is the period for shifting.
We can see now the romantic note of
our past, it's exaltation Of personal
ity, it's care for individuals dignity,
it's impulses, it's enthusiasms, it's deep
loyalties. We are at work upon the
note of the future, deciding that it
shall be social, collective, efficient,
sympathetic with all so that every
man may earn dignity to cherish.
To bring this about we must spend
money and time and hearts blood,
for the day of small things is past,
and the thing we seek is above all
price. The State Of North Carolina
needs Just now to realize the supreme
| value Of humanity in the mass. All
the machinery of her civilization
should be for the advancement Of
men in the aggregates, not men in
the classes. Is this mere crude opti-
mism? If SO, let it go at that. | dare
to hope for all that can dream. !
once dreamed with many others for
an effective public school system.
| That dream is almost true, and the
spirit which has made this noble
gathering, and which will unite the
sons of North Carolina all over
America for service in her behalf.
''The greatest dreamer this nation
has known was Thomas Jefferson,
and he has been its greatest spiritual
force-with his ennobling lesson OF
faith in men, Many of his dreams
have come true, and many are yet
unfulfilled. Let us dream on and
work in our time and place as he did
in his earlier day. 1t cannot hurt for
us to have vision before our eyes
always OF this land OF our birth and
love; lovable in it's very limitations
and clad from its hard beset child
hood in the garments Of common,
sense and clear manhOod-growr
strong and majestic and spiritual
and free-a mighty home of benefi
cent laws and true democracy, stain
less still in honor, fruitful still il
noble deeds"
We will bet money we can tell who
Mr.. Henry does not favor for presi
dent.-Durham Herald.