The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-28

their eyes if they would govern in wis
mountain with friend, also a disciple
of the foremost man In the file of time,
was a pleasure and an exhilaraton.
With uncovered heads at the tomb Of
the great teacher of liberty and the foe
to special privilege, we felt that it was
a cause for thankfulness that this man
had lived and that all men. who love
liberty and equality, are the heirs of his
teachings which bless mankind today
and will go on blessing more and more
until all men everywhere are unfettered
in body, mind and soul
This Conference has been the most
notable of the six sessions that have been
held. The attendance was much larger
than at any previous session. 1t EN-.
braced more distinguished men-I mean
by that more mon distinguished in let
ters. in law, in education, in the church,
in the press, in finance, in trade. They
came from Maine to Texas. 1t was
goodIy company of thoughtful and pa
triotic men and women who believe that
life is something more than living, that
possessions in learning or wealth, or
both, carry the obligation of service
There were Northern men and women
staunch Republicans, in politics; South
ern men and women, staunch Democrats:
Mugwumps, people OF all politics and no
politics at all; people OF all creeds and
people with no creed except to do all
the good they can, and they are in perfect
harmony in the desire to improve educa
tional conditions
North Carolina took no back seat here.
Addresses were delivered by DR.. Charles
d. McIver, DR.. f. p Venable, president
Of the University; DR.. Edwin Minis, of
the Trinity College faculty, and Josephus
Daniels, editor of the News and Oh
Salem, was elected treasurer, and Mr..
j. G. Brown, of Raleigh, member of the
Executive Committee. Among the real
leaders Of the conference to be reckoncd.
in addition to the educators above named,
Walter H. Page, Edwin A. Alderman.
Charles w. Dabney Paul Barringer. and
P. F. Claxton, are all really North Caro-
linians. The highest compliment paid
during the entire session to any men was
the glowing eulogy of Dr. Charles D.
McIyer and DR.. Edwin A. Alderman who
We're singled out by DR.. Lyman Abbott
as the two men who have done most for
the Southern Educational revival. His
warm eulogy was heartily applauded
showing the feeling entertained for these
two earnest, enthusiastic and capable
educators. Their going over the State
holding Teachers sGstitutes ten years
and more ago is regarded as the real
pioneer work of the present plan of
local interest through the
vigorous campaign of education that is
going on all over the South.
Every Northern man who spoke agreed
with the Southern position that the bal
lot ought not to have been given to the
negro until he was qualified to use it
wisely.
DR.. Abbott in his splendid speech on
Friday night, said he had been advised
hat oh h.
touch upon certain subjects in his adj
dress but he added that he had yet to
face an American audience which wanted
anything other than honest convictions
or opinions. Then he referred to negro
disfranchisement in these words:
'If each man has not in himself the
power and capabilities for governing
himself, one thousand OF such men
will not be able to govern themselves,
nor million of them A thousand
times nothing is nothing, and a mil
lion times nothing is nothing.
''If there was any man in the
North that had a right to be called
N-'O '4+NiiA " NlAC hCSiO 10 was I1GuiY
Ward Beecher, and he believed in
having them educated, having all men
made fit before given them liberty of
thought and the right to govern"
These words were warmly and heartily
by the crowd that packed the
Academy of Music.
Mr. Robert Fulton Cutting went a step
further than DR., Abbott and plainly de-.
clared that the South had done right in
the unlettered negro, and
the North wanted Southerners to come
to them and teach them.
Mr.. Hamilton w. Mabio declared that
he wept as he listened to the glowing
eulogy of Lee and Jackson by Mr.. St.
Clair McKclway, editor of the Brooklyn
Eagle MIR. McKelways eloquent and
patriotic address has already appeared
in these columns. 1t was a speech TO
live. 1t warmed every heart, it increased
the highest patriotic fervor, and aroused
an enthusiasm that no pen can describe