The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-24


l esteem it high privilege to be al
lowed to take this } art in the interest
ing ceremonies of this occasion ac-
knowledge with pleasure and with thanks
tie kind courtesy that allows me a place
tonight among the friends Of this good
institution ana permits me to join as l
most heartily do, in the congratulations
OF this hour ! know through what dan
gers and tolls this college has come by
slow degrees, by marches often tolsome,
through acknowledgements that must
have sometimes almost brought dc spair
along weary way, the promoters of
Trinity have come to this day and to
this height. Tonight. as never before,
perhaps, they realize that the labors of
that great and good man, Braxton Crav-
en-, nave not been in vain, and from
this vantage ground they look forward.
without fear, into a future full of hope
and promise.
Augustine Birrell began his recently
published essay on the Bodleian Library
with this query: with what feelings.
| wonder, ought we to approach in A
famous University, an already venerable
foundation, devoted by the last will and
the collection and housing of books and
the promotion of learning?" Before ,he
imagination of the brilliant writer. as he
penned these lines, doubtless there pass
cd long procession of Englishmen, who
had found in that house of hooks the
knowledge which was to each one the
power Of his life. He thus saw coming
out of its portals the statesmen, philoso-
piers historians, sailors, soldiers. mer-
chants manufac turers,-me OF every
class and calling-who had made the
England of 1902 to become the England
of 1902, the kingdom of Elizabeth 20 be-
come the Empire of Victoria.
With what feelings. ladies and gentle
men, we may well ask, ought we to Wit
ness the inauguration of yonder beautiful
edifiee. devoted like the now ''venerabl
foundation at oxford, to the collection
and housing of books and the promotion
of learning? The thoughtful mini will
there, this evening, indulge not in mem
cries, but in hopes. In it's halls we will
look to the future, not to the past, and
the friends OF this institution will e
ioice with its officers and students be-
cause there is established here a potent
influence for good-an influence that viii
affect, we hope and believe, not only
Trinity College and those Immediately
connected with it, but the people of this
good State through all its length and
breadth. For there is a better meaning
to this ceremony than is seen by him
who considers it's relation to those who
are only most directly affected. Dur
ing many years the poverty of North
Carolina was conspicuous. For many
years, too, in all the statistics pertain.
ing" to illteracy, her name has been, and
is now, most conspicuously placed. The
truth is bad enough, but eXaggeration of
statement, sometimes by friends, and
sometimes by the unfriendly, has magni-
fled unduly it may be, that truth Pow
erty and illiteracy, illiteracy and power
ty. Which was cause and which was
effect, it matter not now to inquire. This
we know: the two have co-existed. They
are, indeed, inseparably connected in all
national and community life. The in
dividual may be poor but learned. A
family, in truth, may be and remain in
the straits of poverty, and yet be versed
in letters But the nation, the State, the
community whose people are generally
poor. will always be found to be l.
literate, when compared with people
blessed with wealth. Experience proves
that riches and llteracy do not co-eXist,
the touch of one is deadly to the other.
In all it's modern forms wealth is per-
sistent foe to ignorance.
To all those who can recall the condi-
ton of this commonwealth twenty years
ago-her cities, towns, villages, mills and
tanks-it is evident that, by he labors
of her sons, under the blessings of
kind providence her poverty so long her
bane. if not her shame, is passing away.
Wealth accumulates and men do not
decay. The future, indeed, seems TO
hold out to all North Caroliraians of
this younger generation the possibility
Of high achievements. The dead past has
buried it's dead The new South, as it
has been called, has itself, in a measure,
passed away There is, in certain
sense. no distinctive South, except the
blessed memory of gallant men and love
ly women, the history they bave made,
and the bright sunshine with which
kind providence blesses this portion of
this empire of democracy. Unnecessary
lines of demarcation in Nation, State
Church and society nave Deen, IN a
great degree, obliterated, and the peo-
pie of this good Commonwealth, aroused
at last from their lethargy, are moving
forward slowly, it may be, but still
forward. to a better knowledge of them
selves, "a better appreciation Of others,
and to that better comprehension of the
laws of social order that brings a bet
ter life and hope.
Who of the sons of North Carolina will
deny that the noblest use imav l not
say the most profitable use?) to which
accommodating wealth can be put, is the
aiding in the effort that is now making
| for educating the young of the State
and the removal as far as possible of
| that ignorance that has cursed the off
spring of the poor? Who will gainsay
| the statement that the citizen to whom
much has been given should contribute
| of his abundance to the promotion of
! this great work? But how? BY a sys-
| tenn of taxation the State may compel the
successful to contribute out of their
| Astounding resources to the fund devoted
| TO public education. Such eXactions,
however. will be limited in extent. for