The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-23
Spirit of the Press.
THE LAND WE LIVE IN.
tbor;t,y and children

Charity and Children.
We have never believed in the principle
of washing the family linen in the front
yard. Understanding people is as greas
a blunder as overestimating them. We
have always had a contempt for the man
who would treat another fellows sister
better than his own. We have seen hus-
bands who were Chesterfields in their de-
pertinent about other mems wives, and
savages when left alone with their own
wives. Now and then we have noticed
fathers who have discouraged their own
children by sneering at them. We have
a great deal more respect for those other
fathers who tire everybody out by ever
lastingly Dragging on their own children.
You cannot help man by bemeanmg him.
1t is said that old DR.. Craven, when
new student came into the school, con-
WINGED him of two things-frst, that he,
(Dr. Craven) was the biggest man in the
world, and second, that he, the student)
was the next biggest. This was not the
wisest course to pursue, but 1T was wiser
than to have made the newish feel as
mean as a dog and as poor as Lazarus.
1t has come to be the fashion in certain
quarters to consider abuse of North Caro-
lima an evidence of cander and courage
and even of wisdom 1t is not the truth.
George w. Gable would be a great deal
larger man, not only in the estimation of
Southern people, but of the North as well,
if he had not spoken evil of his own sec
ton To be sure it is never right to
condone wrong doing nor to uphold UNI
righteousness anywhere or under any cir
cumstances but we are not talking about
that at all. We are talking about par
aiding the faults and failings of our own
State, and by this means placing her at
disadvantage among her sisters and before
the world. This is the thing we oppose
with all our hearts. Not long ago, sitting
in the office of one of Charlotte's foremost
business men, we were speaking of the
wonderful growth of the city, when he
remarked that the secret of it all was the
loyalty of the citizens of that city, They
had their little family quarrels, but to
outsiders they were all brothers, and
stood shoulder to shoulder for Charlotte's
best interests. That is the way for people
everywhere to do.
And there is plenty that is good to be
said about North Carolina without look
ing for the bad. She cannot equal Massa-
chusetts i'll the matter of general educa-
ton, but her people are better people
than those of Massachusetts,, and North
Carolina is by far the better State to live
in. This is one reason: her people are
native and to the manner born. They
accept and believe the Bible and bring up
their children to fear the Lord Not all
of them do, but we are speaking broadly
of the two States. Her climate is better
than that of Massachusetts and if her
industrial development continues she will
in ten years time leave New England
limping along behind her in the great cot
ton manufacturing business which has
enriched that bleak and sterile section.
North Carolina has no Boston. which is
another great point in her favor. The
population of the State is yet living in
the country. and plain country folks are
the bone and sinew still.
But there is still another thing about
North Carolina that we are thankful for
and that is that she is not boss-ridden
1t is claimed that she is but we do not
think the charge is true. OF course there
are men here and there who sell their
votes and who bend the pregnant hinges
of the knee that thrift may follow fawn-
ing but this is not typical. North Caro-
linians are not for sale, thank God They
blunder often, but they are true and vir-
tuous. Perhaps our Legislature could be
induced to pass an act for Flagler's bene-
fit, and in the doing of it trample under
its feet the laws of God and man, but we
do not believe it. We have no Flagler
among us, and we pray that we never
shall have. Our people are not wealthy
but they are independent, and the condi-
ton of the farming class is growing bet
ter year by year. 1t grieves us always to