The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-18

the State, War, Treasury and Law De
! partments, they are worthy workers
Thinking of the gladness of this day it
is no doubt a long day for them, but
they rejoice that it is given to their fell
! lows to go back home even for a day, and
it is what, way down in their hearts, they
are all longing to do.
docs it not occur to us all that some
thing more than social satisfaction ought
to grow out of this Reunion of Tar Heels
scattered abroad? Revisiting familiar
scenes and grasping hospitable hands is
! JOY enough for one day, but should not
a monument be built to suggest it and re-
call it, and should not this monument be
practical and powerful and progressive?
Would not fund for the education of the
mothers of the Staue that are to be ap-
peal more to the hearts of these absent
ones than almost any other thing? 1t is a
hard heart that is not touched to pur-
pose when the claims of the mother
! thought stand before it; and North Caro-
linians do not harbor such hearts.
The amount of money which working
girls of foreign born parents send back
| in small sums to those in the mother land
is so great at festival seasons that special
provision has to be made for it in the
exchanges. But little of this goes to bring
away others; nearly all of it is for the
betterment of those who are in the older
homes, and for their happiness. Now, is
it asking too much of every absent one
to send something of his earnings yearly
to build up, support, and to keep young
and beautiful as the grateful heart that
bids him do it Hall of Absent" where
young women can be taught those lessons
that the mothers of the givers would have
taught them?
IF the names of all North Carolinians
not living in the blessed state can be en-
rolled, and this wish given form in their
minds, surely this Reunion will be mem
orable indeed. Why cannot these master
minds that have brought together this
congregation Of happy home corners per-
petuate its beginning and the reason of
It's being, by appealing to these thoughts
that must be in the minds of many and
give them habitation and purpose!"
Some of the best speeches made at the
Reunion have already been printed 1t
is gratifying to know that the board OF
managers contemplates collecting them all
and publishing a Reunion book 1t will
be of real and permanent value.
Once or twice during the exercises, some
speaker touched on the question: Why
have so many native born North Caro-
linians gone away from the State? That is
a question that is not new. Many have
heretofore tried to answer it. but there
has been no satisfactory and complete an
swer. Mr.. Walter H. Page, in his thought
ful and striking speech, really struck upoT
the truest cause. He said they went out
just like the Anglo-Saxon dominating
race has always been going into new
countries to open and dominate them. He
said that the deepest reason for going is
this: ut is in the blood of the stock
from which we come. We belong to the
would conquering race that has sent its
far-fung battle line in all parts of the
world"
Mr.. Dixon, member of Congress from
Montana, who made a singularly bright
and witty speech, tried his hand at dag.
nosing the reason why so many North
Carollnians have gone away. He gave in
his personal experience, and told the peo
pie Of North Carolina that they owe it
to themselves to be more charitable of the
opinion of their neighbors, and he added:
eff had not felt an intolerant and domi-
neering spirit that does not brook any
differing from it's imperial mandate, !
would not have left North Carolina
That is what Mr.. Dixon said. Here Is
what he really meant to say: "If l had
not felt that the Democratic majority in
North Carolina was so great / could not
as a Republican, be elected to Congress
1 would not have left North Carolina >
AS a matter of fact, ambitious men of the
minority party in any State have a way
of thinking that the majority has an Gin
tolerant and domineering spirit that does
not brook any differing from its Imperial
mandate" Nor many years ago l met g
brilliant young Democrat born in Yer
mont who had moved to the State Of
Washington. l asked him why he decid
ed to go West. His answer was in eff
feet that in Vermont every Democrat was
the victim of an "intolerant and domineer
ing spirit that does not brook any diff
) fering from its imperial mandate" HI
said that in trade, in law, in politics-ir
eVerything-a Democrat in Vermont was
treated with &ttle consideration and the
victorious Republican majority was so in
tolerant as to deny them even the right
to think as they pleased" Now it is 10
doubt true that Mr.. Dixon felt exactly
las he says and that the Vermont Democrat
gave expression to his real view of the at
titude of the dominant party in thai
State. Majority parties are alike every
where. They wish to keep in the major
ity and they do not encourage the ambi
tons of young men who threaten to in
jure their party. 1t isn't human nature
to expect them to do So Mr.. Dixon saw
what he called an ''intolerant and domi
neering spirit" and without waiting fol
his beard to grow he fastened West where
he has gone to the front in Republican
politics. If he had lived here a little
longer, his opinion would have been less
harsh of his native State He would
have learned that man after all passes
here for his true worth and that honest
men are respected by those who differ with
! them. The Vermont Democrat would
have learned the same thing in his own
State if he had tarried there awhile. Some
= V0lln0 mon conscious of THAR 0x1,Y, ol,;l;