The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-11-24
WHAT WE HAVE TO BE THANK.
Full FOR.

At no time in the history OF this State
| have the people of North Carolina had SO
much cause for thanksgiving. Better than
that: at no time have the people had SO
| general a spirit Of thankfulness and gen
crosby.
1t may we'll be doubted whether any pre-
ceding period in this good State has been
so truly an Era of Good Feeling. Be
! tween the churches there subsists a spirit
of brotherhood. Each is animated by the
Cody zeal to make men better and there
IS no rivalry except such as may be seen
in the activity of each to be abundant in
| labors' and to cooperate with other
churches in advancing the Kingdom OF
entirely a thing of the past. Surely this
is cause for thanksgiving by all men who
love the Lord Jesus and look for His ap-
pearing.
A fraternal spirit permeates the college
! president ard teachers and educators IN
all fields OF work from the teacher IN the
humblest log school house to the most
learned university professor. The educa-
tors have learned that the harvest is great,
the laborers few, and that there is every
need for mutual help in the warfare they
must wage against illiteracy and indiffer-
ence. This mutual cooperation, this touch
OF elbow to elbow bysmen in State, church,
private and public schools of all grades
is one of the mightiest influences for good
in North Carolina today. 1t promises
great things for the betterment OF the
State and the elevation of the next gen
Grafton. ALI who prefer intelligence to ig-
norance will have thankful hearts for this
beautiful spirit that has done much to
crowd all our schools and increase oppor-
t~unities for education.
A new conception Of duty controls most
public servants. They are not content
merely to do the routine duties, but they
feel the call to service. From the Gov
ernor down many of them are evangels
for the spread of education, the building of
better roads, the introduction of better
methods in agriculture, the growth of in
dustries, and the spread of temperance.
There is a better spirit of civic virtue
likewise among the people, a stronger de-
mand for good men in office, and a grow
ing resolve not to submit to the methods
of graft that threaten good government
everywhere. For these things let US
Thank God and take courage
The moral tone of the people is higher.
No longer can a public man do injustice,
be guilty of drunkenness, or other moral
lapses without receiving censure. There
is less drinking, less gluttony, less gross
vice, and public sentiment more than ever
demands temperate living. This is evi-
denced in the closing of saloons and stills
and in the demand upon public servants
to enforce the law against gambling es-
Establishments and the houses of those
whose feet take hold on hell
There is a deeper and growing public
spirit and State pride. This is manifested
in many ways. Perhaps the most marked
is seen in the liberal private contributions
20 supplement the States small fund to en-
sure a creditable display of North Carolina
products at the great Louisiana Purchase
Exposition to be held at ST. Louis next
year. 1t has been seen in communities in
the building of better schools, public
libraries, sanitariums, and homes for de
pendent classes. Could anything give
more genuine foundation for Thanksgiving
than the growth of this noble spirit?
There is more thought for the care and
education of the orphans. The nine lnstl-
~tutions established by the churches, the
fraternal organizations, and private char
ity are we'll supported and hundreds of
children, denied the blessing Of home-train-
ing, are tenderly cared for and educated
noble and most God-Ike. 1t is a cause for
profound t~hankfulness that this State
leads in the care of its orphans.
The closing year has been a prosperou
enc. The factories, the fields, the waters
have given good returns to industry anc
to capital invested. There nave been bet
ter years for this or that particular crop
or industry, but on the whole it has beer
a year Of prosperity and the people have
abundant cause for thankfulness for TEN
poral blessings.
Above all, there is cause for welI-springs
OF happiness in the general good health
content, industry, enterprise, right-iiving
hope and faith in the ALI Good that char
acterize the people of North Carolina
They are a homogeneous people, fire,
from most of the isms and evils tina
threaten more densely populated States
They know each other and the cheerful
"howdy'' from neighbor to n~eighbor indi
Gates the simple and friendly "Nof Car
hny' ways that still abide. We have cleo
tric lights. automobiles, trusts, and othe,
things that are found in this progressive