The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-08-25
Spirit Of the Press.
THE LAND WE LIVE n.

LIE LAM " L Ii l. ~.
Charity and Children.
We have never believed in the principle
Of washing the family linen in the front
yard. Understanding people IS as great
a blunder as overeStin2ting them. We
have always had a contempt Tor the man
who would treat another fellows sister
better than his own. VIC have seen hus
bands who were ChesterfeldS il their de
pertinent about other mems wives, and
sayages when lett alone with their own
wives. Now and then we have noticed
fathers who have discouraged their own
children by sneeTIng 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 a man by bemeaning him.
II j. Said that old D.. Craven. when a
new student came into the school. con
WINGED him Of two thing>-frst. that he.
tDr. CraYen) was the biggest man in the
world. and second. that he. (the studenD
was the next biggest. This was not the
wisest curse to pursue, but II was wiser
than to have made the Jewish feel as
mean a. a dog and as poor as Lazarus.
As with individuals, 50 with the State.
It has come to be the fashion IN certain
quarters 70 consider abuse OF North caro-
lima an evidence Of cander and courage
and ever OF wisdom. II j. not tie truth.
George W. Gable would be a great deal
larger man, not only in the estimation OF
Southern people. but OF the North as we'll,
il he had not spoken evil Of his CWn sec
ton. To be sure, it IS never right to
condone wrong doing nor to uphold IN
righteousness anywhere or under n cir
cum>tances, but we arc 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 al a
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 Chdrlotte'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 70 do.
And there is plenty that is good TO be
aid about North Caronna without look
ing for the bad. She cannot equal Massa-
chusetts IN the matter Of general educa-
ton, but her people arc better people
than those OF Massachusetts,, and North
Carolina i by far the better State 10 live
in. This Is one reason: her people are
native and 10 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 # her
industrial development continues she viii
III 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 i
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 i that she IS not bos.-ridden.
Il i 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
81 the knee that thrift may follow fawn-
ing but this is not typical. North Caro-
hnIans are not for sale, thank God. They
bIunder often. but they are true and viz
1uOus. Perhaps our Legislature could be
induced to pass an act for Flaglers bene-
fit. and in the doing OF it trample under
its feet the laws OF God and man. but we
40 not believe n We 1ax-1 -, E-1,-l--
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. Il grieves us always to