The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-16
FINDS NO LODGMENT IN
NORTH CAROLINA.

The whole people of North Carolina
will feel like sending a message OF
thanks to the editor of the Houston
(Texas) Chronicle for the apprecia
tive and comprehensive leading edi-
torial in a recent issue on 1.-THE Old
North State The writer could not
have penned that true picture of this
old Commonwealth if he had not
studied the roots of the history of
North Carolina, felt the patriotic i'm
pulses that have stirred it's people, and
known the aspirations of it's sons and
daughters No son of the State, living
near to nature and drawing susten-
ance from it's soil, has better under
stood the spirit of its people or 50
adequately portrayed the position
which the State holds in the American
Republic. The article, as truthful as
it is splendid, will add to the patriotic
pride of every true North Carolinian.
1t is as follows:
The Old North State.
There is something admirable and
inspiring in the State pride of the
people of North Carolina, and their
pride in and devotion to their State IS
Justified by her history and by the
achievements of North Carolinians
from the period of the Revolution
until this good day. AS one of the
thirteen colonies which rebelled
against British tyranny she was the
theatre of bloody war and her sons
bore we'll their part in that 1hemor-
able struggle.
Recent historical investigation has
proved that upon her soil was framed
and proclaimed at Mecklenburg the
first Declaration of independence, ana
i'm the conflict which followed upon
the latter Declaration at Phlladelpnla
many a son of North Carolina sealed
with his blood his devotion to the
principles which her people had been
the first to proclaim.
"When independence had been
achieved her sons stood as peer OF
the proudest in the halls of legislation,
and were potent factors in shaping the
policy and destiny of the young re-
public. and for the existence of which
they were in such great and honor
able measure responsible.
During the formative stage OF the
national government, when there was
struggle between intellectual giants
representing the respective conten-
tons for a strong centralized govern
ment on one side and a government
wherein the autoi;omy of the States
and their unsurEendered sovereignty
should be the guiding and controlling
policy and principle on the other
North Carolina statesmen stood al
WAYS for the latter contention, the
true faith and the basic principle of
the Republic conceived and created by
the patriotism and genius of Jeffer-
son and Madison and their great COM
patriots.
North Carolina always adhered TO
lofty political ideals. Her representa-
tiVes III Congress and her Senators
were men of the highest intellectual
and moral standard, and she sent to
represent her in the national councllS
none pur men worthy of her historic
land lofty political and social traditions.
1t would have been as impossible FOR
a man with a tainted record or upon
whose name there rested even the
suspicion of diShonor to have secured
seat as Representative or Senator
from the Old North State as it would
for an unpardoned sinner to nave en-
tered heaven.
WAYS been and are yet maintained the
lofticst social standards and traditions
The meretriciouS and demoralIZng
commercialism which so dominates
other sections has found no lodgment
there. Money there is not the measure
of merit No man buys his way into
society there The people hold to
the honorable, exalted, ancient social
faiths, and there is to be found an
let roo
breeding and grace and social culture,
which stands in hereditary and per-
petual rebellion against the Soclal
despotism of the dollar.
"The people of North Carolina not
only profess devotion to the true prln-
ciples of Republican government, put
are ever ready to make good their
professions, and when their rlShlS
were disregarded and aggression upon
the soil of their beloved State was
threatened, they rose as one man TO
defend their homes and firesides, ana
historical statistics prove that North
Carolina sent more soldiers to battle
in proportion to population than were
ever furnished by any State or nation
in all the annals of human history.
Great as was her contribution 20
the armies of the South in numcSrs,
the quality of her soldiery was equally
as remarkable. Her people CHERISH
with pardonable and imperishable
pride the record of North Carolina
sons from 1861 to 1865, and on
monument recently erected in that
State in perpetuation of the memory
of their matchless deeds there is
craven the inscription, sustained by
historical records: First at Bethei
Farthest at Gettysburg, and last at
AppomattoX.'
"To read that inscription thrills every
man capable of approaching herolsin
and devotion to duty, like a bugie
call. First in the opening battle, fartn-
est in the advance up the historic
heights of Gettysburg, and last to ylelo
when the great drama closed in gloom
but yet in glory, at Appomattox is
record upon which North Carolina
may we'll rest through all the chang
ing years. 1t stands unmatched aTd
unmatchable and the impartial histo-
rian of the future will write North
Carolina down as she deserves.
1.-THE devotion of her people TO
which they testified by their blood in
time of war was not more remarkable
and scarcely more admirable than has
been that displayed in the well-nlgh