The news & observer., 1905-10-19

for a bird hunt. Suppose that in the
past we had had unity of purpose and
action in North Carolina? Pender the
superb tactician, and PettgreW,
Grimes, Hoke and Ransom would have
been the leaders of our armies, nor
would we today be put to the dis
agreeable task of setting Alright the
history of the part played by US in
the Civil War. Fame is assuredly q
proper object of mans efforts, bu,
North Carolinians until a late date
have cared little for it.
n. c. Divided Into East and West.
The geographical division of North
Carolina into East and West has
weakened us as a people and cut our
State pride in twain. Let me illus
trate: There are only about two hun
dred and forty members of the States
Literary and Historical Association in
North Carolina, and of this small
number only eleven active members
are west of Greensboro. At our Uni
versity all western men join the Dia-
lectic Society and all eastern men join
the Philanthropic Society. We parcel
out our Supreme Court Justices be-
tween the east and the west regardless
of all other considerations. In 1885
the amended Constitution was sub
rnitted to vote of the people. Prac
tically all of the votes for ratification
came from the west and nearly all
Of the votes against ratification came
from the east. For example:
For. Against
0. Brunswick ..... 4G6
1859. ... Burke ........
=. Hyde ........... 4jl
1922. ... Buncombe ....!. %
1... Tyrrell ....... 459
1,557..... Rutherford ..
The distance from Cherokee to Cur
ritucll is such that there has been lit
tie intercourse between these sections
which are distinct civilizations with
different habits tastes and politics.
We owe it to ourselves to remove all
artificial barriers which keep alive this
feeling between East and West. Let
il be cut out of our politics, abolish
ed from our colleges and removed
from our minds. Much has been ac-
plished herein. The abolition of
Borough-towns in 1885, the abolition
of slavery in 1865, the suffrage
amendment in 1893 were long steps
in this direction. while the completion
of the North Carolina Railroad and
the opening up of summer resorts by
the sea and in the mountains is DONG
much towards creating homogeneous
ness among our people. But We must
become something more than homo
geneous in North Carolina. We must
foster a proper State pride--a State
pride that will make itself felt from
ocean TO ocean and will excite the
admiration of all lands.
Organized Effort Essential.
Let US stop laughing at all organ
lied societies in North Carolina or
ganiZed to preserve the deeds of the
noble dead and to stimulate State
pride. Our State is long on patriot
ism and freedom and short on meth
odical habits and attention to de-
tails. Each city and county needs
70 have its local and historical society
and suitable rooms and halls should
be provided in which to preserve pa
pers, magazines, interesting letters
heir-looms and relics of all kinds. May
| pause and acknowledge the states
debt of gratitude TO her purest idealist
man having the Southerner's heart
and the Northerners historical instinct
William Joseph Peele. But after
all the great work in this direction
must be done under the auspices Of
this central society. This association
must unity and strengthen the literary
and historical forces Of the State. 1t
has made a beginning. 1t has set on