The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-07
Orators Speak For Gray
Me- dial.
Continued from Page Four. }

to know and heed the great lessons
of history; we who are a part of the
greatest race on earth; we who love
so well to boast of the sublimity IF
our ideals; we who have always at
hand our choice weapon, the ballot;
we who claim to follow the highest
impulses of our own natures and wor
ship the God of our fathers-can it be
that we are to abdicate our position of
wold-supremacy and follow in the
wake Of the buried nations Of antiquity
by repeating their sins? Heaven for
bid it, Such a course would be the
colossal crime of the centuries! We
are the beacon light Of the world. and
il the light that is in us be darkness,
how great is that darkness?
ITO the wise founders of our gov
eminent who builded far better than
they knew. and especially to the pio-
neer of democracy i'm America, the inn
mortal Jefferson, be the praise Tor
making individual liberty the ideal OF
the great American people. But he
who would seek the real origin Of
American ideals must go back far be-
yond the days of Thomas Jefferson,
far beyond the conflicts of 70, and not
to any legislative assembly Of council
Tors and statesmen, but to the Bethle~
hem manger, the veritable cradle Of
democracy. Jesus Christ laid the
foundation of American ideals when
He said: Il and the Father are one.
and We are my brethren Here Is our
doctrine of equality and fraternity.
Here is the foundation concept o. our
political philosophy, morality and re-
ligion-the fatherhood of God and che
brotherhood. Here is the fountain
head of American ideals, and as long
as this principle prevails in our
American civilization the stars and
stripes will continue to wave its pro-
tecting folds over the freest most
prosperous and happiest people on
earth. AS long as the lowly NaZarine
is the supreme ideal of the great mass
and body of the people; as long as the
simple principles be inculcated. inspire
and govern church and state alike; as
long as in the home his name is rev.
erently lisped by prattling childhood,
fervently revered by buoyant youth,
confidently trusted by tottering age; as
long as public counsel. busy mart and
cheerful flreside look unto Him with
an unfaltering faith for guidance and
succor; so long will American democ-
racy continue its triumphant march
from glory to glory, conquering and
to conquer"
The last speaker was Mr.. NJ. e.
Newsom, Jr., of Littleton, whose
speech was on 1.-The Moral Element in
Politics. the following being a part
OF his talk:
MEMS efforts throughout generations
have been directed towards an ideal
form of government. In striving 70
reach this end. the divine rights of
kings have been trampled In the Dust.
imperial governments have been
dashed to pieces, monarchs have been
hung to death posts while their life
blood trickled away, and raging ty-
rants have been dragged from lofty
/ - - e..
venge. In the early stages of the de-
velopment. might and brute force We're
the index to government: for in the
absence of law, justice and liberty, the
only path to greatness is through the
exercise of physical power. Politics
claim no part of the peoples time,
for the moral purposes of government
which today control the actions of
men, and demand from them an inter-
est in the proper management of gov
ornamental affairs. found mo place
among their institutions.
1T was left for greater generations
to seek permanence and strength in
the great principle of the brotherhood
of man, and after the establishment
of this principle. government con-
tanned a different meaning. Just as
the church and homes of men had for
them a sacred meaning. SO were the
4 1
siOns of truth. With the advent of
the principle of the brotherhood of
man, the object of government was
liberty and justice. Laws carried with
them the stamp of divine approval,
and were enforced by an institution
created for divine purposes.
with this ideal form of govern
ment existing in our own State. men
of the present time have obligations
he oh
looked. Many of our ordinary, citi-
zens do not take part in government
because they fail to comprehend the
nature and purpose of politics. Such
men can only meet their obligatio
by educating themselves in the moral
principles of government But there
is another class of citizens which have
the proper conceptions of government,
but view it from a critical standpoint,
and depend on leaders in politics for
conducting the affairs of government.
They justify their action by the claim
of not being in politics, and having ii
their line of work other professions
than that of politics Such men de-
serve the condemnation of all.
There are no richer opportunities
for the young men of today than those
offered in the realm of politics-not
for private promotion. not for obtain
| ing wealth. not for honor and fame,
| as the world speaks of these. but OPP
portunities for unselfsh public ser
vice; for freeing our people from the
mechanical bond of government and
| training them in the moral principles
| of government. In entering politics.
men should strive for conservative re-
construction, and not radical destruc-
| ton. Continue to have the SAM
parts and organs in our government.
1 lnf re q N nf
and truth which it has always been;
fulfill the same functions as before.
but add new vigor. new vitality. new
| life to these organs by instilling into
them moral and not technical pur-
poses. Let them continue to grow out
of the roots that were planted on our
coasts by cavalier and Puritan ances-
tors; but, arrest their morbid tenden-
cies, replenish their weakened life,