Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-10-20

industrial activity shown in your com.
monwealth, an industrial activity
which. to mention but one thing has
placed this State second only to one
other in the number OF it's textile
factories
YOU ore showing in practical fash.
ion your realization of the truth that
there must be foundation of material
well-being in order that any commu.
nifty may make real and rapid progress.
Education Means Promotion,
More and more you are giving care
and attention to education; and edu.
cation means the promotion not only
OF industry, but of that good citizen.
ship which rests upon individual rights
and upon the recognition by each IN.
dividual that he has duties as we'll as
rights-in other words of that good
citizenship which rests upon moral in.
tegrity and intellectual freedom. The
man must be decent in his home life.
his private life. Of course; but this is
not by itself enough.
The man who fails to be honest and
brave both In his political franchise
and in his private business contributes
to political and social anarchy. Self.
government is not an easy thing. Only
those communities are fit for it in
which the average individual prac-
tees, the virtue of self command. Of
self restraint, of wise disinterestedness
combined with wise self-nteres::
where the individual possesses COM
mon sense, honesty and courage.
Forests Are Vital.
And now | want to say word TO
you on special subject in which
all the country is concerned. but in
which North Carolina has special
concern. The preservation of the for
ests is vital to the welfare of every
country. China and the Mediterra.
mean countries offer examples of the
terrible effect of deforestation upon
the physical geography, and therefore
ultimately upon the national well.be.
ing, of the nations. One of the most
| obvious duties which our generation
owes to the generations that are to
come after us is to preserve the ex-
listing forests.
One of the greatest of these herit.
ages is our forest wealth Neither
| State nor nation can afford to turn
these mountains over to the unre.
strained greed of those who would
exploit them at the expense of the flu
| ture. We can not afford to wait lon
ger before assuming control, in the
| interest of the public. of these forests
for If we do wait. the vested interests
of private parties in them may become
so strongly intrenched that it may be q
most serious as we'll as a most ex.
pensive task to GUST them.
IF the Eastern States are wise, then
from the Bay of Fundy to the Gulf we
will see. within the next few years 9
policy set on foot similar to that sc
fortunately carried out in the high
Sierras of the West by the National
government. All the higher Apnaia
chians should be reserved, either by
the States or by the nation. much
prefer that they should be put under
National control, but 1t is mere tru
ism to say that they will not be re
served either by the States or by the
nation unless you people of the South
show strong interest therein.
Would BE a Paying investment.
Such reserves would be a payin;
investment. not only in protection e
many interests. but in dollars ant
cents to the government. The import
ance to the Southern people of protect
ing the Southern mountain forests Il
obvious. These forests are the hes
defense against the foods which, Ii