Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-10-20

plauSe).
| am glad here at the capital of
North Carolina to have Il chance to
greet so many of the sons and daugh-
ters of your great state. North Caro-
lina's part in our history has ever been
high and honorable. 1t was in North
Carolina that the Mecklenburg Declara-
tion of Independence forcshadOwed the
course taken in few short months by
the representatives of the thirteen
colonies assembled in Philadelphia.
North Carolina can rightfully say that
she pointed us the way which led to
the formation of the new Nation. In
the Revolution she did many memoir
able deeds; and the battle of King S
Mountain marked the turning point of
the Revolutionary war in the South.
But | congratulate you not only upon
your PAST, but upon your present. |
cnngra tulate you upon the great indus
trial activity shown in your Common
wealth. an industrial activity which, to
mention but one thing, has placed this
state second only to one other in the
number Of its textile factories. You
are showing in practical fashion .your
realization of the truth that there must
be a foundation of material Well-bcing
iii order that any community may
make real and rapid progress. And |
am happy to say that you are in ad-
ditiOn showing in practical fashion
your understanding of the great truth
chat his material well-being though
necessary as Il foundation, can only be
| the foundation, and that upon it must
be raised the superstructure of a
higher life, if the Commonwealth is to
stand as it should stand. More and
more YOU are giving care and attention
to education; and education means the
promotion not only of industry, but of
| that good citizenship which rests upon
| individual rights and upon the recOg-
milton by each individual that he has
| duties as we'll as rights-in other words,
of that good citizenship which rests
upon moral integrity 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-gov-
tiHItltIl II HDl dll easy lIllIlS. oHly
those communities are fit for it in
which the average individual practices
the virtue of Self-Command, of self
restraint, of wise disnterestedness
combined with wise Self-interest; !;
where the individual possesses common
sense, honesty and courage.
And now l want to say a word to
you on a special subject in which all
the country is concerned, but in which
North Carolina has a special concern.
The preservation of the forests is vital
to the welfare of every country China
and the Mediterranean countries offer
examples of the terrible effect Of de-
forestat:Cn upon the physical geogra-
ply, and therefore ultimately upon the
national well-being, of the nations.
One Of the most obvious duties which
that are to come after us is to preserve
the existing forests. The prime differ
ence between civilized ard uncivilized
peoples is that in civilized peoples each
generation works not only for its own
well-Eeing, but for the welI-beins of the
generations Vet unborn and if We per-
nit the natural resources Of this land
I" be destroyed so that we hand over
to our children heritage diminished