The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-22
THE JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION.
An Appeal to North CarolinianS to
Help i'm Making il Il Success.

To the Editor 1t is proposed to
hold an exposition on Hampton Roads
in commemoration of the settlement at
jamestown in 1907.
Surely the Importance of the event
must appeal to the patriotism of every
citizen OF the United states. There,
amid trial and suffering, greater than
fell to the lot of any other colony, was
made the beginning of this mighty
nation. There a few weeks after the
arrival of the colonist was held the
first trial by jury in America, when
John Smith, refusing "a pardon from
Gov. Wingfleld. demanded trial say
ing he wanted justice not favor. The
seed of great example fell in good soil.
and in after years brought forth that
crop of brave, incufruptible patriots
to whom we owe our liberty and ma
tional existence.
We North Carolinans should take
special pride and interest in this ter
centennial celebration. 1t was from
jamestown that the first settlers of
this State came and there landed
the Swiss and Palatines that marched
through the country, founded New
Bern and filled the Pamlico section
with sturdy industrious emigrants
Let us hearth Y acknowledge our
debt to jamestown and gladly help
the dear Old Dominion to celebrate in
a manner befitting ourselves the birth
of the nation.
| am not among those who believe
sentiment, enthusiasm and reverence
for glorious past has been crowded
out of the hearts of men by the practi-
cal materialism of the age. but from d
business point of view it is worth our
while TO subscribe literally TO this ma
tional celebration. Virginia will profit
by it. bur little more than North Caro-
lima. i will take place on spot
within twelve hours of 20,000.000 of
people. Great railways and steamship
lines connect it with every part of the
Union and with all parts of the civiliz-
ed word. Visitors from abroad can
land at the exposition grounds: cheap
and comfortable transportation will
induce great crowds 10 visit and en-
joy the myriads of attractions at the
exposition, and at the same time
crafty a patriotic desire to see old
jamestown, and there the Oldest Eng
lish church in American. the first
legislative han. now rebuilding on its
old foundation; williamsburg. its
quaint old powder house, now used as
a colonial museum, the old debtors
prison; Yorktown, its handsome monu-
mcnt; tho room, the very table on
which the articles of CornWalliss sur
render were drawn up the first custom
mouse OF the fIDSllSIl COlOD1eS- Inc cave
on the bank of the York River still
called CornWalliss storchouse: HamU-
ton and Old st. Johns Church; and
to come nearer our own times, visitors
will see from the exposition grounds
the scene of the first battle between
armored vessels, that changed the
naval warfare of the world. All these
attractions, repeat. will bring thou
sands to the exposition. They must
II l.
of Eastern Carolina viii be called
upon for supplies. Many thou
sands will find employment in prepara-
ton for the exposition, and during
it's continuance of six months, North
Carolina is near by. why not claim a
part Of its patronage? Let the State
rouse itself and help to make a gloi-
tous success this celebration of the
most important event in the nations
history; the only one that has taken
place south of the Potomac.
(MISSl T.. II. CLARKE.