The news & observer., 1905-10-12
OLD NORTH STAEE
State. Pride and Devotion
of Its People Inspiring.
worth Cardinals Industrial Progress
Has Not Caused it to Abandon
Adherence TO Lofty Political
Ideals.
Ideals.
CHouston, Texas. Chronicle)


There is something admirable and
inspiring Ia the State pride of the
people of North Carolina, and their
pride in and devotion to their State
IS justified by her history and by the
achievements of North CarOlinianS
from the period of the Revolution
until this good day.F' AS one OF the
thirteen colonies which rebelled
against British tyranny she was the
theatre of bloody war, and her sons
bore well their part in that memoir
able struggle. Ea
Recent historical investigation has
proved that upon her soil was franz
ed and proclaimed at Mecklenburg.
the first Declaration of Independence,
and in the conflict which followed
upon the latter Declaration at Phil
ade!phia many a son of North Caro-
lima sealed with his blood his devo-
ton to the principles which her peo-
pie had been the first to proclaim.
When Independence had Deen
achieved her sons stood as peer OF the
proudest in the halls Of legislation,
and were potent factors in shaping
the policy and destiny OF the young
republic, and for the existence of
which they were in such great and
honorable measures responsible.
North Carolina always adhered to
lofty political ideals. Her Represen-
tatives in Congress and her Sena-
tors were men of the highest intel
lectual and moral standard, and she
sent to represent her in the national
councils none but men worthy of her
historic and lofty political and social
traditions. 1t would have been as
for a man with tainted
record or upon whose name there rest
ed even the suspicion of dishonor to
have secured seat as Representative
or Senator from the Old North state
as it would for an unpardoned sinner
TO have entered heaven.
In that old State there have always
been and are yet maintained the lof-
tiest social standards. and traditions.
The meretriciouS and demorailzlng
commercialism which so dominates
other sections has found no lodgment
there. Money there is not the meas
ure of merit. No man buys his way
into society there. The people hold
to the honorable, exalted, ancient So
cial faiths and there is to be found an
aristocracy not of wealth, but OF
breeding and grace and social culture
which stands in hereditary and per-
petual rebellion against the soclal
despotism of the dollar.
The people of North Carolina not
ONLY profess devotion TO the true prin-
ciples of Republican government, out
are ever ready to make good thelr
professions, and when thelr flShts
were disregarded and aggression upon
the soil of their beloved State was
threatened, they rose as one man to
defend their homes and firesides, ana
historical statistics prove that North
Carolina sent more soldiers to battle
in proportion to population than were
ever furnished by any state or natlon
in all the annals of human history
Great as was her contribution to
the armies of the South III numbers
the quality of her soldiery was equally
as remarkable Her people cherlsh
With nardonable and imperishable
nride the record of North Carolina's
sons from 1861 to 1865. and on
monument recently erected in that
State in perpetuation of the memory
of their matchless deeds there is
craven the inscription, sustained Dy
historical records: "F1rsI AT bethel,
Farthest at Gettysburg, and last at
Appomattox."
To read that inscription thrills ev-
cry man capable of approaching nero
ism and devotion to duty IKE ousle
CALL First in the opening pdltle' Idt
thest in the advance up lne nIS'oitc
heights of Gettysburg, anu ioSt 70
yield when the great aralit' Annouot Iu ~
gloom, but yet in glory d. AppoIlLti- oI1.L
tox is a record upon when North
Carolina NAV we'll rest through all
| the changing wears. 1t STANDS un-
matched and nnmatchable. and the
| impartial historian or the future WIZ
write North Carol ma down as she de-
serves.
The devotion of her people to which
they testified by their blood in time
of war was not more remarkable and and
scarcely more admirable than has ma,
been that displayed IN me "gn5n,gh giI; es,l
as trying times of peace, ihougn
'her fields were laid waste tne MONIES