The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-13

Inc great railroads Or the West in
order TO induce immigration along their
lines exhibit among other thiags maps,
setting forth the location, attractive
ness and wealth OF their respective ter
ritories, but on these maps the south is
displayed in black, indicating the home
of the negro, where race ~rouples
abound, a country utterly unfit for good
and happy homes.
As II of our leading SO
well said, North Carolina needs more
folks, folks with money, folks with
brains, folks with muscle and those
who think, all sorts of folks who can
develop the resources of the state" To
induce therefore, capital and a high
order Of labor to seek our state for To-
cation and investment, we should Or
ganize and equip some proper bureau,
n cooperate with the National Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor. SO as
to properly n thoroughly exhibit our
wealth n advantages.
| Outside investors and people seek
ing homes little kno Ia in North
Carolina we have soil that produces
| every staple crop raised in the United
| States-wheat, cotton, corn, tobacco,
f; N and rice, often being grown on
the same plantation.
| we have all the chief minerals found
in other states, our granite and marble
| especially being Of the finest quality
! and inexhaustible. Our vast forests, on
: mountain and in swamps are now need
: ed for the worlds market, while our
| mighty, but u~nbridled, water powers
would turn the machinery of a hundred
| thousand mills. The equitable charm of
our climate is unsurpassed, offering un-
rivaled inducements to both pleasure
and health-seekers as well as those
wishing permanent homes under good
laws justly administered.
Publish abroad in detail these mighty
resources and add to them the positive
assurance that all who come shall be
! gladly welcomed, aided and protected;
. taxed no more than is necessary for the
/ economical administration of govern
ment and given every opportunity to
build themselves up, and we will soon
have an influx of strong n capable
I men in our state, establishing very
where diversified interests and greatly
adding to our wealth and power. Let
capital feel that it will not be robbed,
because it has wealth, or does business
as a corporations; and convince labor
that no matter how humble it may be,
it's every right will be- respected, and
they will come and be with us.
During this administration every
! effort will be made to keep the rela-
lions between capital and labor close
! n cordial, each made to respect the
! rights of the other under the law, thus
; benefitting them and adding to the
states peace and prosperity.
No harsh restrictions should be piac-
ed On either; capital must, however, be
content to live and let live, and form
no monopoly or corporation to crush
or destroy the weak, for this will not
be tolerated.; while labor, though en-
couraged to form associations for their
own protection and advancement, must
not in any way interfere with those who
desire to work, but do not belong to its
orders.
EDUCATION.
It is said we can often judge a states
-: progress by it's schools it's roads and
the morals of it's people. Tested by
such a. rule our state has recently made
most rapid progress but still very much
remains to be accomplished.
In efficiency of teachers, Improvement
in school facilities and the length of the
school term, u educational interest
has been greatly improved and every
boy and girl given a chance to acqulr
the kind and character of education
they most need. Still, the lamented fact
, remains that North Carolina is nex to
the most illiterate state in the Union;
and this alone should stimulate US to
! renewed exertions to lift the clouds Of
ignorance which surround and hang
over us.
, Illiteracy twin sister to vice, is the
| greatest curse to a people; and in itself
is often the sources of evil, while edu-
! cation is power and shows itself in
! developing our resources and increas-
J ing our industries, as we'll as in ex-
! banding our minds and elevating our
morals
! Our Declaration of Rights declares:
The people have the right to the privi-
! lege of education, and 1t is the duty Of
| the state to guard and maintain the
] same" and our pledge is to give a -four
months school in every school district,
| and the provisions Of the constitution
| and the keeping of our word compel US
! to maintain the common schools, the
| schools of the people, though all other
| educational interests should for a time
! abide.
Let us take.no backward step in edu-
eating the masses but rather by length
| ening the term and raising the stand
ard add new power and vitality to our
! educational Institutions.
While it may not De expedient or
wise to have compulsory education still
! in every way possible, let us encourage
all to attend school and when boys
and girls come let us provide teachers
| capable, not only to teach what is in
| books, but to impart to expectant youth
higher views of right, a nobler concep-
| ton of duty and a loftier ideal of citi-
| zenship, thus fitting them to be more
useful men and women.
Owing to the fact that in certain mill
districts parents will not send their
children to school, it might prove a wise