The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-23

Shone them would not be unacceptable
to the public at this time of celebrating
the deeds of her heroes in the Civil
War. There is small danger that
community so proverbially modest in
early life of middle age will become a
braggart in it's maturity. And there is,
beyond doubt, field in which old
North Carolina, as we all love fondly
to call our mother. is as great as she
proved in the armies of Lee and the
West. The practical character of the
people of North. Carolina developed
practical leadership in civil as we'll as
military life.
1t is always we'll to review the past
with calmness and deduct from it those
principles of action and philosophy
which serve as guides for the present.
The history of North Carolina at the
beginning of the American Revolution
and in the succeeding years, before the
close of the 18th century is full of in
struction. 1t is also a stimulus to
younger commemorative. In those
days when the State had no consider
able town, no sea-going commerce
worthy the name, no manufacturer
when planting was the chief occupa-
ton and there was no diffusion of
riches-when portions of the territory
were thinly occupied and no part of
the entire State was thickly settled. it
was the greatest possible thing to the
credit of her people that they led the
country in the movement for political
independence, and that they founded
the first university in the South, ante
dating that of the powerful State of
Virginia by more than a quarter of a
century. If the old Tar Heel State
had done nothing more than accom-
plish these two things she would be
entitled to a notable place in the his
tory of this republic. But she has
done much else of renown. The North
ern historians generally have been
fairer to North Carolina than to some
other Southern States. Both Bancroft
and Hildreth have sounded the praises
of the State in the early days, especial
ly the former. And while he is not
disposed to accept the goth of May de-
claration, he gives just and exalted
praise to the patriotic spirit of the
Scotch-Irish, who established revolu-
tionary government in 1875 in Meek
lenburg, ahead of other communities.
Hildeth accepts the fact of the decla-
ration, but compares the date with the
transactions of the 31st of May. In
North Carolina there is an overwhelm-
ing sentiment in favor of accepting
the proofs furnished by Zeb Graham
and many others on behalf of the au-
thenticity of a declaration of indie
pendence made at O'Clock on the
morning of the Goth of May, 1875 in
the little village of Charlotte. / my
self have no doubt of the fact that
there was such declaration made at
that time, no matter what the terms of
the resolutions adopted on May 81
may have been.
Now this action, not sufficiently pub
lfshed everywhere in the country, as
1t was in the Carolinas, had a marked
erect in stimulating the propa ganda
of resistance to Great Britain. North
Carolina, too led the great State of
Virginia, in earlier instructing ner del
egatfon for independence to be voted
in the Continental Congress- This is
IL ner immortal honor.
North Carolinians were the first to
break the Tory power by the patriot
triumph at Moore's Creek 1t was
the strong minds and bold hearts of
the leaders of rank and file that par
alyzed the McDonalds and other High
land clansmen of the Cape Fear and
broke their power in that region.
If North Carolina did not take the
lead in securing State-rights amend
ments Ca Bill of Rights to the Con-
stiution of the United States, she at
least by her holding out for more
than year had very powerful hand
in that matter. In nothing else was
her craftsmanship clearer-sighted. DR..
CALDWELL Willie Jones. and other
Democrats, who kept the ratification
in allegiance so long were deserving
of the profound gratitude of the State
rights leaders throughout the coun-
try. In the Federal convention which
framed that Constitution North Caro-
lima had two able debaters and useful
'nHerabers, General Davie and Dr. Will
hanson, the historian. -
Very early efforts were made in
Mecklenburg county to establish
a college known as Liberty Hail. This
preceded the movement for a State
University. The act establishing that
university was a piece of statesman
ship emitting it's trainers and the
Legislature enacting it to everlasting
honor. No greater thing was ever
done by any Legislature. That, ]
think. and the act establishing COM
mon schools, were the two noblest
legislative deeds in the history of the
State of North Carolina. And without
the university first there would have
been no adequate system set up of
common schools. Each was the COM
plement of the other, with private
academies for preparatory instruction
for the college curriculum coming be-
tween. / will not enter into the
friendly contest between the respec-
tive friends of Judge Murphey and
Bartlett Yancey as to the honors Of
system in the State. But l will add
my feeble vote of praise for that true
North Carolinian, Calvin Wylie, who
administered the office of Superin-
tendent of Public Schools so long and
to whom the success of the system
was largely due. He was a real lead
Ell in that as in some other matters.
1t is very likely 1 may omit several
cardinal points in the Old North
States favor in this hasty enumera-
ton of it's achievements in civil lead
ership. If / do, let somebody in the
News and Observer supply the defic-
ieney. The field is inviting, but the
memory of the best of us is at fault
sometimes.
Besides the independence of the col
onies, in which act we led all, uniyer-
sity institution and common school
installation, in advance OF many other
States North Carolina took the lead
of nearly all the States in the mat
ter of building railways. 1t was the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.
stretching across the State. which was
for a while the longest of American
railroads. 1t was a proud fact that
this long line was constructed and
ODarafad at the expenSe of the incor-