The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-02
EFLECTIONS ON THE OLD
NORTH STATE AND HER SONS
BY DR. THEODORE BRYANT KINGsnURY

bly, have gone to the United States
Senate IL he had pitched his tent prom
inently i'm Macklcnburg county among
his forefathers. And Mr.. Johnson
born at Raleigh, may have ended his
life as a tailor, succeeding his first
boss. venerable James Litchford, an
excellent citizen, whom / knew Wei
i'm my youth and even thought he
might with his aggressive mental force
have forged higher as politician and
represented the Metropolitan district
in the Lower House in the Federal
Congress, or he might have been may
or of Raleigh, or have gone to the
Legislature from Wake. But, as for
being President of the United States
BAH Home Folks might have said
that these men are not fit to rule
great country, and North Carolina
delegates to the National Conventions
would have voted for Hon. Ebenezer
Plush, of New York, or Hon. Jeremiah
Smith. of Indiana. AS to serving for
thirty years i'm the United States SEN
ate, and then writing his massive,
able, Incompatible volume of recol-
lections of those Important thirty
years of service, and ranking among
the foremost, Mr.. Benton might have
represented Orange county in the
Legislature, or defeated Wiley p.
Mangum for the House of Represen-
tatives, or it may be, among the up
heavalS he might perchance have been
elected Governor of North Carolina.
1t used to be SO not only with poll
ticians and public men, (there has
never really been a great supply of
the rather uncommon specimens of
humanity. known as statesmen in the
higher sense) but this Indifference,
this failure of proper appreciation
this absolute determination to ignore
and to depreciate men of real but
modest merit, applies as we'll to other
vocations and enterprises-and in
cludes the reverend clergy to con-
siderable extent, to teachers and schol-
ars as well. North Carolina has shown
a singular weakness in relying upon
the sons of other States in the past, as
it still shows in the present For the
last seventy-fiVe years it has sought
for its presidents of colleges, as well
as clergymen, and it's leading profess
ors from abroad. The prominent presi-
dents and preachers have been very
much imported. Was it %really be-
cause they were ADLER, more richly
furnished more capable and faithful
as a whole than men of native birth
Have not the women also suffered at
this point? 1t is true several of our
native ministers were elected Bishops
by the Episcopalians. Some four or
five in all have been so chosen. While
some few of our ministers even now
fill important pulpits in other States
/ suppose five natives of other States
fill chief pulpits in North Carolina to
one who is called abroad.
L recall with qualification that
former North Carolina lawyer rose to
a great place in New York some
where about 1S45-'46, when a minister
i'm the Episcopal church.
Rev Dr. Francis L. Hawks, a ma
tive of New Bern, we think, was at
one time the greatest orator in the
Episcopal church. He made a speech
before the general Convention III ses-
sion in New York city in defence of
himself against defamatory charges
that was SO powerful, so eloquent so
moving that upon motion the conVen-
ton adjourned at its close because it
was impossible for it to vote properly
while under the inspiration and influ-
ence of the great speech. We remem-
Der that General j. Watson Webb, the
very able and influential editor of
the New York Courier and Enquirer,
in an editorial upon DR.. HAWKES. grand
effort, declared ii was of almost un-
exampled eloquence and power and
cited the world-famous speech of r
Il. Sheridan as parallel in the trial
of Warren Hastings in England. Dr.
nowned and potential if he had spent
his life in preaching in one of the
small North Carolina towns in his
day. We have heard him preach in
New, York and deliver two addresses
in North Carolina. He was entertain
ing, impressive, felicitous and some
what eloquent, but he did not rise
to the height of the great argument"
as he did in his magnificent defence
in New York.
[ believe there is some change for
the better, and that gifted, ambitious
young men can now remain in their
native North Carolina with good
chance of recognition and promotion.
The old fossil period of forty years,
which cuts off all men of brain power
at that early age, opens up new
promises and glowing advantages.
Those that stand bravely by the dear
old Mother of US all, may hope for
openings to crafty reasonable expec-
tationS and aspirations, and may get
all the good places in Washington and
at home, at least by the time they
reach thirty or thirty-fve years of
age. You know the well-worn old
saw: There is always room at the
top" Look at the success of some
men in the past, who remained at
home. None became Presidents or
Vice-Presidents or Bishops, but many
achieved fame as Cabinet officers For
eign Ministers, United States Senators, |
Representatives, Judges, lawyers, and
some became presidents of the Uni
veristy and of female colleges, while |
some We're chosen from abroad. So |
far as | recall there have been no
greater successes abroad among jour- |
nalists than our home-stayers
and toilers gained-the Hales, Saund- |
ers, j. b. Caldwell, Capt. S. A. Ashe |
Josephus Daniels and some others |
Remain at home, do your best, be |
faithful and true to North Carolina |
and looking to God for help and guild |
ance prove a power for good and a |
blessing to humanity.
I would like to see among the dis |
dispersed abroad of North |
Carolinians in the past a complete list |
all famous men who were
born in our State and have gone out |
to help to build up other States. With
out going Northward. but little, or