The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-07-25
South and Social Legislation.

Richmond N"WS Leader
North Carolina is perhaps the most
progressive State Of the South. She
has Il very small debt, owing to the
fact that after the war between the
States she settled her Obligations
strictly on business principles. She
assumed none of the pOmpOslty OF
the gOld-hcaded cane and snuff box,
and made no vaunting declaration
that because what she owed was a
lust and honest debt she would pay
it at all hazards. She separated her
finances from politics as far as posi-
bic. told her creditors squarely and
fairly what her ObIlgatIOnSand what
her liabilities were. and in the mann
adjusted matters on IL business basis
such us would have been an adjust
ment between any merchant over
come by trouble that he could not
avert and his creditors. The North
State creditors were glad to get what
was fair and Justin the circumstances,
and ii here in Virginia we had fol-
lowed the example of our sister we
den. We have never doubted that
the Virginia debt question would
have been reIegated to the domain
Ui Il simple business calculation be-
tween debtor and creditor as WAS
finally the case under the AlcOtt-
Mckinney agreement Il few years
after the cessation Of hOstllitles, II
il had not been for the false pride OF
our people.
This, however, is going somewhat
lar atield from the point to winch
We would direct especial attention.
North Carolina S management OF her
public debt and finances enabled her
to make most liberal appropriation
i'll various directions at the last meet
ing of her general assembly. These
covered increase III pensions to eX-
Confederate soldiers, increase III the
fund for public education, and The
enlargement OF gratuities for elemOsl
nary institutions, such rs insane
asyIums, deaf and dumb institutions
and provision for taking care OF the
feeble minded, rs these come under
the head Of idiots and epileptics. 4
step further and which is somewhat
III the nature of an innovation, was
u charge upon the State to fight the
white plague. The necessary money
was granted for putting into opera
ton IL system of sanitaria and thu
segregation i'll the tails and Othe
prisons of prisoners afflicted will
tuberculosis from those not SO al
tilcted or i'll healthy condition other
wise. This brings us to our tina
point i'll presenting these facts, which
we confess, we Use with somewhat O
Il malicious pleasure i'll getting bacl
at the New York Evening Post
which has taken North CarOlina'
llberality i'll respect to the matter
i'll question rs what it calls eyidenc
oi the awakening OF the South to tn
Importance of legislation i'll respec
to social questions. The truth i
that, the patrOnizing article of on
snIvelIng contemporary to the con
trary notwithstanding, with the eX
ceptiOn of North Cardinals depart
ure III the line OF meeting the prob
lem Of stamping out tuberculosis
she has made no advance on her ira
dtlonal policy or the policy of tn
South ut large in the matter of Ell
actments bearing upon what on
contemporary terms social legisla
iun. OF the substance that has bee
lcit us Ill the South since we emerge
from the shadow and the horror {
reconstruction, we have contribute
Il most astonishing amount in a
the spheres in which North CarOlin
has Illustrated her liberality. an
when the nation undertakes to pat
ronizp us it should remember tina
the first insane asylum in this cour
try was established in Virginia. an
II we mistake not. the second i
North Carolina. More than that, til
South, despite the drain upon her i
Tn" matter, we may say. OF pension
and internal taxes. has appropriate
millions upon millions of dollars t
educate the especial wards of sue
seHtImentalsts as OurcOntempOrar,
to say nothing of what she has don
III making comfortable her Confede
ate veterans and sustaining her il
Stltutlons of higher learning. Mort
carolina, and all honor to her f
her public spirit i'll the premises, hs
only done and is only doing what IA
Southern States have been doing an
are doing. so far as their revenu,
VIII permit.