The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-01

OF SOUTH NEEDED
BuIwark Against Increas.
ing Capitalization
Dabney's Address

Montgomery Ala, Ma 1b-preSlQen
Charles William Dabnoy Of the Uni
versity of Cincinnati, made the COM
1nencement address at the University
q Alabama Yesterday. His subject
was The Solid South and the Ma
ton
The address was of considerable
length, dealing with American his
Tory and political incidents. The fol-
lowing is an extract, the salt OF the
address:
Moreover, the provincialism of the
South. is indeed today as q bulNark
ag3lnst increasing Capitalization. The
State, like everything else il nature.
= an organism, built up Of cells, or
sanS, II parts, each ministcring to
,he other. Each ce! and organ must
he in good health and function prop
erly. CT the body IS not healthy, and.
in order to do tbs. each must be fed
II exercised. Centralized govern
mtnt weakcns individual and the
and the State. Paternalism a in
time, be as ruinou of mans home in
situations as tyranny.
Decided ymptoms of this disease
appear in our nation today. Through
LEGISLATION for the 'interests.' through
high protective tariffs, through a loose
system Of pensions. ct cetera, we are
training our people to look to the
COY eminent IOI everything. BE 1t
enacted" has come to be the n cure
all for every defect or disease of the
body polite. National politics and
legislative Interference by the States
are the bane of III municipal gov
ernments. The meddling of Wash
ingtOn with State affairs is more often
hurttul than helpful.
Against such encrOachnents of the
central government upon he local
ernm and against these tend
-~~ - - tj,n- In1 'Iji ne
the only protection is a strong social
consciousness in the citizen, making
him resolutely independent in all local
matters. A certain prOVincialism as
inherent in Democracy, is absolutely
necessary for the maintenance of TIN.
Let us then cultivate a healthy, far
urONincialism. Let US preserve ali
our local traditions and beliefs, as a
means of training II young people
% loyalty. h will NOT lessen, nu'
rather increase, Their national loyalty.
What. then, is the mission of the
independent voter in the South TO-
Gay? Shall he. for example, use his
vote to break The Solid SOUTH The
thouchtful Southerner Will not strive
20 break The Solid South for n
single reason here suggested. He Viii
not feel justified in doing this merely
20 put an end to political lsolatioll'
STARVATION and Intolerance. serious
TDOIjGn these e\ItS pt- L III IA iAO'
see his way clear To do so merely to
permit freer political action, give q
chance for q second political party
and so secure more progressive State
legislation and prevent corruption as
inIpOrtant as these things are. He
would scarcely be willing to do SO.
merely TO get into the national game
and give our Gun men a vent 1or
their political energy and a snare n
the Nations thought and progress,
as desirable rs his is. The earnest
man, not an opportunist, will want to
see ultimate ENDS Of more vital mn
u0rtanCe than these before he WI!
take so serious a step. To all such /
commend thc historic testimony OF
the South As a cause fully worthy OF
their devotion. What better can the
sincere Southerner do than continue
% help maintain the testimony of the
fathers since they landed on his con-
1inent, the testimony Of the Anglo
Saxon race since the beginning OF
its ~h.story,--this testimony for the
freedom Of the individual TO govern
himself. his family, his town and his
State.