The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-01-21
Gov. Kitchin's Inaugural Address.

capita. The less wealthy State i
the greater burden a given rate O.
taxation is, as from every ones in
come his fixed necessary living ex
penses must first come. The State
is doing we'll and as her wealth in
creases she will do better.
| Under present conditions every
child in the State may receive al
public expense an education, limited
though it be.which will greatly ben
| eft him in the contest of life's re.
wards. The basic p pose in public
! education is good citizenship. In a
republic to have republic certainly
Just, and to insure the punishment of
wrong and the protection of virtue,
to prevent oppression and guaran-
tee right, to distribute the blessings
arising from organized society
equally and to levy the burden of its
sustenancee equitably upon persons,
property and privileges, three things
are essential in citizenship-a heart
50 honorable that it cannot be cor
rupted, a soul so courageous that it
cannot be intimidated, and mind
so intelligent that it cannot be de-
ceived, for then three methods the
hosts Of wrong attempt are to cor
rupt, intimidate and deceive. With
a people merely conscientious and
courageous oppression has easy con-
tests and fruitful conquests, but
with such a people education be-
comes the bulwark of liberty, in
creasing their honor and courage,
discovering the purpose and plan
Of the oppressor, and enabling them
70 resist indirect and insidious as
saults, as our uned ucated ancestors
repelled the direct wrongs against
them centuries ago. While there will
continue to be bad men whose evil
conduct will ever emphasize the vir-
tue of others it is fortunate that in
our civilization good men, though
not perfect, predominant, and with
the people educated, this majority
IS greatly strengthened and its affec-
tiveness for right, truth and liberty
mere than doubled.
No State can afford to do other
wise than be liberal, both with her
ordinary public schools and with her
higher institutions of learning. In
an agricultural State such as ours is,
100 much stress cannot be placed up |
on agricultural education, as great |
majority of our people live upon the
farm. A man good in his avocation |
Or profession, whether farmer,
doctor, blacksmith or other is apt to
be good citizen, and the probable !
ity Of success and contentment is
largely in his favor. The skilled man
in. his line of work adds rapidly to
the wealth of the State, and thus
the revenues upon which .
the State depends for all the great
work she undertakes. With tele-
phones, rural free delivery Of mail
and good roads, there is needed to
make country life more profitable
and enjoyable, knowledge Of COM
prehensive and accurate as may be
of agriculture, Of preserving and
increasing soil fertility, of plant Sc
lection and plant life, of rotation,
drainage, diversifcation, farm econ
omies and comforts and other mat
ters to make happier and more re-
the business of those who
WOO necessities Of human life from
the soil with patience and toll. Not
q dozen great colleges can adequate-
ly supply it to the people. We re-
cognize the great value Of those men
here ana there in the State, some of
them graduates of our institutions,
whose Intelligent. practical and pro-
yressive farming is an example and
an insdiration to whole communities.
Doubtless in the long years the de-
sired results will be reached under
he present processes of progress,
out the magnitude and the magnii-
cent possibilities of our agricultural
interests justify every reasonable eff
-ort to quicken them. | shall en-
a policy already adopted,
lrging that the simple essentials of
agriculture be Thoroughly taught
n our public schools. With such es-
;entials taught to the boys | predict
/ thirst iii them for more informa-
ion which will increase the atten- s
lance upon our Institutes, the sub
;cription to agricultural papers, and
he study of farm bulletins and
,ther literature, all Of which will
promote the pleasure and profit of /;
agricultural life.
| am strongly impressed with the
that in addition to regu-
ar instruction in hygiene, there
I Z