The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-07-06

GOVERNOR KIICRlN'S ADDRESS.
He Delivers Great Speech at the Third
Celebration OF the Training School.

ground r1Udy, Lue oUIH VI cuiA0'
There were many prominent speak
ers for the occasion, and among
them was Governor w. w. Kitchin.
The Reflector gives the following re-
port of the Governors speech:
He said it filled him with pride to
be here, and in looking around upon
what is here, he must say that he
never saw healthier three-year-old
institution, and that much credit for
it is due Ex-Governor Jarvis, Super
intendent w. H. Ragsdale, and the
late Hon. j. L. Fleming, who labor
ed so earnestly to secure it.
The State of North Carolina may
have made good bargain in secur-
ing this school, but if Governor Jar
Wis made bad bargain for Green
vile and Pitt county, it was the first
bad bargain he ever made.
The State levies taxes to maintain
schools, not for the benefit of few,
but for the benefit of all the people
of the State. We want to see North
Carolina occupy a high place; we
want to see our farmers and manu-
facturers prosperous and happy. We
want to see the lawyers, the doctors,
the teachers so honorable, so high
above suspicion, so worshiping at the
shrine of truth and justice that the
finger of criticism can never be point
ed at them. Teachers are laying the
foundation for this in an educated
citizenship. If the teachers fail in
their duty, the structure of citizen
ship is erected on false foundation.
Civil government is taught in our
schools, and it is well. / would not
say that the old patriarchial govern
ment Of thousands of years ago was
not the best the men Of that age were
prepared for. In those old days there
was no printing press, no rapid COM
munication, so the people had to
struggle along with patriarchs, kings
and mobiles to make laws for them.
The struggle Of the successive ages
has been to throw off these and bring
the government to the hands Of the
people. Self-government has come
to stay. The printing press and rural
mail delivery, coupled with the work
of the earnest teacher, the freedom
of the press, freedom Of speech and
growth of intelligence have made
things change.
The old highway robber found the
farmer on his way to the market an
easy prey. Those robbers have been
succeeded by the green goods and
gold brick swindlers, and it requires
more intelligence to protect them
selves against these. When you find
men advocating an unjust law, they
do so under the guise that it is best
for the people. We need high class
of citizenship to preven: being de-
ceived by these, and here is where
the work Of the good teacher comes
in. Men must be above corruption
and the purchase Of influence, and
they must have the courrge Of their
convictions and to do right.
Let no one think that because gen.
eratlons ago some great men were
produced who never saw inside Of
school house, that this can be done
now. The farmer who now plants
and cultivates corn after the methods
of the past can raise some corn, but
he's a failure as a farmer. Educa-
ton is preparation for life work, for
conflicts, for the environments with
which you are to be surrounded.
The thoughts that stick are the ones
that count.
Education makes people honest.
Do not think because you are honest
now that you need no fortification.
The tide and current Of temptation
run nigh, and we need to strengthen
against this by love of honesty and
honor. Overcome one temptation
and the next one is easier to over
come, likewise the yielding to one
temptation makes it easier to fall
under the next. The first down
ward step is the one to be regretted.
Had not the first step been taken no
failure would occur. The difference
between good man and bad man
is not in statue nor briliancy, but in
moral character. One man resists
temptation and is good, another
succumbs to the temptation and is
bad.
The sour man is not happy, he may
have accumulated a fortune, but if
he is lacking in human kindness,
friendship and sympathy he is fail
ure. You need friends for the good
ygu can do. Your enemies will not
follow your advice, but it is only
your friends upon whom you can
count.
No one rejoices more in the strides
nj l, L. l.