The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-10

SIOWtn OIL lHC CUII1iiIOl Wcd1lIl t1CS
loved so we'll. An insufhciency of
sources, a lack Of perspective on &C
count Of the very nearness OF the
past era they described, and the domi-
nant taste in historical writing made
their works little more than annals,
but all who nave since undertaken
their task, with the exception of one,
nave followed their method.
Here, then, the correlation of his
tOrical activity in North Carolina with
the wide course Of historiography, ma
tional and international ceases. In
this age hat demands a rational eX-
PLANTATION of all phenomenal, where
"a be found a genetic treatment of
those institutions Of government and
law, which perhaps more than all
other Influences, convey a conception
Of North Carolina? The last four de-
cades have witnessed a social and
economic transformation among US
eQualled in modern history only by
that from feudalism to imperial
Japan; but not only is the accurate
knowledge of experience during these
years SO requisite to meet the prob
lens Of today lacking, but the more
ancient landmarks antedating the
present era, are almost lost to view.
Here, indeed, is the menace that con-
fronts the "age of change flushed
with a realization of it's born
power, 1t may become SO mt as
to live without consciousness Of a
rast: ii SO, that correlation Of the
problems Of the with previous expert
ence, SO essential in all human affairs,
will be lacking, and old mistakes will
be made anew.
The best evidence of this criticism
is the fact that there is no compre-
hensive history Of North Carolina
from the close of the revolution to
1860. 1t is true that a few mono
graphs lave been written and a few
books published on some phases Of
the period, but there is no well-round-
ed presentation that might be desig-
mated a history. Yet in the light of
present conditions, those years were
vastly important in the development
Of North Carolina. The fundamental
economic, intellectual, and religious
forces in the life OF today were then
either established or, if previously ex-
listing, they were profoundly affected.
Also the normal political tendencies
of the people were more active then
h before or since. In short, life
in North Carolina between the close
of the Civil ar underwent a profound
transformation; no intelligent con
ception of progress in the state, social
or international, can be formed with
out some intensive knowledge Of this
middle period. Yet there is no organi-
zation dedicated to it's achievements
and it's workers, no group Of students
bending their efforts to it's investiga-
ton, and little or no public historical
interest in it.
A more concrete Illustration Of this
limitation Of u historical interests
is that the history Of a large, and 1 be-
lieve the most important section of
the State has been to a large degree
neglected. I refer to the Piedmont
section, which extends from a line
passing through Raleigh westward to
the mountains. The attempted colo
nization at Roanoke sland, the early
days Of Albemarle, the development
of the Cape Fear region, the rise of
the revolution, the Civil War, and to
some extent reconstruction, have Sc
cured a large and permanent place
in Our traditional history. but they
were all primary eastern movements,
n the east suffered and triumphed
most in them. 1t Is true that there
are a few works relating to the re-
ligious and racial origins of the Pied
mont, as we'll as a few county his
tories, but in none of them is there
an adequate treatment of the section
in the period when 1t rose to power
In politics and became a leader in
intellectual life, viz:@from the close
Of the revolution to 1860. In bio
graphy there are a number Of vol
umes on eastern leaders and a host
OF biographical addresses and pamph-
lets, while On the makers of the Pied
mont section there are less than six
volumes and barely a handful OF
pamphlets. Moreover. eastern lead
ers are memorialized in the names Of
western counties to a far greater ex-
tent than the leaders Of the Piedmont.
In the light Of these facts, the next
ADVANCE in historical interests in
North VarOlina should be towards a
better understanding Of this neglected
region, during an equally neglected
pediod, viz: from the close of the revo-
luton to 1860.
The material relating to it's history
should be reclaimed from the garnet,
the woodhouse, and other "corroding
teeth of time" and certain phases
of its development should be worked
out. With no claims to prophecy and
with ~knowledged Of a limited number
Of sources, let me outline some ques-
tions for investigation in this section