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

become the chief asseta of = 49,
cratic state. u0h
Inc american people are even now
Iaclng such a test Of character
scnool OF politics has arisen among
US rounded on the theory that under
our system OF representative denoc-
iacy social and economic
Inequalities have sprung un thar bave
eloseo 10 n people doors of op-
that once stood wide open
~ tnelr athers; and under the teach
ing OF this school the spirit Of dis
Eohtent mas spread abroad in the
ldho. Never before has our political
system undergone so searching an ex-
ANIMATION as hat to which il il now
Deihg subjected; never before have
for radical changes striking
at the very roots Of constitutional
government been so strong and SO
lHslstent. These demands wise states
Hanshlp will heed and to
meet, out In meeting them in the sew
eral states of the Union it will take
INTO consideration the origin, history
and character Of their people. It will
NOT seek bllndly to apply to such
anc1ent commonwealth as Virginia,
Massachusetts and North Carolina
political experiments and expedients
n have nothing to recommend them
out the fact that, after brief trials,
they appear to be successful in such
recent communities as Wisconsin,
Oregon and Oklahoma. For in those
states which have not behind them
the conservative forces of history, or
whose population has sprung largely
from races that have not either by
inheritance or long experience the
instincts of self-government, there is
Danger that the people, failing to IN
derstand and appreciate the long and
painful struggle by which orderly
liberty has been attained, may become
impatient of those salutary restraints
upon the popular will which the his
tory of constitutional government has
invariably shown to be necessary for
the success Of democracy; and mis-
ia liking eXpedients for principles ma
too hiStily discard the lessons OF ex-
perience for the promises of expert
ment. On the other hand, In those
states which look back to a long and
honorable history as their chief claim
to the respect Of mankind, there is
equal danger that an undue reverence
for the past may influence their PEG
pie to tolerate evils which present
no claim to consideration except age,
rather than adopt remedies against
which no ground Of opposition can be
urged except youth; and thus these
old, conservative communities may
unfortunately lay themselves ope tc
the just charge Of blocking the path
Of progress without conserving the
interests OF democracy.
North Carolina, certainly not the
least Of the states Of the Union, coulG
not if she would and, I am sure, woul6
not if she could, refuse to bear bel
share of the responsibility which pres
ent day conditions impose upon hel
and her sister states. It IS OF i'm
portance, therefore, to US to consider
the manner in which she may be ex
pected to meet her obligations. L
the origin and character Of hec peo-
pie, and the history they have made
here's affords any basis for forming {
Judgment, we shall be safe III assert
ing that she will be found in neither
OF the groups that I have described
h will approach her task, as be
comes a people conscious Of 4 grea
past, with q spirit Of conservatism tha
will excite the contempt Of the for
mer; and as a people con
scious Of a great future, she will
solve her problems as they are pre-
scented with a spirit Of progressive
ness hat Will diSnnay the latter. An'
il. the future, as in the past, unmove
5 by the contempt of the ona or tn
: dismay of the other. \ will do he
duty, if not with great brilliancy an,
~ Gill, INV VI N
. and quiet dignity. Such was her at
/, titude when confronted with the Fed
| e1al Constitution in 11SS; and sucl
was her attitude when confronted Wit
| secession in 1861
: Many different factors, OF course
!, have entered into the formation Q
the character of North Carolina an
: the determination OF her conduc
i when brought face to face with grea
, crises and It is to a consideration o
these that I shall invite your atten
ton this evening. Foremost anon
them. because it underlies all others
, Is the origin Of her population IN
= l%popu1ation of North Carolina ha
/ been less affected by outside influence
and the infusion of foreign blood tina
= the population Of any other Aneri
t can state; and today the donl.nan
= characteristics of her people renal
l the same, modified only by the con
ditions of American life. as thos
2 Of the original German, Scotch an