The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-06-22
WHAT 1T AXE TO
MAKE A STATE CREAl
Causes of the High Stand Virginia Has Taken
Among the Commonwealth OF
The Nation

rial upon our State flag. All through
those stirring days there was generous
rivalry and joint action by n men OF
the two States. In the great struggle
on the field of battle that followed. in
that great contest for human rights,
the soldiers of the tive States were side
by side at Brandywine. at German
town and at Monmouth.
A few months ago l happened to be
in Richmond during the session of
your Legislature. Some OF
the House CHANGING to recognize me
introduced. n the House passed, a
Resolution requesting nae to address
them. Taken by surprise, / recalled
however the above community OF
thought and action of the two States
throughout their long history, and /
| recalled to them that still further
back at one time the two States in
fact were one; that while we were to-
gether the first English settlement had
been made on this continent at ROa-
noke Island in 1884. and hat the
first child Of English parentage, was
born at that spOt-Virginia Dare
and / added that subsequently there
to we had cut off the better part of
the common territory and named it
North Carolina. stating however that
it must be admitted that your people
had lone wonderfully we'll with that
part which we had left to you.
1t is this latter idea hat l will
briefly present for your consideration
for you have indeed done wonder
fully well with your share Of the hertz
age. / wish to present a few thoughts
therefore as to The Causes of Vir-
ginia's Greatness"
Great Part in History.
The great part hat Virginia has
played in the history Of this country
needs no proof. The causes of her
eminence may we'll be worth consid-
Grafton. There are those Of course
who say that Virginia was great as a
Colony and has been great as a State
because Of the character of her PEG
pie. 1t is true that a country is what
7 it's people make it, and that it's his
tory is what is accomplished by them
: But there is very much more to be
considered. It is with a people a:
with individuals. No one caus.
brings success. There is necessary 4
: combination Of causes and a co-ordi
nation of effects. Take the life his
$ man who has impressed himself 70.
j good or evil Upon his times. One ele
: ment of course of his success is hered
t ity. But that is much less than VIVA
is due to his environment.
Then besides environment Their
g must be opportunity. Then beside
e opportunity there must be that facto
which call it fortune or chance, 0
- Observation-Disclosures you Will-With
y out whose aid. as Napier said of Ma
poleon The designs Of man are a
o bubbles on a troubled ocean," Their
are other catses too which can b
better estimated and judged. Ha
g Caesar. the great julius. been Dor
e in the forests Of Germany thin 70
e he would have been the foremost ma
in all the files Of time? Had Napoleo
been ten years older or ten veal
re younger when the French Revolutio
began would he have dominated til
h course of events. and changed the hi!
tory Of the world? Had Alexander M
r. been born on the steps of the thror
ey would he. when scarcely out Of h
teens have led the troops which role
We up the Persian monarchy and put
r away like a scroll?
I'd While the essential composition
at a population of great countries h,
or not changed they have had their ris
rs their decline and fall. The Empi
be passed from Babylon to Egyl
ne from Egypt to Persia, fro
tn Persia to Greece. from Gree
es to Rome. and from Rome
id, succession, to many others, amo,
re them from Spain to France, to Gre
on peting for the leadership. Even
lid the restricted territory Of Greece t
Hegemony passed in turn fro
lat Mycenae to Athens, from Athens
Tia Sparta, then to Beotia, then to Acha.
lily etc.
he The greatness of a State thereto
ed can not depend solely upon the inhe
he ent qualities Of it's people.
If When we examine the causes
it'll the greatness which has been won a
OH held by Virginia, without detracti
by in the slightest from the great a
at noble qualities of it's people there q
ra- other causes which must be cons
cred. Perhaps the first that stril
Of the eye Of the traveller or the stude
ion is it's
rs, A Fortunate Geography.
Cd Geography. Not only your St;
as fronts on the ocean but it is ma