The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-02-15

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built up great research libraries
that together contain more than
two million volumes. At North
:, Carolina State College, we have
one of the great land-grant institu-
tions of the nation, where teach
ing, research and extension in
science and technology have made
great contributions to the agricul-
tural and industrial growth of the
State. Our other state-supported
colleges are well-known and inte-
grail parts of our higher educa-
tional system. There are many fine
private institutions, such as beau
tiful new Wake Forest College at
Winston Salem, highly respected
Davidson College, ana many, many
others.
We have advanced in other fields
as well. The North Carolina SYM
phony Orchestra, the first such or
ganization in America to receive
direct state cid, has won a national
reputation for the quality of it's
music and its tremendous educa-
tional work with the school chill
dren of tht State. We have one of
the finest programs of public IL
brary service in the nation. The
Grass Roots Opera is an example
OF efforts to stimulate and en-
courage an understanding "pprc-
citation of this great form of art.
The Morehead Planetarium at
Chapel Hill makes a significant
contribution to our education. In
terest and activity in the field of
history and in the preservation of
historical antiquities, including the
famous Governor Tryon Palace,
have been very good. Tar Heels
have pioneered in the production
of outdoor historical symphonic
dramas, such as "The Lost Colony
"Unto These Hills" and others;
indeed to such an extent that the
idea of staging these beautiful and
moving dramas has spread to many
other states. From an area that
had been described as barren liter
airy ground a few decades ago,
North Carolina has become an oasis
of literary production, with poets
and novelists and other writers in
every section of the State. One of
the most significant cultural
achievements in recent years was
the establishment of the great new
State Museum of Art which opened
in 1856. To me, this is an example
of the desire of our people to a.
quaint themselves and their chill
dren with the riches of life itself.
Our State is beautiful from our
mountains to our seacoast. 1t has
scenery, climate, and it is friend
ly State.
One could go on and on, but
praise is not enough. It is clear
that we today are the inheritors of
a splendid tradition of greatness.
Yet, it is not enough to inherit
greatness. We must be worthy of
it!
In looking back across half a
century, we are deeply stirred by
the courage, the self-sacrif;ce, the
spiritual faith and the extra
ordinary vision of our leople.
While we have been blessed with
great leadership, we have also had
great followers. In fact, sometimes
it seems that the people themselves
are the leaders, and that our Gov
errors and Legislators are import
ant only as they understand and
interpret the spirit of a great peo-
pie.
Today, as in times past, North
Carolina stands at the crossroads.
We have made progress, but so
have others. We must not stand
still. Great decisions are in the
offing; great choices must be made,
great problems are demanding So
luton. At such time, we, who,
under the dispensation of Provi-
dence, hold for little while the
destiny of North Carolina in our
hands, must take strength from the
past; for the greatness of history
is made manifest in the actions of
the living. Do we today have the
faith and the vision of our fore
fathers, Are we equal, as they
were, to the demands of the hour?
I am bold enough to answer for
all North Carolinians and say that
l am confident that we are!
The future, with all it's problems,
challenges and opportunities, lies
ahead of US. We must build upon
the solid foundation of progress
which is ours. All of us must
with proper regard to our individ-
ual responsibilities in our counties
and localities-try to think of the
State and its welfare. Careful
planning, hard work, persistence
and unselfishness must be ours, if
we successfully achieve our goal!
1t is only natural to expect that
any plans to meet the demands of
the future may run head-on into