The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-09-19
Monument To Decade Of Unf|inehing Courage

Our whole nation. in varying degrees.
has been segregated since the beginning
and I make bold to suggest it viii con-
tinue so.
What then IS being attacked?
Go back with me once more-for only
a moment-to the theology that now gov
ernS us.
Our nation, remember, is run by
people who are dedicated to the propO-
sition that you are incapable of govern
ing yourself and therefore you must
leave your destiny in the hands Of an
elite such as they presume to be. There
fore. our government follows pattern
that has as its inevitable end the de-
struction of your right of personal de-
cision in personal matters. AS an in
competent you cannot be expected to de-
eide anything wisely. Certainly not as
wisely as society" That is what is be-
ing attacked: YOUR RIGHT OF SELF
DETERMINATION.
Now the Bill of Rights that Patrick
Henry insisted upon, our charter to lib
erty, has self determination as its first
premise our constitution is based on this
very thing. your right to make up your
own mind
Freedom Re-asscrted
To be more specific the traditional
constitutional. American assertion is that
man is free to choose, FOR HIMSELF,
what church he will attend, with whom
he will associate, what papers he will
read and what work he will do, com
mensurate with his ability: or, con-
versely, whether he will do none Of these,
not work at all-but starve instead
AS should be palpably evident, this
concept-the traditional American, self
determination concepts the opposite Of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES philosophy.
But philosophy without action is not
enough; it never is to the remakers of
the world. So, they fingered Prince Ed
ward With the first touch of a feather
that rooster thrust his spurs and the
fight was joined
They couldn't afford to let him go
and he just wouldn't soothe So, they
struck. hard, to kill his spirit
And true to their natures. their act
wasn't even good. clean blow: they
fought like the towards they are.
These fOotpads hid their motives be-
hind an emotional camouflage. They had
seen in this small community-or thought
they had-a means to their end. They
had hoped to move quietly But once the
fight was on-and since they could not
afford to admit to the truth-they chose
as their weapon an appeal to the emotion
OF lll-lnformed people. What do Nebras-
kans know Of Prince Edward?, They
accused you NOT of fighting for your
right OF self determination but of mis-
using one race of people for the better
ment of another. And with this unfounded
charge as garrote, they sought to
wiring that ROSTERS neck.
To paraphrase another man: Some
rooster! Some neck!
They tried to take from you your
right to determine for yourself how your
children were to be educated and YOU
wouldn't let them
And as long as the doors Of this
beautiful building stand wide. you will
have completely thwarted the Fabians.
THIS is your victory You insisted on
schooling for your children under con
ditions of YOUR choosing and this is
what you have. I say THAT is victory.
Truth Distorted
One day the American people will
come to realize the Prince Edward Incl
dent had as much meaning for them as
for you. Despite cruel distortions of the
truth our fellow Americans will come to
realize the battered few of this peace
loving land bore a banner that flared
for all Americans. And-because of your
brave stand-the liberty Patrick Henry
cried for the liberty Washington fought
for, the liberty sons of America have
died for. war after war, did NOT perish
from the earth. The fireball Of liberty
lit by the American revolution did NOT
spin into blackness.
Thus, as the school we dedicate today
symbolizes your fight, so does Prince
Edwards fight for independence of mind
symbolizes America.
Such is the fundamental meaning of
these 10 years of strife, toll and trouble.
In a darkening world. you people of
Prince Edward shouldered not only the
burden of preserving your own liberty
but the sacred principles of all America
as we'll
1t has been lonely fight know
that. Such fights always are But you
are not alone. You never have been.
Millions of God-fearing, patriotic, ira
dition-minded Americans have watched
and prayed that your strength would last.
1t did. Thank God, it did
But let's have no mapping Though
this particular citadel is built and its
forces are strong. the Fabians have not
conceded. What has been all-consuming
to you. to them has been but one facet
of the whole. They will come again per-
haps by another route, in another guise.
The Alternatives
Is your will strong enough to resist
the next onslaught?