Thousands Attend Celebration At Kings Mountain

President Hoover Principal Speaker at Sesqui-Centennial Observance of Revolutionary Battle.

From the From the Forest City Courier, Oct. 9, 1930

Kings Mountain, Oct. 8.—President Hoover Tuesday denounced socialism and its “violent brother, communism,” at exercises commemorating the 150 anniversary of the battle of Kings Mountain. He championed the spirit of America, its ideals and the constitution and told the crowd these had brought more happiness to its citizens than any government in the history of the world. His address was delivered in the heart of the southern textile region where labor troubles and communist disorders recently had been prevalent. “These corruptive influences must be kept from the nation,” the president added.

Socialism or its violent brother, Bolshevism would compel all runners to end the race equally holding the swiftest to the speed of the most backward,” the chief executive declared. “Whatever the merits or demerits of these systems may be, all mean destruction of the driving force of equal opportunity, destruction of the constitution and of our political framework. They mean abandonment of the national spiritual heritage. It is significant these systems deny religion and seek to expel it. I cannot conceive of a wholesome social order, or sound economic system that does not have its roots in religious faith. No blind materialism can for long engage the loyalties of mankind.”

He hailed the spirit of Revolutionary heroes who defeated the British at Kings Mountain and recommended that American citizenry fight for these principles. The president called crime and disobedience “the incarnation of destruction to a system whose basis is law.”

“Both pacifism and militarism court danger- one by promoting weakness, the other by promoting arrogance,” said the president. Mr. Hoover then pointed out the benefits of American citizenship, stating that the number of children in graded schools and students in colleges and universities is proportionately in great excess over the number receiving an education in the most advanced countries of Europe. The number of homes owned, telephones and radio sets in use, and amount of electricity consumed was also emphasized.

After leaving the train at Kings Mountain, N. C., the president motored across the state line to the site of the battle monument and began speaking at approximately 2:30 p. m.

Crowds estimated at well over 100,000 witnessed the parade, and heard President Hoover speak at the Kings Mountain battle ground. Several thousand participated in the parade, and according to officials it was the greatest military parade seen in North Carolina since the World war.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Courier. Copyright owned by The Daily Courier.