Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Jan. 24, 1901, edition 1 / Page 4
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AYCOCK'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS. Net Eiecutive Eloquently Reviews the State's Profress. **, » * CONSERVATIVE ANfl THOUGHTFUL. ■ ■ 1 Will Execute The Laws of The state WMisut Regard to Race or CoaUr, on . - Following la thts'"lnaugursJ^address of Uovernor Ayeock: Gertli men, of the Uarieral Assembly, lUidlea and Fellow-Cuiftena: tDvory four years brings ua a change | of administration but. always a! change of.policy, Thla year we meet j o««lpf extraordinary clrcumetancea — one pftrty goeu out of power and anoth. erronies In; one policy ends and a new one begins; one century parses away end a now century claims our service; a now constitution greets the new cen tury, For thirty yoaw. of the ninteenth •earury we struggled In every way URalnst the cvlln.of a suffrage b»>ed on Manhood only. We found in the flnt ; flays of that struggle tlut theory had | outrun practice and that reality yielded place to sentiment. At that ' rime we hid Just emerged from an un- and disasteroua.war. Our property had been swept away, our In stitutions had been destroyed, the 1 foundation of our social fabric had i tieen overturned, we were helpfaMs r - A ' victorious but ungenerouH political en- | Vmty had crushed us t'o the earth; they | hul forced upon us . ic recognition of j • III..! we knew i-o'.ild not lie ie 'lii ed to practice. We were hoor, weak and defeateiT We "accepted the situation." We did our best to 1 piovo the falsity of bur convictions. We endeavored with sincerity to bring • tie negroes to a realization of the tilie /fllsnlty of full cltizimshlp. We itrgerit ly Ktiove to Instill Into their true interffits were likewise ours; wn t ought with great solicitude and with much yii-rlilco of toil and capital to-convince them that parties were the fcervants and not' too. masters of the Viviple and that no past services of a party, however beneficial theue servl rtm might appear, Justliled the destruc tion of good and safe uhfl economical Rove.inment 111 order to secure us suc- We provided fttoftots for them and spent for them as we spent for our own Children. Wo cared for their Insane and «»nened schools for 4he education of • heir affllr'ted and for the rare and tu ition of those who were left fatherless nnd motherless. We continued these efforts in tlieface.of repeated evidnte of their hostility and «batcd not our liurpixt-os v/hen they repeated their fol- • tKs. Wo still hoped that they would follow the example of the whites and divide their vote along the lines of governmental .Industrial and moral l»- 1 nes. The result was a disappointment. The ncrro was always to be counted •upon ond our opportunities did not ln'sJtite at any excess because they bno.v ' hat they had iM.OOO votes who • ouiil bo relieil upon to support any I'olicy howeier ruinous, which bore the t t.iirp of Itipublirnnl.sm. With tills vote os a jertninty our adversaries when they came to power after twenty j'neru of defeat dared new evils and wrong.!. I'nden their ru.e, lawlessness walked the State like a pestilence— *JoSTfr~stallied abroad at noonday— 'sleep l.ay down armed"—the sound of the pinfol woh more frequent than the eons of the mocking Itlrd—the srresms pf women litsjlng from pursuiug bruteg . S'lo.ied Iho g4t«s of our hearts with a t-hocir. Our opponents unmindful of the sturdy determination of our people to/' hnve sate and good uovornmen liszarda became Indifferent to or in eaivable of enforcing law and preserv ing order. Oonfldent-of the support of tho jgnorant mass of negro voters the Republican party ami-Its ally forgot the ■ strength and determination Of that people who fought the first light In Al nninnce against bad government and ' wrote the tlrst IWviaratlon of Independ- I etfie !n Mecklenburg. They challenged : North ("arollulans to combat and the [' world knows the rosult. The campaign of IS9S ended In a victory for good gov ! ernnient. That was not a contest of ; pinion but of necessity. When we j eatiie to power we dcsireil meiely the 1 security of life, llbertptand property. ! We had seen all the»e niensnced b.vlSO.- | 0t)0 negro.votes cast as the vate of one ! man. We had seen our chief city pasa I through blood and (Jeath in search of i 1 ►afoty. Wo did not dislike the negro | but we did love good government, We ! knew that he was iikoapahle of giving J lis that and we resolved, not In anger | hut for tha safety of the State, to cur- j .Jail his power. We had seen what a efrugglo It r.cuulred to, Brfigecxe even the form of Republican government 1 with him as a voter. The negro waa not ' only ignorant—lie wad clannish. The educated among them who roallxed the danger to the State In mass voting ' 1 Were unable to free themselves from j the power of its ostracism. When the legislature In 1898 met. It j was confronted with these facts and j ; ■was slpcerely anxious to save the good 1 .and suppress the evil of those forces ' \which had made our history. They, ; therefore, submitted to the people fur ! their action an amendment to the j Constitution which fornida any man to I vote, who can not read and WTlte, but ' ftxeepts from tlie operation of this re- j ■trietive clause ail those who oould vote in any State on'Jamtary Ist, 1867, or st any time prior thereto or who are descendants from any such voter. Thts proiialon excluded no whKe men except persons of foreign birth not jret familiar with our.lnstitutions, and ex cluded no negro who can read and write, and no negro whether he oould read or write or not who could vote prior to January Ist, 1887, or who Is descended fwtn one who could vote at anytime lulor to niald date. This tmendEpeiti to our Coustltutlon elimi nates no capable negro. Indeed It sets tree those negroes who. believing in 1 eertaln principles of government, have ! been strained by loyalty to the mass . (ram voting their convletiona. It does no injustice to tti# negro. It really bea oflts hire. ft does recognise the nece*- *«y Of having rome test of capacity and It prescribes two rule* of evidence by which the capacity may be entertained* and declares that any mancapable of meeting either ie*t shall vote. If ,a white man can read and write he oan vote; If a nagro ran read and Write he can vote If a whit* man caitnu read or wrote, but is descended from one who could vote In January lat t 1867, or at any time prior thereto, Or If he could vote himself befbrf-that ttrne ha can vi>te. If a negro cannot r«aia and write, but in descended from a person who could vote on January lit, 18U7, or at any time prior thereto, or If hlm selr could vote before that time he can 1 I vote. There la, therefore In our amend- ' | ment no taint of that Inequality pro j vlded against In the Fifteenth Amend - i mnnt to the.Constitution of the Idited Ktateaj.ond In order that tne question might nof even be suggested and real ising the importance of educating the white and' black, our amendment re quires every boy of whatever color now thirteen yea.ru of age to learn to read and write under penalty of losing his; vote. Interpreted on this fashion we may with compla-cenc; accept tne dec laration of the Republican National ' platform that our amendment Is rev olutionary. So waa til* one for 'lode' i pepdenre d otlnetly known as the Key ' olutlon and our liberties are founded upon It. Our Amendment may be revb. •iutlonary, but It Is a revolution of ad vancement. It takes no step backward, .it distinctly look* to the future; It sees | the day of uuWersil sulferage but aeea i that day not In the obscurity of ignor i ani« but In the light of universal edu- I cation. The twilight will grow Into the ■. perfect day with the sun of Intelligence »hinlng in the sky. That a our hope and prorub-e We shall not fall. On a\rtndred platforms, to half the j voters of the State, In the late cam paign, I pledged the State. Its strength, its heart. Its wealth, to universal edu cation. I promised tile illiterate poor man bound to it life of toil and strug gle and poverty that life should lie brighter for his boy and girl than It had been for him and the partner of 'hi* sorrows and Joys. I pledged the wealth of the State to the education of li lh children. Menof wealth, represen tatives of great corporations applaud ed eagerly my declaration. I then real, lied that the jrtrong desire which' dom inated me for the uplifting of the whole people moved not* only my heart, but wan likewise the hope and aspiration of those upon whim fortune had smil ed. 1 had loved the North Carolina peo ple before that.time, but I never knew and Appreciated the beet qualities of 'many of our citizens until I saw the owners of many thousands as eager for the education of the whole people ap I waa myself. Then 1 knew that the nope and task before us, (ientlemen of the legislature, was not an Impossible, oue, We are prospering as nevor before - our wealth increases, our Industrie* multiply, pur commerce extends and among the owners of tills wealth, this 'multiplying Industry, thla extending j "Ominerie, 1 have found no man who Is unwilling to. make the State >tronger and iielter by liberal alii to the cause ' of, education. Oentlemen of the General Assembly, , will not have ought to fear when you J you make ample provlsloli orr the ednca tloli of the whole people. Rich and poor alike are bound by promise »ud neces sity to approve your utmost elTort* In ( this direction. The platforms of all the parties de.lare In favor of » liberal pol icy towards the education of the mass- ' es; notably the Demacratlc platform savs, "We heartily commend the action of the (leneral Assembly of JB9II for ap- 1 proprlating one hundred thouaajul dol lars for the benefit of the publir schools | 'of tire-State, and pledge ourselves to Increaso hool fund so as to make at loasl[ a font months' form in eacn year lif every dlftrlct in the j State:" and in the campaign which was j conducted throughout the State with ! Iho much energy and earnestnesit that ' platform pledge was made the basis of ! the promise which we all made to the ■ people. Poor and unlettered men anx- 1 1 1 lous about the privilege* of their chll- |i ' dreri and hesitating to vote for the / nmendtnent were finally persuaded to : 1 aceeipt our,promise and place their 1 ihlldren In a position in which they .1 can never vote unless the pledges! which we made are redeemed to the 1 fullest extent. For my part 1 declare to 1 you-that It shall be my constant aim 1 and effort during the four years that ' 1 shall endeavor to serve the people of 1 this State to redeem this moat solemn ' of all our pledges. If more taxes sre ' required to carry out this prom e .0 1 the people more taxes must be levied. 1 If property has escaped taxation here- I tofore which ought to have been taxed, j 1 means must be devised by which that ;' property can be reached and put upon j' the tax list I rejoice In prosperity snd ' take delight ih the material progress of P the State. I would cripple no Industry: ' I would retard the growth of no enter- j 1 prioe- but I would by Just and equal ' laws require from OTtfjr owner of prop erty his just contribution, to the end that all the children may secure the ' right to select their servants. There are many Important matters which will ' claim your The probletn be f fore ug arc of the graveat nature, but ! among thcra all there Is none that can , approach In importance the necessity , | for making ample provision tor the ed ucation of the whole people. Appropriations, alone cannot redjov» Illiteracy from our State. With the ap- ■ propria clone must come also an In creased Interest In this cause which shall not cease until every child' can read and write. The preachers, the, teachers, the newspapers and the" mothers of North Carolina must be unceasing In tttelr efforts to arouse the indifferent and compel by the force of public opinion the attendance of every child upon the schools. It It easier to sccomplUh this since the amendment you will not have ought to fear when \oice and declares that the child who • arrives at age after IMS cannot share j. in the glorious privilege of governing I lilm State nor participating In the poli- I dee of the nation unless he can read .and write. This Is, therefor*, the op ;ortune mate!at tor a revival of edu- BPPPLEUKST TO THE ENTERPRISE, WILLUMBTON, X. 0., JANUARY 24. 1901. caUonal interW thrbughdut the length snd breadth of the State. We (kail not sccompUsh this work In a day* ner can It be.doae by many speeches. It la a work of yean to be MM day by day With a full reaJizatlon of KM import ance and with thla anxlona Interest on our part which will tUmulate the careless and will make all our people eager to attain the end which we geek. Wr statesmen have alwaya favored the education of the maaaee, but here tofore interact In the matter hi* not approached Universality; henceforth in every home there will be the knowl edge that fco child can attain the true dignity of citizenship without learning at least to read and write. Thia simple fa t alone Justifies the adoption of the u mend ment for 1t waa iU pannage that | (Uit brought home to all our people the | necessity for unlvernal education. We ' enter an era of industrial develoment. I Growth In tbat direction la dependent upon Intelligence—not the Intelligence of tbe few, birt of all. Massscbusetta realized' this fact from the day When | the Pilgrim fathers landed on Piym- I outh Rock and by that clear perception j •he has won wealth out of bleak coasts ! and sterile land*. Our forefather* a- 1 knowledged the same fart In their first; constitution, and from that time to the : We*ent our Constitution* and Legiala- . ■ tlve Acta have all locked toward* this end;; but the whole people -ave never j before been awakened to its advocacy. From thi* time forth opposition to td- j ucatlon will mark a man ax opposed to | the tehory of our government which I* j founded upon the consent of the gov- , erned. and our (institution provides that this content In tbe not distant fu- t ture can be given on.y by thwo who | can read and write. We need have ; nothing to fear, then, from any party ! or any politician when we make I literal provisions for educstlon. But If there ' were opposition our duty Would be 1 none the lean clear. It 1* demonstrable | that wealth Increaars bh the education j of the people grows. Our Industries will be benefitted; our eomnaetce will expand: our railroads will do a large btirineAS when we shall have educated ull the children of'the State. It I*. therefore, of the utmost importance from a material point of view that our , whole people should be edurated. Care must he taken on your part, Gentlemen of the Ieflnlature. to bring the nchools In the remotest districts up to the standard of the Constf'itlon which sol etnnly admonishes you, as It did me but a moment ago-when I took the oath to support It, that at least four montha of school muet be carried on In every school district In each year. Our party platform follow* the Co net I tutlon and we cannot nfford to violate either. If there are districts which nrk weak they miut l»e strengthened by those who are strong The Good Book j tells ua that tbe*t:ong should bear the > Infirmities o' and the lemon* t of that great authority are of utility In ' our political lkfe. Tliere hao grown up I *n Idea among strenuous men that on ly tbe strong are to be considered and benefitted; that the poor and weak are ' the burden bearers who deserve no old antf are weak because of their I A great State can never act on this tiro. I ory, but will always recognise that the | Hrong can rare for themeelvee while ! the true aim of the State Is to provide j equal and Just laws giving to the weak ; opportunity to grow strong and re- j ■trulnlng the powerful from oppressing the leas fortunate.lt will be a glourlou* day for ure If our people In the houj of their proiperlty and wonderful growth • and development can realize that/mei ' can never grow higher and better by rising on the weakness iind ignorance of their fellows but only by aiding their fellow mien and lifting them to the name high plane which they themtclve* occupy. It may require sarlflce to ac complish the promises whfeh we have i made and men may he- compelled to bear additional burden*, but I am per- ■ Htiaded that the sacrifice will be mad" j and the burdens borne with that cheer- | fulncas which has ever characterized j u* when we were doing a righteous ' thing. Our fathers have done welt their | ! work. They have sought this d*y ! through many difficulties Illiterate or , ; learned they have e.vor striven to do : their duty h.v the State and ' laid her fouiid.it lons, so strong aM deep (hat we k»ve but to build thereon the splendid home which they aaw only In anticipation. I.ct that home be bright ' with' the shining of tan thousand lights emanating from a? many schools. Some of three lights will shine btrtr feebly, I mayhap with but four candle power, wblle other* shall shine with sixty-four and some few with a radiance; of i thousand, but let them ull Rhine togeth er to brighten life and make the State more glorious and may they all have an their aource that Ood wh > first said, "Ijet there Hght." I pledge you, gen tlemen of tL Legislature, such power as the Constitution vests In the Gov ernor and all the energy of ray >oul and heart to the education of the people, and I rely with entire confidence.upon • you and promises which each of you have made. With these promises kept there will break upon us a day *uch as has never before dswned upon our State. Our government Is founded up |pn Intelligence and vlitue. We shall ! provide for Intelligence by a tystem preparation of the voter for the use of t»f schools which Is designed to reach every citizen. The erhools look to the the ballot. We admit to the elective franchise every man capable of Intelli gently exercising that rlcht and so anxious are we to approach as near as may be universal suffrage that we have made the test of Intelligence almply ability to read and' write, an accomplish ment which can he acquired In a few month*. , Having thus provided for the right to vote the further duty devolve* upon you, Ckntlemen of to paes a law by which tbat right may be tpade effective, a law by which every ' voter qualified under our Constitution ' (hall have the power to cast one vote i and have that vote counted as cut The ! safety of the State and the liberty of the citizens depend upon your action .on 1 this question. The adoption of the! amendment not only furnlehet the oc- j csslon hat renders Indispensable t he adoption of an election lav which shsll j be ao fair tbat no Jutt man can oppose . It. and requires an administration of tbat law In such spirit that no man will i doubt that the popular will has been ' nthtly expressed and iscordsd. Fro.u ; the foundation of our BtAte to the day I whan the negro waa given the eleotivo . ■ ■* is -> . .' " ; franchise tbe fairness of ciiir election* was never questioned. When the bal- j lot was given to the negro tbe first election thereafter waa known to be a farce and a fraud. That enaction waa held under military dictatorship, and the tvote was counted in Charleston, South Carolina We have denounced and ever will denounce that election as fraudulent. When we came to power In 1I7« we changed the election Jaw of the State and from that time to ISM all electiona were held under laws passed by Us. Our adver*ariee charged .that these elections were carried by force and fraud. When they came to power 'ln 1816 they adopted a lay which we denounced a* providing means for the registration and voting of minora, dead. Imported and convicted negroe*. They carried the State under that law . in 18W. We beat them In 18M deipite their law and then we passed a new i election Isw which thry denounced a* designed to thwart will of the 'people. We held the election of 1800 under that/ , law. By the result of thst election we have eliminated the Ignorant negru from those entitled to vote. If whet has been charged by tbe opposing, psr- I tie he true and electfbn* have been . | fraudulent and election laws unfair ev i er since the negro cacne to be «(*oter j In the State, It oertalnly ought tT fol low that with the disqualification of ; the ignorant negro the State should re turn to her ancient wsy* when no m*n I | questioned her integrity. Henceforth i our law* end their administration must i be so ralr that the civilised world i shall recognize the high purpose with i . which we have wrought to see this dsy. : I*t history record of us thst we have • [fought our great fight und won our no- [ table victory with no view to perpetu ate ourselves In power but honeatly to Htrnre god government founded on In ' trlllgence woiked out through a per -1 fetly fair election law administered as . 1 a sacred trust to be held forever lnvio | lable. Good men go to war only for j the sake of peace and the patriotic clt j Izen* of our*Btafe have won this vlcto- , ry only for the sake of good govern ment and not for party aggrandise- ! ment. On every platform In the late cam paign 1 declared our purpose to be to secure good government^,safety and peace, to educate all the children, and. 1 to bring that day when even ex- , tremest pbrtlzanahlp should not be able to cry opt against our laws and our , mehtoda. Thousands of Republicans and Populist* joined with us In necur- Ing our more than sixty thousand ma jority. I shall, therefore, confidently expert you, Gentlemen of tbe Legisla- j ture, without regard to party. to frame an election law fair In every purpose, j clear In every detail, and provide ma chinery by which every man qualified under our Constitution shall be able lo vote and ahnll konw that hi* vote U i I effective. We can have safety, security and Integrttv on i*> other basis. I now 1 pledge you the whole power of my ad i ministration to secure this end. I de -1 dared in my speech of acceptsnce that I should enter upon the discharge of my duties If elected with great fear lest 1 should fall to Interpret adequately the | true spirit underlying our change In the Constitution; hut I have never for one moment queationed tbat the ultimate | aim of our people was to secure a Cou- Istltutlon under which security for life, 1 liberty and property could he found un ! der the forms of law and not In vloln •on of them. Our opponents have denounced the movement which we Inaugurated to j amend the Constitution, und which will . be carried out In the aplrlt just suggest- [ i ed, as revolutionary. They sough prevent its success by threats h foe the election and In the first moments of passionate disappointment after tbe election they began pr se.utlon against ! j certain officer* of the State for alleged wrong doing In connection with the Au | gust election. This movement of ours I wa* csrrled out with such deliberate . high purpose antl such noble earnest ness that thousands o? our political op- ( ponenta Joined hands with n* In effort j to forejer settle a question which had j distressed us for thirty years. It was i the uprising of almost an entire people. There was about It Indeed in Its tpon- 1 taneousnes*. In It* enthusiasm, In Its determination and eturdineas of pur pose and Its high alms, something of a revolutionary spirit of 1776. That sal"- It *llll Uvea in the heart* of North Car. .olinian*. It U part, and u glorious part of their heritage—it esn not be destroyed by persecution. .A whole people can not be persecuted, nor will-' | they without the utmost exertion see any of their agents made to suffer for the defeat of those who sought In vain ta stem the mighty tide of popultr opinion. • We have n greet Stale, rich in noble mttnhood. richer ttill In her hlghmlnd- I ed womanhood: a StMc with countlem troaeures awaiting seeker*; with riches In her fields and wood*. Mrenm* and siund*. hill* and mountains, to satisfy our drewme of wealth; with a frugal and Industiiouf populatlcn ready to toll Just awakening fully to the poeslbllltls* before them. All that we need "to complete tbe circle of our felicities'"l* pesre. Iet hatred and blt terness and strife oeaae from among I u*. the law everywhere reign su preme. The highest test of a great people Is obedience to the law and a consequent ability to administer jus tice. It shall be the etrnest atan of my administration to foster goodfeellng and to .enforce law and order through out the State. From Currituck to Cher okee the law must have full sway. The mob hjis no place In our civilization. The court* are the creation of the Con- | Rtltutton and the Juries are drawn from j the people. If change* be necessary In order to secure a better and more cer tain administration of Justice, you. Gentlemen of the I.erl*lature. can malHt these changes; but it should be dis tinctly and finally understood of all , men that safety can be found only in : obedience to law. t wl*h to say to the I negroes of this State In this connection ; that they hsve been misinformed If j they have hesrd thst this art ministry- ] I tlon will be unfriendly to them. Their right under the Constitution j shall be absolutely preserved, they will 1 find asonrity in right conduct and cer tain punishment for failure to obey lh* ; Isw. L*f them learn that crimes whl j lead to mob law mu»t ceate and then i mob law shall curse our Stste no more. ! I call upon all upright negroes to. aid |me in suppressing crime in . all Us UaNMt -The white people oV»"a high j duty to the-negra. It ws» necessary to tbe safety of the SWe to 'oaee *tiCra» dd ftpSelty to exercise It wisely. This ; results in excluding s great bumher of ' negroes frem tbe ballot, hut their right to life, liberty, property and Justice must be even more carefully safeguard ed than ever. It 1* true tbat a superior race can not submit to the rule of a weaker race without Injury; It Is slso true In tbe long years of Ood that the strong can not oppress tbe weak with out destruction. I said on April 11th. 1900, and I now repeat It as a assp con viction that "universal Justice I* tbe perpetual decree of Almighty Ood, and we are entrusted with power not for our good alone, but for ihe negro as well. We hold our title to power by tenure of service to God, end If we fill to sdmlnister equal and exact Justice to the negro whom we deprive of *uf , frage we shall in Ihe fullness cf time . lose power ourselves, for we must know : tbat the Ood wbo Is Love trusts no peo ple with suthority for tbe purpose of enabling them to do Injustice to the j"woak." Let us serve the State In this spirit and with wlidom and the people will : continue to trust us. but If we depart from thl* plan and just way. power will . drop from our. band*, for the amend ment has. I believe and trust, brought with It a freedom of thought, of crlti ' clsm and of action th«t will be swift to withdraw a trust abused. With the educatloh of tbe whole peo ; pie; with a fair and Impartial election law, with peace everywhere, there will be nothing to prevent us from working out the high destiny of our State. Thought will be #et free, opinion can have It* full *w*y and every man will be able to declare the inmost feelings ]of hi* beaft. We shaH hsve genuine free ipeech. Our newspapers will have aq opportunity to addre** them'eire* to moulding public opinion without fear of injury to the State. Discussion can then take the place of abu*e *nd argument will supplant paulonate or atory. In this new and freer day *e shall grow brighter men. Trast In *ll thing* high will come to usshrdlurd things high will come essy to ut. We 1 shall hsve problems and differences. ' but we shall have the intelligence lo solve tbe problem* and the good spirit to harmoniza our differences. I come to the high ta»k to which the 1 people ha«.«rblled me with many mis givings. I hniowi If not adequately, something of my weuknc«a and I llkc . wise know, If not to the fullest extent, the many difficulties which will beset my way. I come to the work humbly, with deep anxiety and with an earnest desire to serve the people well. The manner of my coming makes It all the more Incumbent upon me to search my : heart that I may have no Impure mo -1 tlve there; one who ha* been trusted iiDter *uch fashion a) the people have truated me owe* the hlgheet obligation of uprightness In thought and actlon.-J Chosen of my party unanimously, ted hy the people by a majority such as has never been given to any other J man. I am bound by every obligation , to serve to my utmost. The task I* a difficult one. 1 shall make mistake*. When I have done the right thing I shall oven then sometime* be misun derstood by my friends who will see my action not from my standpoint as the Governor of the whole people, but from theirs. When I *hall have done wrong I ehall not expect npproval; I no not wish it. I want to know my ' mistakes to the end that I may correct them, because I am certain that I shall be Judged at last by the whole tenor of my administration and by no paMlc ular act. I have been elected as a Democrat. I shatl administer the high office to which I have been called In accordance with the policies and principles of that great party, but I wish It distinctly un derstood that I nhall strive to be a Just governor jot all the people without re gard to party, color, or creed. The law will he enforced with Impartiality and no man'* petition shall go unheard and unconsidered because he differs | from me In politics or in color. My ob ' ligation l« to the State and the Stats Is all her cHlsen*. No man Is so high that the law shall not be enforced against him. and no man Is so low that 1 It shall not reach down to him to lift him up If may be and get him on his feet again and bid 'him God speed to better things. I shall need the support of every clt- Izen In the State. My work Is your work; I am but your servant and if I *«rve you wisely It will be because my care shall be constantly open In coun sel and my mltid shall know wisdom. But with all the aid which can come from men I shall fall unless I have the guidance of that God who rnlea the des tinies of States and nations and men, to whom with reverence I commend this good State and her gracious peo pl*. ' ' _... Notes. The Ohio men who placed his ton * gue on a frosty rail and narrowly es caped decapitation by an approaching train furnisha new and thrilling situation for the writers of melo drama. There were 2.023 marriage licenses Issued during IMP in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, for the same period M absolute divorces were decreed by the court. This ithows one divorce for every thtrtx marriage* The decision of the Philippine Com mission Is the San Jose Medical Col lege Case unanimously refers the set tlement at the question Involved in the courts and provides trustees who, with the assistance of tbe Attorney v>eneral , of the Philippines will Inaugurate and prosecute the litigation. The sum of tS.OOO is appropriated for the expen ses of the suit. n The division* of the Cuban Consti tutional Convention have rendered a orystallsed report upon the subject or a constitution for the Island In twenty- I fire sections. The document Is in many respects similar to our own Con stitution. it Is believed, however, that ! two montha' discussion will follow the submission of the report, and that great changes will be effected in tbe form of the Constitution. Hoax tat the theatre)—" Bee t ««e three fellows and throe girls In th« box? i Tney are all engaged." Joax— of a match box. Isn't It?" FevLpanple are ao busy halving oth er* that tbey can't stop to help them selves. • CON. C. I. AYCOCF. Brief Biography of the Stats'* (tov , dovinor. ' . Charles Brantley Aycock wu bOTfl near Fremont, Wayne county, Kjorffc Carolina, November let, 1859 ■»» father waa a farmer, a man ot promt nence and influence in hU,county and held the office of county clerk from the August term >853 to the May term 1861.- He represented the 2lad Senatorial district, then composed of Wayne county onlr, in the Senate of 18*4-'** and 186$-'66. The Democratic candi date for Governor attended school at ; Fremont and was prepared for COHMS at Wilson Collegiate Institute,.then the leading educational inatitution of East ern North Carolina, embracing in its faculty such educator* aa Rider Sylves ter Haasell, LL. D., Rev Jos, H. l : o>, LL. D., Prof. David G. Gillespie and Prof. E. M. Nadal—four of the best teachers North Carolina has known. In this school, as well as in the primary school near hia country home, Mr. Aycock took rank as the most brillian* member of his cla-s, and was alwayi head cr next to head. In the debating societies he took great interest and wm as a mere boy easily the best debttei and speaker. Before he was old enough to Write hia speeches, old and young were charmed by bis talent aa a ds claimer. During his school daya a' Wilson, he hosrded in the country *n« walked to and from school every morn v •>K snd evening His school mutes hs' fsiih in hia genius snd have always liar confidence that he was endowed will high gifts for some exalted station sn high public service. Mr. Ayvock the Uniytimlty thefsll ter nof 1877. He wn« elected sftei a hot conteat that showed be then had » Klitical wislom, Chief Marshal in 1878 • graduated in 1880, receiving tbi Wiley 1' Mangum medal for oratory an«. the Bingham Estayiat' Medal. He'ex celled at the University in Euglish making moat reputation as an'oratot and essayiat He has often said that b had no talent as a mathematician, ant got through on Conic Sectionaby "main strength aud awkwardness." He wai highly esteemed at the Uuiveraitj, be ing regarded aa a youth of uncommon talent, eloquence, purity of life, anr sweetneaa of temper. Every man who was at college with him, who ccmld gel to Raleigh at the State convention, wai there to aee him receive the highest honor the Democratic pss|y lias evei conferred upon any man in North Car olina—the compliment of a unanimom nomination for Chief Magiatrate of the Commonwealth. The class in whfci Mr. Aycock graduated, was compose* of the following, all of whom are now living: Charles B Aycock. Henry E l'aison, Locke Craig, Alex. Is. Philllpps \V. R. Slade (Georgia), C. C. Cobb,"A .D. Betts, L. (J. Vaugban. T. C. Brooks Thotnaa H. Battle. A. L. Coble, R. B John, Robert Ransom, Earnest Hay wood. Mr. Aycock read law at the Univerait) under Dr. Kemp P. Battle, and after words at Goldsboro under the late A K. Smedes, and began the practice i« Goldsboro in January, ISBI, in partner ahip with ex-State Senator frank A Daniela. That partnership was formed when Mr. Aycock and Mr. Daniela wen school mates, snd is one of the first legal firms in North Carolina. He hst held the following public position* Superintendent of Public Schools « Wayne county in 18S1; Chairman of th Bosril of Trustees of the Goldstar. Graded Schools for the past ten City Attorney of Goldsboro for tw years; County Attorney of Wayne ton, years; District Elector in 1H88; Electoi at Large in 1892; U. S. District Attorney 1893 to 1898, and baa alto been a truster of the University. Mr, Aycock wa» married in 1881 to Varina V. Woodard, daughter of Elder Wm. Woodard, ol Wilson county, who died in 1890, leaving two children. Iu 1891 he married Con | L. Woodard, a sister of bis deceaaei wife. He has seven children. The old 3t, Charles B. Aycock, Jr., is now udent at the University. HON. W. 0. WINER. I Sketch of the Life of The Lieutenant Governor. ' Wilfred D. Turner, of Iredell county. | WM born in Iredell county, January 30 1835. Hia father, for Whom he wc ' named, waa a farmer and the pioqat* cotton manufacturer in Piedmont Nort Carolina. Mr. Turner graduated ■ Trinity College in 1876 and in 1879 tfl . degree of A. M., was conferred ou hJV by nia alma mater. After graduation h read law and in June, began t» practice in Ashevllle. He waa a paias taking, atudioua, able aud conscien tiona attorney, and hia practice grew steadily. In 1883 he formed a partner ship with the late Judge Robert P. ; Armiield. and in 1889, when Judgt Armfield went on the bench, Mr. Turner formed a partnership with Mr. Chas. H. Armfield. It ia one of tbt strongest legal firma in Piedmont Nortl Carolina. I Mr. Turner bas always been a sterling I Democrat and more than once has beet chairman of the county executive com-) mittee. He has been a leader in his dia trictand in 1898 received a large vote for the nomination for Congress. If JBB6 Mr. Turner was elected State Sen ator from the district composed of Ire dell, Alexander and Wilkes, and served succxaively in the Senate in 1887, 1889, and 1891, being regarded aa one of the ablest lawyers, beat parliamentarians, and aafeat legislators in the State. Ha waa chairman of the J udkiary committee and om of the leaders ia a body com posed of many atrong and able men* At a capable, fair and ideal presiding oft cer, he hat no auperior in the State. At a legislator, he haa had no superior in this decade He ia a just and broad gnaged maa, and can always be relied upon to anpport measures that are for the good of the Commonwealth. He has to a marked degree the courage of hia convictions, and did Aot hesitate in the Legialatnre to fight all extravagance ana all proposed legislation carrying special privilege. His legislative experience will be valuable to hi* and to his State. Mr. T uraer ia not only aa able and | successful lawyter, but a man of fine buai ; ness qualifications as well. He ia presi dent of the Mot:bo Cotton Mill Coo ! pany. located in Catawt* county, 4 which hia brother is secretary and tßtg urer, and fa connected with most of th* important enterprises of his county. Mr. Turner waa elected Lieutenant- Governor ia Augmat, rscaiviaf 186,519 v °te* to 1 »5.53> votes cast for , H. P. Sea we 11, hia opponent
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 24, 1901, edition 1
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