The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-15
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
THE NEXT GOVERNOR.
Wilmington Messenger.

Wilmington MtSSSllSel'
Wisdom and intelligence surely
went through North Carolina hand
in hand, when the conviction became
widespread that the man of destiny
was Charles b. Aycock, and that into
his hands must be placed the broad
hammer of peace and Law and Demo
cracv'' as the chosen leader in this
wear of grace 1900. His nomination for
Governor by reclamation by the larg-
est convention of the great party of
the people that ever assembled in
North Carolina, is not only Il splendid
and richly merited tribute to the able
and thoroughly finished gentleman
chosen, but it is "A happy augury for
victory. and peace and rest.
The writer has known personally
Mr.. Aycock for some twenty years or
more. He has been impressed with
his gifts and fine character from the
beginning. With the passing of the
wears he has grown in mental strength
and in reaching his fortieth birthday
he stands forth as the equal of any
man of his age in the State, and with
few rivals of any age in wisdom and
knowledge, in nigh aspirations and
nobility of character, in purity of life
and in faithful service in the place in
which God has called him. He is
really a man of mark. with sound
Judgment, with observation and quick
ness of mind. with a fine sense Of re-
sponsibility and much penetration,
with resources he readily commands
and sincere desire to pursue the
right and to bless humanity. No I'M
INIT t111af In, him,
we have long observed, there is a har-
monious blending of many rich quail
ties of mind and heart, and as the out
come we have a well rounded, symme-
trical character that is the admiration
of his friends. and guarantee of
probity and justice and sympathy
and magnanimity and virtue, personal
and public. in all he does and says, to
those who may not know him person
ally. He is man of peace always
and rs the great Coleridge said of
another, because of his conscious re-
lation to God" He may not always
possess a telescope power of intel
lectual vision" but he will always
strive to do just what is right and
proper and honorable. He is "A man
of kindly, generous nature, free
from gross passion and constant
in spirit with something of ''purged
Judgment" and yet so manly, SO mod
est, so admirable" garnished and
declled with modest compliment
The speech of Mr.. Aycock was in
deed very admirable. We never heard
him speak and know nothing of his
oratorical gifts, whether he is monot-
onous of voice or rich in his variant
vocables-whether he is coldly polish
ed and stately rhetorical, or whether
he is full of fire and magnetism with
great power over assemblies. The
speech reads capitally-remarkably
smooth in we'll chosen language, clear
and direct and simple withal, and not
without ingenuity of argument and
much force of presentation. We en-
.ioyed the reading hugely, and we
have had an unwarranted eX-
perience with political address
es. While reading the kindling,
beautiful passage in reference
Carolina. our running eyes were suf-
fused with tears responsive TO the
profound motion aroused in the soul.
That speech is an incomparably eN-
cellent campaign document II must
do much good wherever read or heard.
The Messenger salutes the next Gov
ernor of North Carolina and with as
surance of a hearty and enthusiastic
support.