The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-07-12
AVCOCk in Oxford.
NORTH CAROLINA'S NEXT GOVERNOR
Speaks to a Large and Enthusiastic
Crowd Tuesday - Four Thousand
People Hear Him-A Red Letter Day
for Democracy-Most Inspiring Po-
liticaI Parade in the History of the
rnnnfv


Tuesday was red letter day in
Oxford-a great day for the Demo-
cracy. The town was in holiday at
tire and it seemed as if half the coun-
ty and a large part of Vance was there
to do honor to North Cardinals next
Governor Hon. Charles B. Aycock.
The procession was more than a
mile in length and was such a demon
stration as had not been witnessed
there on any similar occasion before.
The carriage in which the distin-
guished guest of honor rode was
drawn by four white horses, the har-
ness and vehicle being decorated with
red, white and blue. Ex-Judge Ora
ham, Gen. B. S. Register and Mr.. j..
S. Hall, rode with him while Mr.. A.
A. Bryant '.handled the ribbons over
the prancing steeds. On either side
was a guard of honor mounted on a
white horse. There were a thousand
persons and probably half a thousand
horses in the parade. Many ladies,
dressed in white and colors, bearing
banners or the stars and stripes, were
in the procession. This was one of
the prettiest features of the whole
thing.
The band wagon was drawn by four
white mules The West Durham cor
net band made music for the occasion.
Mr.. Avcock was cheered all along
the line as the procession moved
through the principal streets. Every
where the immense crowd was wildly
enthusiastic. Ladies and children
waved handkerchiefs and flags, clap
ped their hands and were no less de-
monstrative than the men.
The speaking was at the large
Minor warehouse The arrangements
were perfect. the platform tastefully
decorated and seats provided for $500
or 1000 people who heard the gifted
speaker 1t was I minutes after II
o'clock when Mr.. Aycock began his
speech after having been most fit
tingly introduced by Gen. B. S. Roys-
ter, chairman of the Democratic
County Executive Committee, and
from the utterance of the first word
matchless speech at Is minutes after
2 O'clock hours and minutes-he
held the rapt attention of the crowd
and carried them with him in every
varying mood. 1t was indeed great
speech-one of the greatest ever
heard in Granville county. Mr.. Ay-
cock was at his best and those who
have heard him know his ability as a
political speaker. 1t was speech of
CREST force and power, strong, logical,
clear-cut, convincing. 1t was plain,
simple, honest, truthful, free from
abuse and demagougery and must
have carried conviction to the heart
and conscience of every one who
heard it.
While it was all good Mr.. Aycock's
tribute to the Confederate soldier was
one of the finest things we have ever
heard. 1t was as beautiful as it was
touching and truthful, while his
eulogy of the Southern women was
equally good. But space and Ian
guage fail us. We cannot do the sub
ject and occasion justice. Suffice it
to say it was great speech, made in
a great cause by a great man. 1t was
a great occasion and those who were
not there were the losers.
From the Oxford Public Ledger we
take the following:
GEN. RoYsTER's SPEECH OF INTRODUCE
Ladies and Fellow Citizens:-A little
more than quarter Of a century ago
the great Anglo-Saxon manhood OF
North Carolina growing tired of Re-
publican misrulc, and rising in the
strength of their patriotism under the
leadership of such tribunes as Zebu-
Ion b. Vance, threw off the yoke OF
negroism and re-established a new
order of things in our beloved Com
monwealth. That same spirit which
characterized the sons of Carolina in
1870 to 1876 is now among our PEG.
pie.
see recorded in your faces fixed
and steadfast determination to res.
cue from these men, who have brought
shame and disgrace to the State from
one end to the other the control Of the
affairs of government. This determi
nation is born of righteous indig-
nation, and he who attempts to hin
der this great work is no patriot
Let me beseech you to be men, loya
sons of worthy sires, whose only
ambition is to do your duty in thi:
crisis.
The honor of Introducing Nortf
Cardinals next Governor has beer
conferred upon me. l am proud o
this distinguished compliment, an,
first let me present to him Granville
fair womanhood, as pure and swee
as dew kissed roses in blushing June
as strong and steadfast in the caus,
of right as the everlasting hills.
My friends, congratulate you upol
this occasion. He who is to speak t,
you is no stranger, no maligner, NJ
slanderer, no traitor he comes to yo'
with the benediction and blessing O
the people among whom he was reared
bearing message of peace, and de
string above all things the futur
happiness and prosperity of all tn
people. Though young in years h
has borne the heat and conflict o
many battles for the right. No sacri
flee has ever been too great for hin
to make. His glory is in the fact tina
he barred his arm to every enemy O
the people, and feels honored TO
having done so. He stands as
mighty rock in the desert of our pc
| litical Affections and unto him w
may cry for deliverance. He know
the right and dares to do it. Rattle
| than follow multidute to do evil h
will stand alone in purpose and singl
in integrity. Such a man have we to
day, my friend, your friend, the Hon
Charles B. Aycock, of the county o
Wayne.
| AYCoCK's MATCHLEss SPEECH.
And then as Mr.. Aycock rose an,
| looked over that vast assemblage hi
strong. well-knit figure erect, hi
eyes flashing, his clean-shaven fac,