The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-01-24
GOV. AYCOCK'S ADDRESS.
Continued from fret page.

to satisfy our dreams Of veal til with
frugal and industrious population
read, to toll just awaking fully to
the Possibilities before them. All that
we need "to con- pie the circle OF our
| felici;ies" is peace. Let hatred and
bitterness and strife cease from among
us. Let the law evers where reign SUI
prene. TIE highest test OF a great
people is obedience to law and a con-
seauent ability to administer justice.
It shall be the earnest aim OF my ad-
mins;ra:ion to foster good feeling and
| to enforce law and order throughout
the state. From Curri:uck to Chero-
see the law must have full sway. The
mob has no place in our civilization.
The courts are the creation OF the con-
stituticn and The jnries are drawn from
the people. If changes be necessary
in order to secure Il better and more
certain Administration Ct justice, you,
gentlemen oi the legislature, can make
these chan ges ;but 1t should be distinct
ly and finally understood OF all men
that satisfy can be found only in obed-
fence to law. wish to say to negroes OF
tnis state in this connection that they
have been mislntormed if they have
heard that this administration will be
unfriendIy to them. Their every RICH
under the constitution shall be abso-
Ictelv preserved, they will find security
in right conduct and certain punish
ment for failure to obey the law. Let
them learn that crimes which lead to
mob law must cease and then mob
law shali curse Our state no more. l
call upon all upright negroes to aid me
in supressing crime in all its forms.
The white people owe high duty to
the negro. It was necessary to the
safety OF the state to base suffrage on
capacity to exercise it wisely. This re-
suits in excluding great number OF
uegroes from the ballot, but their
right to life, liberty, property and jus
tice must be even more carefully safe
guarded than ever. It Is true that a
superior FACE cannot submit to the
rule of weaker race without injury;
it is also true In the long years of God
that the strong cannot Cypress the weak
without destruction. / said on April
18th, 1900, and l now repeat. it as a
deep conviction that universal justice
is perpetual decree of Almighty God,
and we are entrusted with power not
for our good alone, but for the negro as
we'll. We hold our title to power by
tenure of service to God, and if we fail
to administer equal and exact justice to
The negro whom we deprive Of suffrage,
we shall in the fullness of time lose
power ourselves, for we must know
that the God who is Love trusts DO
people with authority for the purpose
OF enabling them to do injustice to the
weak"
Let us serve the state in this spirit
and with wisdom and the people will
continue to trust US, but if we depart
from this plain and just way, power
will drop from our hands, for the
amendment has, I believe and trust,
brought with it freedom, OF thought,
of criticism and of action that will be
swift to withd1awa trust abused.
With the education of the whole peo-
pie; with 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 viii be set free, opin-
ION can have its full sway and every
man will be able to declare the Utmost
feelings OF his Leart. We shall have
problems and differences, but we shall
have the Intelligence to solye the prob
lens aid the good spirit to harmonize
our differences.
l come to the high task to which
the people called me with many mis-
g!vings. 1 know, If not adequately,
something Of my weakness and like
slse know, If not to the fullest extent,
the many difficulties which Will beset
any way. I come to the work humbly,
with deep anxiety and with an earnest
desire to serve the people we'll. The
manner OF my coming makes 1t all the
more incumbent upon me to search
my heart that may have no impure
motive there ); one who has been trust
ed after such a fashion as the people |
nave trusted NE owes the highest vbli-
CATION OF uprightness in thought and |
lction. Chosen by my party unani-
nously, elected by the people by a |
majority such as has never been given |
to any.other man, am bound by every |
to serve to my utmost. The
task is difficult one. I shall make
mistakes. When l shall have done |
the right thing shall even then some-
ii nes bs misunderstood oy my friends
II