The news & observer., 1901-01-16
THE GOVERNORS INAUGURAL
ADDRESS.

The inaugural adress yesterday OF Gov
ornor gAycock was the utterance of a
strong partisan who knows that he who
hest serves his State best serves his
party 1t was the address of a man who
is both partisan and statesman. The re-
view of the conditions that made the
amendment necessary will be regarded by
review by our ardent political leader. But
conservative men of all parties will see in
it frank, candid and historic statement
of<a cancerous condition of the body po-
.-1itlc that threatened the destruction of
good government in North Carolina. THE
campaign of 1885, truly said the Cow
ernor. "ended in a victory for good gov
ernment. That was not contest of pas
sion but necessity"
The necessity for the amendment is
graphically set forth without any over
drawing of colors or minimizing of wrongs.
1t is faithful picture of the times
warts and all.
Following. the discussion of the causes
which made the adoption of the amend
ment which ''sees the day Of universal
suffrage, but sees that day nor in the
~ity of ignorance but in the light
egsal SeducationS' the = Governor
Sra:discifssfon of the policy of his
ration toward the education OF
the. people. He is public man who be-
lieves that political party adopts a
platform to stand on and not to get in
OH. He quotes the Democratic platform
pledge of "a four months school in every
school district in North Carolina" and
says:
ION hundred platforms, to half the
voters of the State, in the late campaign,
/ pledged the State, its strength, its
heart it's wealth. to universal education.
promised the illiterate poor man bound
10 a life of toll and struggle and pow
crty that life should be brighter for
him and the partner of his sorrows and
joys. l pledged the wealth of the State
10 lHe 0uUCdliUu VI HIS 4nSh
of wealth. representatives of great cor
porations applauded eagerly my declara-
ton. l then realized that the strong
desire which dominated me for the up
lifting of the whole people moved not
only my heart, but was likewise the hope
and aspiration of those upon whom for
tune bad smiled
After showing that the platforms of all
parties declare in favor of a liberal policy
toward the education of the masses, Gov
ernor Aycock said-and his noble words
will be applauded throughout the State:
For my part | declare to you that
il shall be my constant aim and effort
during the four years that / shall en-
deavor to serve the people of this State
to redeem this most solemn of all our
pledges. If more taxes are required to
carry out this promise to the people,
more taxes must be levied. If property
has escaped taxation heretofore, which
ought to have been taxed, means must
be devised by which that property can
lie reached and put upon the tax list.
| rejoice ina prosperity and take delight
in the material progress of the State /
would cripple no industry; | wouiu re-
tard the growth of DO enterprise; but
would by just and equal laws require
from every owner of property his Just
contribution, to the end that all lae chill
dren may secure the right to select their
servants There are many important mat
ters which will claim your attention. The
problems before us are of the gravest
nature. but among them all there is none
that can approach in importance the ne
eessity for making ample provision for
the education of the whole people,
Concluding his masterly discussion of
universal education, Governor Aycock fol-
lows logically upon a discussion of the new
election law that shall be adopted to put
the amendment into effect. None but q
bold and an honest man would have in
vited the attack which peanut politicians
will be sure to make, by the discussion OF
that subject. These peanut politicians
of the Republican party will say that
Governor Aycock admits that his party
and will seek to twist his manly utteranct
into an endorsement of their campSi gr
charges. and the same character of poll
ticians in the Democratic party will sal
that he has made mistake in any ut
terance that could be construed by th'
Republicans into an attack on his party
Isut no honest man of any party VIII
will read the message will fail to find il
it anything but the utterance ,of a MAJ
who, having led the fight to purify tn