The news & observer., 1901-03-13
IT FINDS AN ECHO
IN NEW ENGLAND
-----------------
Aycock's inaugural Appeal to
Loyers of Justice.
s------------
PROF. PRESCOIT'S VIEWS
The Governors Inaugural Sent Him
at Prescott's Request.
G LOWING StNTlMENT IN NEW ENGLAND
at he Face Troblcm is One for The Southern
Peope to Work Out Tor Themselves
Without InterFer nc: from People
tf Other seciitns.

Early In February, Governor Aycock
received letter from Prof. Henry Lee
Prescott. of Harvard University. request
ing n copy CT his inaugural address.
Complying with tic request Governor
Aycock wrote, as follows:
State OF North Carolina,
Executive Department
Raleigh. N. c., Feb. II, 1901.
Prof. Henry Tee Prescott, Harvard Uni
vcrsity Cambridge, Mass.
Dear Sir:4I am in receipt OF yours OF
tho 7th and send you in accordance with
yOiir request under separate cover today
n cory OF my Inaugural address. am
anxious that tho people who wish to know
the truth should understand the condi-
ticns and reasons which brought about
our constitutional amendment My adj
dress Is not in the nature Of defence
hut Is statement of the truth. If we
could be understood our course would be
appreciated and justified We intend no
wrong and shall work out only good for
white and colored alike. Theoretically
| have always been in favor of universal
suffrage, but practically we have been
confronted with conditions which render
that theory unworkable. We have simply
those things which are necessary to pre-
serve good government, but at the same
time VIC arc resolved to treat the negro
with entire fairness. Many people in tho
North and somc in the South f1ippantly
inquire why we did not disfranchise tho
unletjcTcd white men. 1t is the truth
that the unlcttcred whites of North Caro-
lima arc as a rule we'll informed as to
public matters. They are church going
people who also attend the courts and all
scrts Of political meetings. In this way
while they dc not read and write they
arc we'll informed people, sensitive OF
their liberties and determined to main
tain them. They are capable Of self-gov-
ornmcnt and our purpose was to deprive
no man of participation in the govern
mcnt who was capable to perform the
duties incumbent upon the voter. The
principle upon which we rely for this
alleged discrimination is we'll stated by
Prof J.. B. Thayer in his comment on the
report of the Hawaiian Commissioners in
n recent article in the Harvard Law Re-
view on "Our Recent Possessions.
regret that my inaugural address is
not an adequate presentation of our views
but | am pleased to send it to you as
presenting in some measure the reasons
which have moved US.
Thanking you for your request and
WITH lest wishes, l am
Very truly yours,
C. B. AYCOCK.
From tho answer to the Governor by
Prof Prescott, which the Governor highly
appreciated. we arc permitted to make
this extract:
Cambridge, Mass, March 5. 1901.
,s--I,
~ G.
Your Excellcncy | beg leave to ac-
knowledge. though somewhat tardily. my
appreciation Of your inaugural address.
Though have always had keener sym
pathy than many with the difficulties and
cxasperations Of the Southern whites in
This race problem that confronts them.
I must confess that your address made
en- think still more of the white mans
point OF view, and 70 be willing to abide
n little more by it because out Of the
address | caught noe Of that same
sincerity and courageous elevation of