Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-01-16
GOVERNOR AYCOCK
is INACCURATE
Important State Questions
Ably Discussed.
GOVERNOR WHOLE PEOPLE

Republican Rule In Past-Necessity
For Disfranchisement of the Negro.
Education of the Masses Advocated.
Industrial Development.
RALEIGH, Jan. 15.-The inauguration
of Governor Aycock today was bril-
liant ceremony. witnessed by thousands
of enthusiastic citizens, who hailed the
event as the beginning of a new era OF
prosperity and good government.
1t is estimated thet there were fully
5000 visitors in the city besides the mil
itary, who were here in force from al
over the state.
Governor Aycock arrived this morn
ing and was conducted to the capitol
where the ceremonies occurred.
In his inaugural address the governor
took high grounds and pledged himself
to be the governor of all the people.
He said in part:
every four years brings us a change
of administration but not always a
change of policy. This year we meet
under extraordinary circumstances-one
party goes out of power and another
comes in; one policy ends and a new
one begins; one century passes away
and new century claims our service
new constitution greets the new cen
tury. For thirty years Of the nineteenth
century we struggled in every way
against the evils of a suffrage based on
manhood only. We found in the first
Il Of &Iok 10 AEo& u n
outrun practice and that reality had
yielded place to sentiment AT that time
we had Just emerged from an unsuc-
cessful and disastrous war. Our prop
erty had been swept away, our institu-
tions had been destroyed, the founda-
ton of our social fabric had been over
turned. We were helpless. A victori-
Gus, but ungenerous political enemy had
crushed us to the earth; they had forced
upon US the recognition of theories that
we knew could not be reduced to sue.
cessful practice. We were poor, weak
and defeated. We accepted the situa-
ton We did our best to prove the
falsity of our convictions.
The governor dwelt at length on the
disfranchisement of the ignorant negro
regretting the necessity for it, saying:
'The campaign of 1898 ended in a vic
tory for good government. That was not
contest of passion but of necessity.
When we came to power we desired
merely the security of life, liberty and
property. We had seen all these men.
aced by 10000 negro votes cast as the
vote of one man. We had seen oul
chief city pass through blood and death
in search of safety.
"We did not dislike the negro but We
did love good government. We knew
that he was incapable of giving us that
and we resolved, not in anger, but fol
the safety of the state, to curtail his
power. We had seen what a struggle il
required to preserve even the form o1
republican government with him as g
voter. The negro was not only igno
, rant-he was clannish. The educated
among them who realized the danger tc
the state in mass voting were unable tC
free themselves from the power of it!
| ostracism. "
The governor is strongly in favor o.
general education, calling for increased
appropriations for this purpose. He say
further on this subject:
Appropriations alone cannot remove
| illiteracy from our state. With the ap
| preparations must come also an increased
| interest in this cause which shall no
| cease until every child can read anC
| write. The preachers, the teachers, tht
newspapers and the mothers of Nortl
| Carolina must be unceasing in their eff
forts to arouse the Indifferent and com
pei by the force Of public opinion the at
tendance of every child upon the schools
1t is easier to accomplish this since the
| amendment to our constitution raise
| it's solemn voice and declares that tht
| child who arrives at age after 1908 can
not share in the glorious privilege O.
| governing his state nor participate il
| the policies of the nation unless he cal
read and write"
In the following strong language thu
governor declares the law must be up
held:
"From Ourrituck to Cherokee the Law
must have full sway. The mob has NJ
| place in our civilization. The court
are the creation of the constitution anC
the juries are drawn from the people
| If changes be necessary in order to SO
cure better and more certain admins
tration of justice, you, gentlemen o
| the legislature. can make these changes
but it should be distinctly and finall,
| understood of all men that safety cal
1
81 wish to say to the negroes Of thi
state that they have been misinformeC
| if they have heard that this administra
tion will be unfriendly to them. Thei
every right under the constitution shall
be absolutely preserved; they will fine
security in right conduct and certain
| punishment for failure to obey the law
Let them learn that crimes which leaC
| TO mob law must cease and then mol
| law shall curse our state no more.
call upon all upright negroes to aid mi
in suppressing crime in all it's forms
Concluding, he said:
| ''I have been elected as a Democrat.
shall administer the high Office to which
/ have been called in accordance will
the policies and principles of that grea
party, but l wish it distinctly under
stood that | shall strive to be jus
| governor Of all the people without re
gard to party, color or creed. The Law
will be enforced with impartiality AM
no mans petition shall go unheard AM
unconsidered because he differs from M
in politics, or in color. My obligation is t.
the state and the state is all her citizens
II shall need the support of every citi
zen in the state. My work is your work
| am but your servant and if / serve yo1
wisely it will be because my ears shall
be constantly open to counsel and m,
mind shall be, so far as in me lies, ken
fres from prejudice to the end that
may know wisdom. But with all th
aid which can come from men I shal
fail unless have the guidance of tha
| God who rules the destinies of state