The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-30
GOVERNOR AYCOCK OPENS
COLORED STATE FAIR.
It is Most Creditable Exhibit Of the
Industrial Work Among
the Race.
Governor Declares That Race Social Lines Are In
exorable and the Colored People Approve
of His Remarks.

At two o'clock yesterday the Twenty
third Annual Fair of the North Carolina
Industrial Association was formally
opened by Governor Aycock in the pres
ence of very large number of people,
and the exhibits of the colored people of
North Carolina were ready for inspec-
ton.
The procession to the grounds from the
Sawyer, who with his aides was preceded
by brass band and was followed by the
officers Of the association in carriages,
all acting As an escort to the party OF
State officials accompanying the Cover
nor, who was to formally open the Fair
Arriving at the Fair buildings Cover
nor Aycock, Auditor Dixon, Superinten-
dent Of Public instruction Toon and
Commissioner of Agriculture Patterson
were taken on atOur of inspection of the
exhibits, the result being summed up in
the words of Governor Aycock, who said.
1T is a very fine Fair. The exhibits
are all good and are creditable to the
colored race. The agricultural exhibits
are specially good"
The opening exercises were held in the
octagon in Floral Hall. Here, after
music by the band prayer was offered by
Rev. Dr. c.. H. King. Of Durham, who
thanked God for the Good feeling between
the races in North Carolina and prayed
that it might ever exist, and that God
might preserve the life of Governor
Aycock, whose life was doing good for the
whole people.
After more music President Thomas
Donaldson introduced Governor Aycock,
who prefaced his address by saying that
he considered the occasion of sufficient
Importance to reduce to writing his ad-
dress, SO that no ill considered word
might be Spoken Having said this Gov
ernor Aycock spoke as follows:
President and Fellow Citizens:
1t affords me pleasure to open this
Fair. wish the colored people of North
Carolina to understand by every act and
expression Of mine that am the Govern
or of the entire State and all it's people
and that every interest which concerns
any individual is a matter of Importance
to me. 1t has been gratifying to me that
those to whom have been opposed politi-
cally have recognized the real feeling
which exists in my heart. In my duty as
servant Of the State it is of immense
value that those Of opposite political
faith should feel that he who has been
chosen to serve them is not the enemy
of any person or of any race in the State.
/ have earnestly endeavored since it has
been my fortune to be the Governor of the
State to SO conduct the high office TO
which I was chosen as to develop the in
dustrial, commercial and educational
sides of our life, because in these We
have heretofore been weakest. The North
Carolina people are in many respects a
strong and great people. They love liber-
ty and they are devoted to personal indie
pendence. They need no instruction along
these lines. They have the courage of
their convictions and are ever ready to
assert their political and individual
rights. What we have needed and what
we do need is instruction along industrial,
commercial and educational lines, and
have been anxious to be an humble in
strument in this work
The colored people of North Carolina
are entitled to much credit for what they
have done. At the close OF the war there
were many who had great apprehension
as to the conduct which would result
from the freedom Of the negro. l am glad
to be able to state that that apprehension
proved to be unfounded. Your conduct in
the main has been admirable. You have
surpassed expectations. You have been
sober, law abiding and Industrious. You
have created more value in freedom than
you did in slavery and taken all in all you
deserve the thanks of the commonwealth.
But you will pardon me as one who is i
friend of yours for speaking to you today
words which may seem unkind, but are in
fact kind because truthful. There are
many things in your freedom which you
have neglected. There are many things
yet for you to do. In glancing through
the criminal statistics Of the State l find
that while your race constitutes only one
third of the population of North Carolina