The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-01-23
Raleigh Morning Post. 18th.

Raleigh Morning Post, 18th.
Governor Aycock was the guest of
the Manufacturers Club at Charlotte
yesterday afternoon and last night.
and at evening delivered ringing
-peech before an immense audience in
he hall Of the Chamber Of Commerce.
Later there WAS magnificent recep-
lion in the apartments of the Manu-
facturers' Club.
The theme of the Governors speech
was The Imperative Need of Edca-
ton" He said:
Mr.. President and Feltow Citizens:
When | received the invitation Of
the Cham Der of Commerce to deliver
an address upon the imperative need
Of public education in this State | felt
very highly gratiiied. There has
grown up in this State in certain cir
cles an idea that the men Of wealth
and those engaged in commerce are
opposed, or at least not enthusiastic
upon the subject of universal educa-
ton. Your invitation denies this
suggestion, and | was therefore much
5ratitied. 1t is understood, OF all
men. trust, that | am personally
and officially in favor of the education
of the children of the State This
position Of mine has been taken after
much thought; is not the result of any
sentiment, and is not q mere opinion,
but it is a settled conviction.
l have many friends in the State,
strong men, men of intellect and of
character and of influence, who differ
from me upon this subject. They
seem to think that | have taken a
radical position. l am glad, there
fore, to be able in the city of Charlotte
to make clear my position. l say in
the city OF Charlotte because this city
was the birthplace of American
liberty, is the leader in Commerce
and stands al tho head of the progress
sive element of our State in all mat
tiers which tend to their development.
If this city is right upon the question
OF education, and her position is in
dicated by your invitation, then these
friends of mine are mistaken, and to
show that they are mistaken and to
strengthen the spirit of universal edu-
cation in the State, | have decided to
make a speech made up almost entire
the Governors of this State and the
reports of the Superintendents of Pub
lie Instruction. Surely these gentle
men have not been mistaken. The
people have certainly not entrusted
their affairs to one man after another
who is in error upon matter Of such
vital importance.
TRIBUTE TO CALVIN H. WILEY.
In the midst OF the Civil War, when
every man who was capable of fight
ing, and every dollar which could be
expended was devoted to the cause of
the Southern Confederacy, the people
of North Carolina did not forget that
the chief interest of the State lay in
the education of her children, and
Calvin H. Wiley, one of the greatest
men and the best who has ever served
the State, devoted his time, his genius
and his heart to the cause of the
masses of the people. His reports
him to place at the head of those
who have advocated the universal
education of the people. He is little
known, but declare to you that in
my study of the men who have made
North Carolina what she is, there is
no man in all her history who ap-
proachss him in valuable service to
the people of the State. His memory
ought to live forever and the work
which he did ought to be known of all
men. 1t has grown to be fashion to
speak pleasant words Of me as the
Educational Governor" OF the State,
but when | consider the work which
Calvin II. Wiley did and of the
thoughts which he expressed l feel
mys self unworthy of the slightest dis
tinction. l am therefore pleased to
open my address tonight with ex-
tracts from his reports, and | SHALL
follow what he says by the messages
| Of the different Governors and the re-
ports of the various uperntendents
since then.
| GOVERNORS AND sUPERINTENDENTs
QUOTED.
There are people wko think that
my position is wrong; that | am not
representing the best view of the peo-
pie of the State. l have therefore
| thought it needful to call attention OF
the people of the State, through the
Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte,
to the fact that if am wrong that all
nv predecessors have been wrong.
and the men whom the people have
been foolish people.
/ L. II