The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-04-24
Governor AycOck's Speech
ON THE OCCASION OF PRESIDENT ROOSe-
vELI'S VISIT TO CHARLESTON.
North Cardinals Eloquent Son Pieases
the President by His Stirring Ad.
dress-Called Upon Unexpectedly Tie
Makes q Short But Telling Speech
In Welcoming the Chief Executive Of
the Nation Upon Southern Soil.

Following is the address of Gov.
Aycock delivered in the Auditorium
at the Charleston Exposition April
9th, Presidents Day. during North
Carolina Week:
Governor Aycock was introduced
by Governor McSweeney and said:
Mr.. President:-I thought that We
were in Charleston, but this warm
welcome gives me the impression that.
we are in GOldsbOrO. But then il does
not make any difference whether it is
North or South Carolina. it is Caro-
lima. / was not aware. Mr. President.
that should be expected to say any
thing today, nor did l know that it
was fitting that | should until | re-
tiected that in the early days all of
these two great States constituted
Carolina, and it takes them both to
extend to the President of the United
States the welcome to which he is en-
titled. (Applause) There is ii very
high and fine sense in which. as nv
distinguished friend. the Governor of
South Carolina, said, that there is no
North and no South. and vet there is
another finer sense in which l am glad
to say today that there is South.
(Applause). When | glance over the
magnificent Exposition which has
been made here through the indus
tries of these people, stricken as they
had been by four years of disastrous
war; when | see the mighty work that
the men and women of this section OF
our common country have done. !
say there is a South, and a glorious
South. (Applause), And then, too,
when / reflect upon the history of this
country of ours and recall the glori-
GUS deeds of the noble people of this
State when they were struggling with
British tyranny, when, under the
leadership of that great Revolutions
airy soldier, under that of Marion and
Others, | am glad to say that there
is IL South, and that in the number
there is no truer and better State
than South Carolina. (Applause).
Nor am ] ashamed of the mighty
deeds which you wrought from 81 to
50. (Applause). | shall forever de-
fend the men and women. and must
do SO in order to justify the splendid
courage of the President of the United
States. (Applause). They were
great folk. Sturdy, determined, hot
blOoded maybe. but their blood stay
ed hot through four years. Your
hOt-blOOded man cOOls under less
than four years of suffering. But it
took from Bethel to Appomattox
to cool the blood of these Southern
people. They We're tired of fighting
against their brethren, but they had
just gotten themselves into good
training for fighting the greater
battles of life And so | say ! have
ceased to talk about the fact that
we are in the Union. for we never got
out. (Applause). And if there be
any State-in the Philippines or else
where-that wants to secede we will
teach them that they can't get out.
(Applause).
president Roosevelt: You are all
right, GOvernor")
Mr.. President, the old negro illus
trated the Southern feeling when he
said Your need not he talking about
these Southern people being prodigal
sons. II they were they were like the
fellow that walked in and said: Look
here. where's that veal?'
No fatted calffOr the penitent sons
OF the South. 1t is our Union, made
after the splendid hearts and the
glorious minds of Revolutionary
heroes, wrought out with loss of
blood and treasure and death and
suffering; sustained through fifty
years OF a glorious peace and made
stronger in the blood shed on both
sides of Mason = and DixOn's line. II
is our Union. Az our Union ! come
in the name OF the sister State of
North Carolina to extend cordial
greeting and welcome to our Presi-
dent. (Applause). And | may say
for the President that know that he
| is happier that he may be President
Of ii people who are proud OF their
! history than he would be TO be Presi-
dent of people who wer" ashamed
Of it. (Applause). And so. in the
name of all the manhood, and in the
nam" OF that better portion OF our
population, the splendid women-
than which there is no greater-oi
North and South Carolina. ! bid YOU
Welcome. Continued applause