The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-11-03
Hundreds Hear AyCOCk
Great Crowd Thrilled BY the Governors
EIoauence Saturday.

Opera tiouse-Many Ladies III the
Audience-S;rong Speech Of Intro
duction by 1r. A. c. Zo!licof!sr.
Gov. Aycock spoke to large aud
fence at Cooper Opera House Satur-
day afternoon. 1t was the greatest
gathering at IL political speaking
that has been seen here i'll years.
The Governor was i'll good form and
perfect voice and his speech was one
of the best that has been heard here
or elsewhere. No speaker III North
Carolina can surpass Charles b. Ay-
cock and none can charm and thrill
the people us he can. His speech Sat
urday was pitched upon a high plane
and during the one hour and a quar-
ter of it's delivery he commanded the
closest attention OF his hearers. At
times he would rise to flights of ora
tory, as in ringing words he appealed
for the children of North Carolina,
the insane, the deaf, dumb and blind,
the old soldiers, good government
and the peace, happiness and pros
perity of all the people.
Mr.. A. J. Harris, chairman OF the
County Executive Committee, pre-
sided over the meeting and called it
to order. In pleasing phrase he wei
coined the audience and congratulate
ed them on the treat in store. Seated
on the stage with the Governor were
Il number of prominent gentlemen,
from town and country, among them
.1,, 81, 10
yers, doctors, educators, manufac-
turers and representatives OF other
businesses and professions. Many
ladies were in the audience, and they
seemed to Ell Joy the speaking and Ell
tered into the spirit Of applause with
| us much Zest as any one.
Gov. AycOck was introduced by
Mr. A. c. IOllicOffer, Of the Hender-
son bar, and candidate for the State
Senate from this district (Warren
and Vance, He spoke eloquently
! and fOrciblv and his remarks elected
heartiest applause. Mr.. Zollicoffer's
| speech was "a gem of its kind. 1t was
| earnest and able and fOrceful pre-
sentation OF the issues of the day.
| Mr.. Zol!icoffer's Introduction
Mr.. Zollicoffer spoke as follows:
| Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentle
| men:-In the performance of this most
| pleasant duty which has been assigned
! to me by the grace and courtesy of the
| chairman OF the Democratic Executive
| Committee, might well content my
| self, and please you, by simply saying,
| my fellow citizens here is the Great Gov
ernOr of q Great State. The time, the
| occasion and this presence, however, in
| spires me to venture further | come
| not however, to introduce the distin-
| guished gentleman. who is with us to-
| day, for to any North Carolina audience
| that would be as thrice told tale: but
| in behalf of the people of a county whose
name is immortal, and shall never die. |
come rather to greet and to welcome you,
| sir. with a heart full of love and graft
| tude not only as our Chief Magistrate.
| but as q brother, friend, and member of
a common household | come to greet
| you, sir, in behalf of the heroes of 81 to
| 50 See you here these venerable men:
these veterans of a noble band? They
are the remnant of many well fought
| field. See them on crutches-with dis
| membered limbs-with disfgured faces
| They bring with them the scars and
marks Of honor from Gettysburg, Man
nassas, Bull Run and Appomattox.
See them with enfeebled bodies, with
STOPPING shoulders, with hoary hairs,
bowed in humble submission, they are
| waiting the Masters call to a higher and
better land, where they may rest from
their labors. Soon little mounds in
yonder cemetery shall mark the last
| e s. +Lo 4
greatest sOldiery Their bodies buried
in peace but their names live evermore. ;
''ln years gone by they hazarded every
thing in their cOuntrys cause They
babe farewell to hOme-to mOthers-tO
wives-to children-to sweethearts. and
with eyes only to the front they dared
to do or die
They have come here today to pay
| homage to you, sir, who, as leader OF
the great Democratic party, have done
so much to tighten their burdens, and to
give them a few comforts in their declin-
ing years. | come to greet you, sir, in
| behalf of the hundreds Of widows in
North Carolina, some of whom reside
here-whOse lives have been saddened-
whose homes are dark and vacant and
the bones of whose loved ones have
long since mingled with the dust and
soil on the battle fields of Virginia. The
stipend given them is small but the heart
that receives it is large and grateful.
come again to greet you in behalf OF
Gods afflicted chldren-the deaf. the
dumb the blind and the insane. Those
shut out from the beautiful light of this
world-the songs OF the birds, the gift OF
speech, and whose reasons have been de-
throned. Like the prayer OF the Grecian
warrior of old, you have heard that an.
peal.
''Dispel this cloud-the light of Heaven re-
store,
| Give me to see-and oh, | ask no more"
You cannot grant this petition. You
cannot restore the sight An allwise
Providence has ordained it otherwise
but under your great leadership and
| that of others, the beneficent Democratic
party has made it possible. that bv the
soft and gentle touch of the fingers they
| can now read and learn that most beau.
tiful of all songs,
The Lord is my shepherd | shall not
| want:
He maketh me to lie down in green pas.
| lures:
| He leadeth me beside the still waters
Again you have heard and needed the
cry OF the poor unfortunate insane as
they have called aloud from dark and
dismal dungeons and prisons cells. where
for no crime or violation OF the laws. but
because of affection, the most terrible OF
ALL they have been confined with thieves
and felons. Under your guiding hand
the Democratic party. true to its prin-
ciples, true to its people, has now made
it possible to say to the world that never
again shall one of North Cardinals cit
liens be thus doomed
i crave from you. sir. and from this
audience. if may be permitted to greet
you further, with love and affection in
behalf of more than 800 900 children
who daily attend the public schools OF
this State. and who daily in their little
petitions pray that the Father OF all
Mercies may smile upon you, and album
dainty bless you for the grand and Clio
rious work you have done in their behalf
For the thousands of school houses and
institutions of learning which have
studded the hills and valleys of this old