The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-09-29
Governor Aycock in Maine.



Governor Aycock wound up his
educational campaign in Maine last
Tuesday at Pennington, where he
and Hon. F. d. Winston made
speeches. The Governor seems to
have taken the Pine Tree State by
storm. He attended thirteen educa-
tional mass meetings. At the close
of his speech on Tuesday Mr.. Stet-
son, the State Superintendent of
Education, paid a handsome tribute
to Governor Aycock, saying in part:
"A week OF most intimate association
with our distinguished guests furnishes
me basis for an appreciation OF the ser
vice they have rendered. The pleasantest
remembrance that remains with me is the
TACT that the speakers have said no word
that the most sensitive could Justly criti-
CHE and they have been most kind in
their expressions OF gratitude for the
spontaneous heartiness OF the reception
rendered them.
Governor Aycock and Judge Winston
have made it possible for us to have q
just conception OF the quality and char
acter Of people OF the South. They have
helped us to an understanding OF the.
temper and purpose of the leaders that
years or reading could not bring us. This
experience has shown US how scant rea-.
son we have for distrust or disapproval
OF our brethren. 1t has given us another.
proof that people are better than they
are painted.
1.-The words OF praise that have come
from thoee who are skeptical have a
double significance and are peculiarly
acceptable to our guests. The almost
embarrassing cordiality of these com
mendatiOns attest the power and appeal
| OF these addresses
s,This past week has convinced us that
Governor Aycock il q student, scholar,
a statesman and an orator in the truest
sense OF that much misunderstood word.
He takes advanced grounds on all eduea-
tiOnal questions. He is not only sane
pedagogically, but he il also a leader In.
exploring new fields. Governor Aycock
faces the East and stands for the best in
the school, the home and the church. He
represents the newest South and believes
in her glorious future. His personal and
social life are in harmony with the senti-
ments he voices The past receives but
little OF his thought He has left behind
the things he has gone by. No bitterness
finds nurture in his soul, but instead he
| hunts for what he wants to find, the best
| In every one. He il progressive in spirit,
but conservative in action. He il hos
pitable to new ideas and judicial in
| adopting them. He sees education from
the statesman's standpoint. hence he h
catholic and generous. He has been
| every day as you see him tonight-mag-
netic, masterful. but always gentle and
anxious to make good things better
| ''He is one OF the few men who has
| arisen not only to but above the occa-
sion. lie breaches with an impassioned
eloquence the gospel Of York. appreeia-
ton and servieo-tbe trinity 81 the edu-
cational creed Of the future lie believes
| in training everybody aud every thing
He insists each child shall be 80 edueatef
| that the good that il In him shall be reg
pant. His doctrine is AZ sound as It is
stimulating lie convinces by his logic,
| inspires by his earBestness teaches
through homely Illustrations and wins
by his sweet reasonableness. His artlor
in cbampioning the cause oi the child
and the weak assures the listener that he
has dedicated his splendid talents to
| making il possible for everybody To live
the highest things Of which they are
capable, I'm every speech there were mo-
| ments when the listeners were obIivious
of everything but the words OF the
| speaker Fascinated by the spell he cast
| over them, they saw only the glowing
pictures he painted, heard only the
gracious words that found such prompt
response In their hearts. No Others speaker
on educational subjects in this State has
ever 80 aroused and impressed his listen
ers. He has taught ~ needed lessons
and has given us nobIer views 81 our
| work.
I'VE respect him for his commanding
abilities. honor him for the great service
he il rendering and love him for his de-
votion to the cause that il 80 dear to us.
His candor has won our hearts, his
teachings have enriched our lives, yet his
best gif. has been bis great personality.
We are glad to feel his shoulder buttress-
ing ours. IL gives US courage to walk
the pathway Of struggle with him.
North Carolina and Maine are sitting
around the same hearthstone these
days"