The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-01-12
The Man and the Measure.
Christian Sun.

Christian Sun.
Gov. Aycock. of North Carolina
dared to plank down a principle and
a platform four years ago and stand
to it during the entire period OF his
administration now closing. Thank
God for that much in North Carolina
politics and craftsmanship. A man
with a fixed principle, an avowed
purpose, whether that principle and
purpose be popular or unpopular,
favorably received or unfavorabiy,
that man is worth while among US.
You know where he stands. compre-
bend his meaning, can safely reckon
about him. And that is OF worth, to
understand q man and realize his
meaning and his motive i'll this
world.
When Aycock was nominated four
years ago, he went up and down III
this commonwealth and plainly and
pointediy declared to the people
everywhere that if he should be made
their public servant he would do all
in his power for their education, for
universal education, for the educa-
ton of all the children of this State,
regardless OF class, color or previous
conditions OF servitude. The people
NAV have thought his speeches
sounded we'll for politician and his
| fair promises those Of man seeking
an Office. and that his talk would be
abandoned when he became Cover
nor. They had reckoned with the
wrong man. They had not tried the
caiiber of the metal they were to deal
with. What Aycock, the candidate,
proclaimed on the stump, Aycock,
the official, has labored incessantly
and unflinchingly to carry out.
What he said on the hustings has
been said again and again in the
school houses and colleges and places
of learning in this State for the past
four years. You may or may not
agree with his text, but he has stuck
to it. good or bad, and that at least
is worth somewhat. He has not
asked you whether you liked it or
not. Week after week, month after
| month. in season and out OF season,
he has gone on hammering into the
public minds and public conscience
that which he believed about educa-
ton. Whether you believe in univer,
sal education or not, education Tor
whites and education for blacks, you
we'll know that Aycock believes in it
and has lost no opportunity to say
so very definitely, very plainly, very
powerfully. In the years to come we
fancy that parents will tell with pride
to their children that there once
arose a man in North Carolina who
preached public education for all the
children OF the State so fOrcefully anC
so effectually that somehow the PEG
pie came to believe his doctrine tt
such an extent that they increased
their public school term during hi.
four wears administration Is pei
cent. that the salaries of teachers III
creased 16 per cent; that the schoo
enrolment increased % per cent.
that school property increased 6;
per cent; that the school fund in
creased about 100 per cent; that TIN
number of local tax school district
increased 663 per cent; and that il
this State SIT libraries were estab
lished and l ,O15 School houses wer
built. They will tell their children
that the man who preached universal
. education, in some way, whether b.
popularity or unpopularity brough
things to pass in this good common
wealth that gave an impetus to edu
cation schools and colleges. such a
the commonwealth had not felt il
, many Il long year.
,, And something else these parent
may tell their children That thi
man who became Governor preache'
education, made his name for himse
in this State and in others, did no
think it worth while when a yOun,
man, while candidate, or while a
official, to use bad language, to te
smutty yarns, to drink strong drink
and lead any sort of fast life. The
will tell that he learned to max
q his first speeches in Sunday-schoo
! that in religious gatherings he frs
q moved peoples hearts, that all tn
l. while he was a strict member of tn
church, and that his private and pei
sonar lie was UndU VI Il cOuSclelUlOus
i Christian gentleman.
Friend and foe alike will admit tina
4 Charles B. Aycock is a public ma
O with a principle, has an issue and ha
II stood by it, and now leaves his hig
e office without spot or blemish o
private life or public career. In ever
t truth a man has been and is anon
Is US and we feel the uplift OF his stron
:, arm.