The news & observer., 1905-01-05
The Man and the Measure.

Governor Aycock, of North Caro-
lima. dared to plank down a prlnciola
and 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 fixed principle, an avoWed pur-
pose, whether that principle and pur-
pose be popular or unpopular, ia
Forably received or unfavora bly,, that
man is worth While among us. You
know where he stands, comprehend
his meaning, can safely reckon about
him. And that is of worth to under
stand man and realize his incoming
ana his motive in this world.
When Aycock was nominated four
years ago, he went up and down in
this commonwealth and plainly and
polntedly declared to the people every
where that if he should be made their
public servant he would do all in his
power for their education, for univer-
sal education. for the education of all
the children of this State, regardless
OF class. color or previous conditions
OF servitude. The people may have
thought his speeches sounded we'll for
politician and his raIr promises
these OF a man seeking an office. and
that his talk would be abandoned
when he became Governor They
They had not tried the calibl of the
metal they were TO deal with. What
Aycoek the candidate proclaimed on
the stump, Aycock the official has Ia
bored necessarily and unflinchingly
to carry out. What he said on the
hustings has been said again and
again in the school houses and col
leges 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 1t, good or bad
and that at least is worth somewhat
He has not asked you whether you
liked il 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 con-
science that which he believed about
education. Whether you believe in
universal education or not, education
for whites and education for blacks.
you we'll know that Aycock believes in
il 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
prea ched public education for all the
children of the State SO forcefully and
SO efectuaily that somehow the peo-
pie came TO believe his doctrine TO
Sucn dn GAlSnl that lNey 1HCTSdSSQ
their public school term during his
four years administration 16 per cent;
that the salaries of teachers increased
16 per cent; that the school enroll
tnent increased % per cent; that
school property increased 65 per cent;
that the school fund increased about
100 per cent: that the number OF local
tax school districts increased 663 per
cent; and that in his State ST. libraries
were established and LOIS school
houses We're built They will tell
their children that the man who
preached universal education, in. some
way, whether by popularity or UNI
popularity brought things to pass in
this good commonwealth that gave
an impetus to education. schools and
colleges such as the commonwealth
had not felt in many n long year.
And something else these parents
may tell their children. That this
man Who became Governor, preached
cd"cation, made his Hame for himself
in this State and in others. did not
think il worth while when a young
man. while a candidate, or while all
official, TO use bad language, to tell
smutty yarns, to drink strong drink
and lead any sort of fast life. They
will tell that he learned to make his
first speeches in Sunday school: That
in religious gatherings he first moved
peoples $ neaftS, Lnat all the Wnlte he
Was a strict member of tho church,
and that his private and personal life
u-ae +hat of a conscientious, Christian
gentleman.
triend and foe alike will admit that
Charles 3. Aycock is public man
with n principle, has an issue and has
stood by it, and now leaves his high
Office without spot or blemish on priv
ntc life or public career. In every
truth man has been and is among
IFS aud we feel the uplift Of his strong
ARR,