The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-05-25
RIGHT OF A CITIZEN.
Ex-Governor Aycock Replies to
Criticism of His Advocacy of
Locke Craig's Nomination.

In introducing Mr.. Locke |
Craig, Democratic candidate for
Governor, to an audience at |
Goldsboro last Thursday night, |
Gov. Aycock took occasion to an
sWer some of the criticisms that
have been made of his action in
advocating the nomination of
Mr.. Craig. In this connection he
said:
I am about to commit another
imprudent act. | am about to
present to you the speaker of the
occasion and to endorse his candi-
dacy for Governor.
/ am aware that many of my
friends in this county and else
where in North Carolina have
criticised my writing a letter in
behalf Of the candidacy of the
speaker who is to address us to-
night. and have said that it was
unwise in me to do so; that it
would hurt me in the future.
When was | ever wise? When
did | ever stop to count the cost
if the interest of the Democratic
party and the State of North
Carolina were involved? When
have | ever hesitated to serve a
friend even if it did cost me
something to serve him? | thank
God that the wisdom to take care
of myself has been denied me, if
thereby may haply serve my
State the better and prove my
self more loyal to my friends.
| After all, was it not this want of
wisdom on my part which m ade
me the unanimous nominee of
the party in 1900? For certain
am l that this was the chief vir-
tue which | had, if any possess
ed, and certainly when | was max.
ing the canvass in 1900 and seek
ing to disfranchise the nergo i
never occurred to me that | was
likewise disfranchising myself
Have we come to the time when
because a man has once held higl
office he shall be regarded as
, thing apart-too high and might,
to take pot luck with the people
. who has so many honors that
, is dishonorable in him to serv
his State further in a privat
~ capacity, and so many friend
that he cannot serve any one O
- them without offending the rest
y y Surely this is a theory of govern
ment which does not belong t
genuine Democracy. A ma
- gains no rights by having hel
- high station, nor does he los
!, any. He is neither the bette
- nor the worse for having hel
= the position, and his influence,
. he have any, is due, not to tn
- position which he has held, br
~ to the service which he has don
and the character to which h
has attained. Shall any man /
denied this right? What is
" that makes it proper for pres
" dents of banks and lawyers an
" merchants to espouse the caus
- of Mr.. Kitchin and write letter
in his behalf, and makes it lit
y, short of criminal for another WI
- is today but a private citizen,
support Craig? Shall Congress
man, while still holding his O
~ flee, be permitted to urge Il
II people to vote for him for Go
y, ernor, and it be made an often
- : for one who has once been Go
" ernor and is now a private ci
zen, to urge the nomination
~ ~ another equally worthy and wi
~ more service? That appears
l -. be the doctrine that is oper
80 49, avowed; to which, as a man /
- ~ lieving in the equality of all t
= people, | will never assent.
l'0 Il claim no more rights tn
belong to every Democrat, ant
will not, through fear of inju
to myself, forego that liberty
speech without which republ
cannot exist. 1t is not worth t
consideration Of the people tt
IL advocates Of the nomination
any candidate should feel cal
'p upon to attack the supporters
any other candidate. The
sponsibility for this sort of thi
Ia must rest somewhere. 1t is C
we tain that the people do not nat
10 ally make warfare on priv
citizens, and when we find 81
IL a condition existing we may
4 sure that the fault rests with
4 candidate and not with the p
( pie.
3 Something was said last nj
! 1 4