Rating
Title	Don'; t Want To Be Governor
Date	1896-04-23
Circa?	yes
Creator	McIver, Charles Duncan, 1860-1906
Subject-LCSH	University of North Carolina at Greensboro McIver, Charles Duncan, 1860-1906
Description	This response from Charles McIver to running for governor of North Carolina was published in the Greensboro Patriot around 1896. In his response, he outlines the reasons why he does not want to be governor.
Type	Text
Original format	Documents
Original dimensions	10" x 8.5"
Repository	Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries - http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/
Collection	UA2.1 Charles Duncan McIver Records
Series	2.1 State Normal Records/Correspondence
Finding aid link	http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/university_archives/html/2_1.htm
Preferred citation	[Identification of item], [Identification of collection], Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.
Copyright	http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/copyright.php
Object ID	UA002.1.096
Digital publisher	The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304
Digital collection homepage	http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/ui.php
Transcript	April 23, 1896.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; Don'; t Want To Be Governor.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; Within the past fortnight the name of C.D. McIver, president of the State Normal and Industrial School, has been favorably mentioned by several newspapers in connection with the governorship of North Carolina. While he would make a good governor those best acquainted with the gentlemen know that he has no desire for political honors, so engrossed is he in the great educational work he has undertaken, and while a number of his friends have paid a graceful compliment to his character and ability his letter to the Raleigh News and Observer, which is published below, will leave no doubt in the minds of the people as to his preference in the matter.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; GREENSBORO, N. C., April 23, 1896.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; A few newspapers in the State and a few of my friends have in their kindness and partiality mentioned my name in connection with the nomination for Governor. In yesterday’s News and Observer you saw fit to quote from two papers editorial endorsements of this kind. &; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; If I were engaged in some other field of labor than that of serving the public in one of its educational institutions, I should not consider it necessary to publish this card, as I have no fears that the Governorship or the nomination will be forced upon me. But I am unwilling that the public should think that I am a candidate for any political office or honor or that I am seeking such preferment directly or indirectly through my friends, for the reason that such supposition on the part of the public would make me less efficient as a worker in the educational field and as a promoter of certain educational ideas in which for years my hear has been thoroughly enlisted.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; I should prefer to see these ideas adopted by the people of the State and to feel that I had been somewhat instrumental in bringing about the result than to hold any political office within their gift.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; I have no political aspirations whatever, and my highest ambition is that I may be able to hasten the day when North Carolina shall open her eyes and see that the question of free silver sinks into insignificance when compare with the question of free education for all the children of the State; that the gold standard of money is as nothing compared with a high and intelligent standard of citizenship, which will permit a discussion of the money problem or any other without intolerance or intemperate abuse; that the tarriff tax and internal revenue tax questions are not half so important to this State just now as the question of additional local taxation for public schools, which will be voted upon I about forty counties next fall; and finally, that the solution of no unsolved problem of statesmenship would do more for the present and future prosperity of North Carolina than a recognition of the fact that women’s education should be put upon as liberal a financial basis as that of men, and that improvement in our homes and schools—the great and conservative institutions of civilization—must be slow, so long as women, who make our homes and schools what they are, receive from State and Federal aid and from endowment funds for denominational colleges only one dollar where their brothers receive ten to help them in their struggle for an education. &; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; Men will continue to talk about maintaining the parity between silver and gold coined at the ratio of 16 to 1, but a blind man can see that there is no parity in this 10 to 1 arrangement in appropriations for the education of men and women, even if it is all done in the name of patriotism, statesmanship, and religion.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; Holding these views as I do, and desiring, above all things, to see them generally adopted, it would be unwise for me to encourage, or to seem to encourage, the use of my name in connection with political honors. I appreciate none the less, however, the kind and complimentary expressions that have called forth this statement, which I should not make but for the fact that my silence might be misconstrued.&; lt; br& gt; &; lt; br& gt; CHARLES D. McIVER

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