The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-11-01
A GRAND OVATION
GIVEN TO COL. POLK AVID OTHER
ALLIANCE MEN
AT the Piedmont Exposition in A Atianta.
1t Was an Occasion of Great Sisnifi-
Editorial Correspondence. I

day was the greatest day Of the Piedmont
Exposition. HENRY GRADY told me that
it was even a greater day than the CLEvE-
more people, he said. within the bounds Of
Fulton county than on any other day in
the history Of Georgia. The crowd was
estimated at everywhere between 80, 600
and SO, 900
1t was the greatest day in the history Of
the Farmers Alliance in America. 1t gave
10 three OF the most prominent leaders of
that body a promi. ence that was not per-
sOnal but that was intended as a great and
distinguished honor to the great order to
which they belong. Never before in the
history of this country have the leaders Of
the farmers been so highly honored. A
special car and committee Of prominent
citizens were sent to Texas and to North
Carolina and to his home in Georgia to
convey the three gentlemen who were
to make the day memorable in the history
of the Alliance and the Exposition. Every
honor that had been rendered PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND and GOVERNOR HILL was given
to Col. POLK, PRESIDENT JONES, and Col.
LIVINGSTON. Why? Because the Alliance
and its leaders are as great and occupy Is
large place in the thought of the South
as any public official. The honor was sig
nifcant of the hold The Alliance has upon
the people ana Of its great and growing
power.
This day witnessed the highest honor
that has been paid to North Carolnian.
Col. L. L. Polk, the eloquent editor Of
the Progressive Farmer, with a Iarty OF
friends, had been carried in a special car
to Atlanta and there shown the most dis
tiuguished honors that the Gate City (not-
ed for its grand ways of showing honOrs)
could confer. He spoke 10 forty thousand
people after an introduction of the most
complimentary character by the eloquent
t3ENRY GRADY His speech vas received
with appreciation and applause and Il It's
conclusion hundreds Of farmers ana thtrs
pressed forward to express their per~ 1ai
Agricultural Problem. GOVERNOR GORDON
publicly paid his speech handsome com
pliment, and HENRY GRADY predicted that
he would be the next President Of the
National Alliance. The New York Tribune,
referring to the occasion, says THE great
speech of the day was delivered by Coz l..
l.. POLK. OF North Carolina, President OF
the Interstate Farmers Association" ="
OF COL POLK the Atlanta Journal sad:
He is man of fine appearance, good
hard sense, eloquent in speech, and - ear
nest ard straight forward that he com
mands the respect Of everybody. His
friends and admirers and there are many
hundreds IF them-think that AT no dis
tant day he will occupy the position Of
president of the National Farmers Ali
ance Col Polk would honor the position.
With such leaders, the Alliance will con
tinue on firm Foundation aud live long 10
do the farmers great good.
The Constitution says of him:
Col Polk is man of magnificent per-
sonal appearance. His dress is faultless.
and his magnetism and eloquence have
procured for him numberless honocs.
Col PoLKs address was printed in last
weeks CHRONICLE. 1t contains much food
for thought ard is a strong presentation
of the truths and facts which Col. POLK
has consistently advanced and advocated
throughout his public life. 1t is his devo
ton to and eloquent presentation Of the
needs of the farmers that have given him
high position among them. The speech
reads well, but those who have heard Col
POLK know that his style is not 'reporta
ble" He has much of the fire of an ora
tor, and always his manner is attractive
and adds to his written words. This is
true Of all men who throw themselves into
their speeches
1t is but stating the cold truth to say
that COL POLK did honor to himself and
to North Carolina. | was proud that he
was native OF my State. | rejoice when
any North Carolinian wins honor and ap-
plause abroad. l take it as an honor to
my State as we'll as to my countrymeD, and
| am sorry for any North Carollniaa whose
soul is so narrow that he cannot rejoice in
any honor that comes to a citizen of his
State. Col. POLK impressed people most ia
vorably. l. is not too much to say that of
the three distinguished speakers he Was the
most eloquent and that his speech receiy
ed the most praise. Nor Is it too much to
say that his speech deserved all the praise
that it received.
l cannot attempt to write up" half the
incidents of the pleasant trip which Col
PoLN's party made to Atlanta aod the Ex
Atlanta, a committee from the EXpoai-
tiCn Mn GEO. V GRESs, a wealthy luln
herman, who has recently presented a
menagerie to the Atlanta City Park and
who Is as liberal and puDlic spirited as he
| is clever and wide awake; Mr.. PEYTON Il
| SNOoK, who owns one of the largest fur
| niture establishments III the South and com
bines "old Virginny' (his native State)
| courtesy with business energy; and CAPT
HUGH II. COLQITT, brother of the Senator
| (his maternal ancestors were North Caro-
linians), whose brilllancy, quickness az re
partee, public spirit, and thorough knowl
edge of Georgia and its affairs, are only
surpassed by his charming courtesies-
came to Raleigh to escort the party to the
Exposition. From the moment Raleigh
was left in the distance until they waved
US farewell at the Atlanta depot these
gentlemen apparently had no other thought
than to give pleasureto their North Caro-
lima guests. Every pleasure imaginable
and every courtesy that three popular
gentlemen could devise were ours Tht