The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-15
WELCOME BACK TO ROANOKE.

ROanOke lHlo"o us
toda7 to the Massachusetts lresS AS
soc;ation. and extends its members a
most cordial welcome 10 the city.
You have now Travelled over con-
siderable portion of the rich aud beau
tif1l mountain country of Southwest
Virginia traversed by the Norfolk ana
western railroad. You have seen
some Of our new manufacturing towns
and have sped through our mos fertile
valleys. You have Inspected the vast
deposits Of coal in the Pocahon'as re-
zion. and seen furnaces sending ior'n
their "clouds of smoke by day, and
nillars Of fire by night" You have
witnessed altogether grand comblna-
ton of the beautiful in nature with the
progressive in material development
and now come back to Roanoke' Inc
hub and commercial centre ofthe entire
section.
There is no more fitting place in Inc
State where Massachusetts and Flr-
clpia should meet and renew the ties
thatupited them in the revolutionary
contest than in this city. There is no
citv IN the State more typical OF the
progressive spirit Of the South OF to-
day, and no city whose upbuilding has
been so much due to The combination
of In. labor and capital of Northern
and Southern men.
Born, like many of its citizens after
tbs bombardmcnt cfFor! sumpter aud
the surrender at Appomattox' Roam
ole is prominently q new town; a
town similar to many others destined
TO rise il the mountain section OF
the southwest IN tie next few years !;
. town in which the men OF the North
and Of the South equally meet together
in business relations, and work hand
in bsod in industrial development; a
town stirre d with the spirit Of enter
prise, and animated with the cetermi-
natioa 10 utilize its every resource
and upbuild large and prosperous city.
Those OF It's citizens who were born
in the South revere and honor as they
sho. the courage and integrity OF
those who fought for the Confederacy'
and believe that conviction of right
animated them in their action. Upon
their fair fame, upon their loyalty to
home, upon their devotion to the prln-
ciples of liberty, they will acknowl-
edge no stain nor permit censure.
The struggle of'6l to Go was the iney-
liable outcome OF circumstances. 1t
was the outcome OF that anomaly IN
government, which boosted Of liberty
and the equality of mankind IN Its
Declaration of Indepenpance, and yet
recognized human slavery in its con-
stitrsion. If New England had been
situated where South Carolina and
Georgia are situated. If the equator
ran through British America instead
oe pr,,il md Perm. If climatic Con
djtions had been changed; if the South
had heen a manufacturing centre and
the North purely agricultural region
viewed from an impartial standpoint,
New England, in all probability,
would have done what Alabama ard
Mississippi and the remainder of the
Southern States did. Speaking the
same language, fighting the same bat
tie for independence from Great Bri-
tain, possessing the same heritage
firm in the belief in the rights of prop
crty and in their devotion to their fam
lies and homes the people of Virginia
and massachusetts, of Alabama and OF
New Hampshire are not unlike.
There is no disposition anywhere
among fair minded men to revive the
bitterness OF the war. Let it be
remembered, as it will be IN
the future, as the trying ordeal
through which the nation, in the course
OF destiny was required to pass TO rid
itself of the barrier which prevented
its cohesive force from being equal
throughout all lis parts.
With slavery gone, the Union is
stronger today than ever before in its
history. The settling of Northern men
in the South, the upbuildins OF cities
like Roanoke, the meeting and mingling
of III, people Of the TWO sections, and
the enlargement OF their social and
business relations is destroying and
will finally completely eradicate the
preiudices ensuing from want of ac-
ouaintance and mutual understanding.
Gentlemen of the Press Association
of Massachusetts, and ladies, we well
come you to Roanoke. May your visit
to the State be prolific in good both to
Massachusetts aud Virginia, aud the
means of awakening that reciprocity of
confidence and regard between the Sec
lions that shall enable the United States
to continue with quickened and certain
mace in its glorious course OF progress
ant, development, the wonder and admit
a -H L. o,atI