The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-11-05

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North Carolinians about North Caro-
lima. Notably among them was Col.
A. X. Mcclure, the able and accom-
plished editor of the Philadelphia
Times, who has always been true
friend of the South. He spoke at the
Exposition October 21st, and is thus
reported by the Nezos and O6seruey
Hon. Thos. J. Jarvis introduced
the speaker in the following words:
Ladies and gentlemen: Before
proceeding to the pleasant duty as
signed to me, l beg your indulgence
that | may express my personal graft
flcatlon at the exhibition we witness
within these halls. As a citizen of
North Carolina, as a Southern man, |
heatily thank those who conceived the
idea of this exhibition, and those who
have labored SO faithfully to bring it
to its present state of perfection.
1t is an exhibition Of the resources
of North Carolina and of the Sou hern
States that does the promoters Of this
Exposition great credit, and will be of
infinite benefit to us as a people if we
make all out of it that we may and
| do not hesitate to say that it should
receive the support and the hearty
commentator of the people of Raj
sigh, and the citizens of North Caro-
lima and the people of the entire South.
In saying this, | beg to remind you
that l have had some little experience
in these matters it has been my for
tune TO be at the Atlanta Exposition
in 1881 with a fine collection from
North Carolina; it was my fortune
to be in Boston in 193; it was my
still more appreciated fortune to be
connected with the Exposition in North
Carolina in 1884, and l do not hesi
tate to say that this Exposition does
not suffer in comparison with any of
them.
Now l will perform the pleasant
task that has been assigned to me ;
| say "pleasant" because it is always
pleasant to bring old friends face to
face. Away back yonder, twenty
years ego, when North Carolina and
the other Southern States were work
ing in poverty to develop their re-
sources, when they were stretching out
to our Northern brethren the hand of
friendship, there was one in the great
State of Pennsylvania, that even then
was ready to grasp our extended hand,
and to raise his mighty voice and
powerful pen in behalf of the South
ern people. For twenty years, and
more, he has written and spoken for
reconciliation between the two sections
OF this country, and he has brought to
the attention of his own country the
hidden resources and inexhaustible
wealth of the Southern States as no
other man has done. Journeying
through the South amidst us and the
othern Southern people, he has seen
for himself and talked with the people
for himself, and then returning home
has told in his own inimitable style
what he has seen. We cannot measure
by any standard ofhuman computation
the benefits we have received from
what he has told. And it is with in
finite pleasure that l present to you
now, our friend, Col. A. K. Mcclure,
of Pennsylvania.
Col. Mcclure was greeted with
hearty applause.
COL. M'CLURE's ADDRESS.
Col. Mcclure said that it was a
great pleasure for him to meet those
before him, and especially at this time,
in the midst of an exhibit of their in
dustrial development These occasions
do great good by bringing the people
together. One of the greatest Difficult
ties Of the day is getting the people
together in order that they may under
stand each other. The people have
not understood each other. But for
this the war might have been averted.
We of the North believed that the
people Of the South, who talked about
war, were 4 lot Of bombasts, who
would ruu = the smell Of powder
You of the south believed US lot oil
money -ge,,ers. At meeting in my
own town | once tried to remind the
people there that The people of the
South were like ourselves, of our race,
with our blood the same traditions,
aims and aspirations, and they hissed
me. The people did not know each
other. But now they have learned
something of the South-after a great
war to which the stories of Rome and
Greece furnishes no parallel in glory
that pertains alike to the blue and
gray. This is one of the best method:
in the world to enable US to know
each other.
North Carolina has advantages
which shows that there is nothing tc
impede her progress to greatness. Her
population is homogeneous and hel
climate is unsurpassed. There is every
reason that you should be proud OF
her boundless wealth and her bound