Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-22
alan With HAT
IN Ills HAND
Continued from Page T..

>--s-----. .sIs
troops we're formed in full rcgiinental
parade IN the preserce OF thousands of
( spectators.
Leaning against tree close beside
ME was q white-haired mountaineer,
e who looked with intent eyes upon the
! movements OF the men i'll uniform The
regiment had finished it's evolutlons;
4 the commissioned officers had lined
S themselves to make their regular march
TO 10 the front for report and dismissal.
+ The bugler had sounded the signal; the
halyard had been grasped, and the flag
slowly fell, saluting the retiring sun.
Is lnstinctivelys md apparently -uncon-
sciously my tall neighbour by the tree.
+ removed his hat from his head and held
1T In his hand in reverential recognition
until The flag had been furled and the
last strain of the national anthem had
been lost In the resonant tramp of the
troops as they left tho field.
what picture that was-the man
With his hat in his hand, as he stood
uncovered during that impressive cere-
mony. I moved involuntarly toward
him, and impressed with his rcverential
attitude, ] asked him where he was
from. II am.' said he from Pickcns
county" and in casual conversation it
developed that this raw mountainee,
mad come 10 Atlanta to say farewell to
an only son. who stood IN line before
him. The silent exhibition of patriot
ism and loyalty had Just witnessed
had been prompted BY soul rs rugged
but as placid rs the great blue noun-
tains which gave it birth, and by an
inspiration liindlcd from the very
bosom Of nature itself
There was the connecting link be-
tween The hearthstonc and the CAPITOL
+ There was the citizen who, represent
ing the only real. substantial element
Of the nations reserve strength-"the
+ citizen standing in the doorway of his
Z home contenied on his threshold"-
had answered his country's call--thc
(, man of whom Henry Grady so clo-
.quently said 'He shall save the Re
public when the drum tap is futile and
+ the barracks arc exhausted"
Permit me. Mr. Chairman, to en-
press my recognition of the fact that
an occasion like this Is neither the
time nor the place for a discussion
which would he, even constructively.
political in it's trend.
4 A NoN-PoLITICAL TALK.
What I say tonight will be the
words of an American citizen who
loves his country. I do not speak the
creed of any party. neither do speak
the voice of any section. shall speak
1.-THE faith of the man with his hat in
his hand. IS I read 1t in his weather
beaten face that day
In the Philippines, 5000 American
soldiers to-day are standing in the
trenches against the onslaught on our
national authority. It is needless now
ito recount the why and the where
fores OF this attack. There Is room for
patriotic differences on expansion of
our boundary lines and the subsequent
control of territory acquired. But 1t
should be enough for any American
ri tzen Sf1, rnhv tho HE rnli ica |
opinions, to know that our boys are
being killed. our flag is being assailed
and our authority is being defied.
Personally I have thought and still
think, that had we coupled with the
ratification of the peace treaty an as
surnnce in the nature OF the declaration
made for Cuban independence there
would have been no serious disturbance
IN the Philippines. and that we would
now be in the peaceful possession of the
al1hiDelago, as we are in control of
Cuba. T believe it is not too late, even
now. to make this broad declaration of
our policy, assuring domestic control OF
internal affairs, combined with the
guarantee of Independence whenever.
In the opinion Of this government, the
Fllipinos are able to administer gov
eminent which will protect life, secure
property, maintain law and order and
meet the demands of civilization.
In referring to the marked industrial
development Of the South during the
last few years Mr.. Howell said:
We have as yet but touched the bor-
ders of Asiatic trade, and with any
thing like a fair basis for operation,
giving us n vantage ground from
Z. where we can participate in the fruits
of that newly opening market, we will
look confidently to the day when the
South, taking its sister states of other
uection by the hand, will point 10 her
overlooking apron OF riches, and lead
the joyful chorus that sings the nations
wealth.
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.