Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-08-09
THE ANNUAL REUNION
NINETEENTH MEETING OF TIE
Old SETTLERS OF MONT
COOKERY COUNTY.
hon. GEORGE ROBERTSON SPEAKS.
Erief Synopsis Of What the Mexico
Attorney sAia-Di~ussd Local
and State History Mr..
DOcksF hot Present b


corresponaenca q the Lsdgsr.
NEW FLORENCE, Nc. Aug. a-The
nineteenth annual meeting Of the Old
Settlers Association Of Montgomery
County held here to-day wAs intend
ed BY 1900 people from this and
other counties.
The objects Of the Association are
set forth in lie consultation a. follows:
asro preserve history,incidents events,
local and general, from the telling Of
the frst tree, the breaking Of the
nrst prairie, the first spinning wheel
and loom, to the present day and for
all time 10 come"
This annual reunion has become one
Of the principal events In this section
Of the State. The annual meeting day
lie the first Saturday in August.
Hon. 7. ]. Powell, Of this phase,
seventy years Of sge and . native Of
Montgomery county, has been its Sec
rotary since it's organization. r. T..
See, now Marshal OF the Supreme
Court, for q number Of years has
been Grandstand Marshal and Probate
Judge j. d. Barnett was this year
elected President. Residence in the
county thirty-hEe years on 90 years Of
age is requisite to membership.
Hons. A. N. Dockery and Joe
Flory, candidates for Governor, were
advertised TO speak, but owing to
some Misunderstanding Mr. Dockery
failed to appear. Mr.. Flory made q
non-partisan speech in the afternoon.
Hon. George Robertson, Of Mexico,
made the principal speech Of the day,
discussing local and State history and
government policies of the Republic,
regardless OF party principles. He
spoke of the unprecedented prosper
Ity Of the country, the happiness Of
the people, and said II was due TO the.
wisdom Of the founders Of the Repub-
lie, who established the governments
upon the principle that all men are
crested free and equal and because #
affords every citizen equal opportu-
nifty, giving special privileges to none.
That under our form of government,
honesty, frugaiity, intelligence and
industry In the masses, in spite Of the
demagoguing politicians, have main
tanned and always wiz maintain proc
perity among the people and the
perpetuity OF republican institutions.
He said that be did not believe that
this Union was on the brink Of ruin
and destruction, as prophesied By
some Of the politicians, and a. long as
the people we're honest, watchfui and
faithful to the principles Of Demo-
cratic government, the politicians Of
no party could ever wreck II. He did
moi haliave that all Of the best WA
patriotism and intelligence is concen-
trated in the Republican party, all Of
the wisdom and prophetic power In
the Democrats party, or all the fool
ishness In the Populisf party. That
people should not believe every par
tisan speaker " paper, claiming that
n Bryan had his way or Mckinley his
way this country would 60 to perdi-
ton; that Mckinley had not ruined
the country as had been prophesied,
nor would Bryan II be was given an
opportunity.
The great ONCE of President carries
with 1t great responsibilities which
men aspiring to that place. fully ap-
preclate and no one need feel that any
man elected to that place or party In
trusted with the great responsibility
Of the administration of the govern
ment win ever plunge the country
Into entanglements, By engaging in
strange and unheard Of policies. The
soil on which the people Of Missouri
live and prosper was acquired from
France by President Jefferson in 1903
and when the Louisiana Territory was
annexed, Jefferson wns denounced By
the FedeFalists q being an ImPeriAlist
and 1t was sagely propbesisd BY them
that untold miseries and ruin would
follow as 9 result Of this acquisition.
The Wings In iszs made the same
prophesies concerning the acquisition
Of the Mexican Territory by President
Polk. Many Of these prophets lived
to zee their prophesies fan and were
ashamed that they ever made them.
The politicians ct times seem to forget
that the people think for themselves
and that the great masses Of them are
always honest.
The Chinese question now confront
ing the American people IL not one of
party politics. Il Is purely an Amer
lean question. Il 10 the duty Of this
government to protect its citizens
from assault IN foreign countries and
by the rules OF international law, It
is not only the right, but the duty Of
President Mckinley, V commander
in-chief OF the armies,to invade China
for the protection Of our missionaries
and legations there and IN this act he
win have the hearty support Of every
American deserving Of the name Of
patriot.
By our treaty with that country
made in 1855, there has been sstab-
lishsd many communities in China of
American citizens and they are as
much entitled to our protection while
there as II residing on our own coil.
President Jefferson invaded Spanish
territory with an army for the pro-
lection of Americans and their prop
erty In 1906. General Jackson 40 the
head Of an army did the same thing
in 1878 and upon the same principles
President Polk invaded Mexico and
two battles were fought on Mexican
soil before war wa declared In 1sls.
While Buchanan was President the
American Navy fred on Chinese forts
and captured them 10 prevent injury
10 American citizens and In one naval
battle the American Navy, under
Commodore Tatnell, lent assistancs 10
the English, for which oonduct be not
only received the plaudits Of the party
then In power, bat Of the whole Amer
lean people. L
The Republicans who are 90 voolfer-