The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-11

ne SAID ana more In MS manner Oh say
ing it. The president greeted his au-
dience as Americans" and while Civ
ing all credit 70 the south and South
Carolina for her part in the history os
the country. he made II plain mat there
must be enterprise and industry, con-
tinued and unceasing. IL success and
achievements were to be bad in the
future that would be comparable with
the past.
The president was dressed in weli
fitting Prince Albert. cut rather high in
the neck and outtoned closely. showiGS
only small section OF a turn down
collar and blue and white. four in hand
tie.
The stage was crowded with promi-
ncnt citizens of Charleston and abroad,
including all of the members of the city
council. city officials and DISTINGUISHED
citizens. The ladies OF the wOman's
board and the members of the receptio"
committee occupied boxes. President
Roosevelt, together with Captain Wage
ner and officers Of the exposition, occu-
pied seats on a small platform erected
in the center of the stage and the audi
ence commanded a splendid view. Tha
Artillery band occupied seats to the
presidents left and furnished music al
intervals during the exercises.
Introductory Speeches.
The first speaker was Captain Wage
ner. president of the exposition compa-
ny. He was received enthusiastically
and in very few words extended cor
dial greetings to the president and the
members of his party and all the visi-
tors to the exposition.
Governor McSweeney. Of South Caro-
lima, was the next speaker, and he ex-
tended the warmest and kindest greet
ings TO the president from the people Of
South Carolina.
Governor Aycock's Speech.
The next address was made by Gov
error Aycock, of North Cal olina, who
brought kind words and heartfelt
welcome from the Old North State.
Governor Aycock is most eloquent
speaker and he was received with great
applause. He assured the preSident
that all North Carolina was glad II
have him in the south at any time, but
especially on this particular occasion,
ever held in the south. Many visitors
were here from his own state to Joint
with South Carolina in welcoming him.
The President's Speech.
Mayor ]. Adger Smyth then introduc-
ed the president. The audience seemed
to have guessed Mayor Smyth's purpose
for there was a burst Of applause the
moment he arose from his seat. The
president said:
It is to me n peculiar privilege to
speak here in your beautiful city. My
mothers people were from Georgia;
but before they came to Georgia, be-
fore the Revolution, in the days of
Colonial rule. they dwelt for nearly
century in South Carolina; and there
fore can clairn your state as mine by
Inheritance no Jess than by the strong
er and nobler right which makes each
foot of American soil in a sense the
property of all Americans.
Charleston IS not only a typical
southern city; it is also a city whose
history teens with events which link
themselves to american history as d
whole In 'the early Colonial days
Charleston was the outpost of our
people against the Spaniard in the
south. In the days of the Revolution
there occurred here some of the events
which vitality affected the outcome Of
the struggle for independence and
which impressed themselves most
deeply upon the popular mind. 1t was
here that the tremendous. terrible
drama of the civil war opened.
With delicate and thoughtful cour-
tesy you originally asked me to come
to this exposition on the birthday of
Abraham Lincoln. The invitation not
only showed a fioe generosity and man
Illness in you, my hosts, but 1t also en-
phasiZed as hardly anything else could
have emphasized how completely we
are now a united people. The wounds
left by the great civil war, incompara-
bly, the creates. war of modern times,
have healed: and it's memories are
now priceless neritages of honor alike
to the north and to the south. The
devotion to the right as each man saw
it. whether northern or southern-all
these qualities CO the men and women
of the early sixties now shine lumin-
Gus and brilliant before our eyes, while
the mists of anger and hatred that once
dimmed them have passed away for
ever.
All of US, north and south, can glory
| alike in the valor of the men who wore
| the blue and OF the men who wore the
| gray Those were iron times, and only
| iron men could fight to its terrible
| finish the giant struggle between the
| hosts OF Grant and Lee. To US OF the
| present day. and to our children and
| children's children. the valiant deeds,
! the high endeaVor. and abnegatfon OF
| self shown in that struggle by those
| who took part therein will remain for
evermore to mark the level to which
| we in our turn must rise whenever the
| hour of the nations need may come
! When four ye;irs ago this nation was
| compelled to face a foreign foe, the
| completeness Of the reunion became in
| stantly and st-;kingly evident. The wal
| was not one which called for the ex-
| ercise OF more than an insignifican
| fraction OF our strength, and the straiI
| put upon US was slight indeed con-
| pare.l with the results. But 1t was Z
satisfactory thing to see the way il
! which the sons of the soldier Of th'
| union and the soldier of the Conted
eracy leaped eagerly forward, emulou:
to show in brotherly rivalry the quail
ties which had won renown for theil
| fathers, the men Of the great war. i
was my good fortune to serve under al
ex-Confederate general, gallant olt
| Joe Wheeler, who commanded th'
| cavalry division at Santiago.
In my regiment there were certainly
| as many men whose fathers had serveC
in the southern. as there were meI
| whose fathers had served in the north
ern army. Among the captains ther
was opportunity to promote but ons
to field rank The man who was singled
/ out for this promotion because of ccn
spicuous galiantry In the field was th'
| son Of a Confederate general and wa.