Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-09
MAKES MANY FRIENDS
President Roosevelt Wins the
Esteem of Southerners.
ADMIRE HIS FRANKNESS
HIS PUBLIC UTTERANCES MEET
WITH APPROVAL.
Fears That He Might Meet With
Violence Prove to Be
Groundless.
ADMIRE HIS FRANKNESS
pecial from a STAFF Correspondent.

Special from a staff Correspondent
CHARLESTON, S. c.. April 9.-President
Roosevelt has captured Charleston as eff
fectively as ne and his regiment of Rough
Riders did the crest of the hill at San Juan.
With Charleston probably go the hearts
and best wishes of the southern people. In
his demeanOr and actions here, in his short
speech at the banquet last night and in the
formal speech made today on the exposition
grounds he got close to the hearts and
sentiments of the people of the state and of
the south.
President Mckinley had appealed to the
people of the south through many acts and
in many ways before he visited this section
in December. 1898, and made his famous
speech that won and held for him the love
and esteem of the southern people. Less
was known of Roosevelt, and probably less
was expected of him. Add to this the
Booker Washington incident and the sequel
to the Tillman-McLaurin episode III the
Senate and 1t Is seen that In reaching the
esteem of southern people the new Presi-
dent had a more difficult task than the
former one. The fact that he has accom-
plished this. however, is sufficient without
the reasons.
His Speech Commended.
The Presidents speech today is univer-
sally commended as not only a manly one,
full of sympathy and eloquence, but broad
and statesmanIike. Some people say they
did not expect it. Therefore. the surprise
to them is all the more agreeable. not
wholly through his speeches to them has
the President won his way to the highest
esteem of Charleston people. Wherever he
has gone here, at whatever function he has
taken part, he has entered into it most
heartily and with evident zest. He has
been hauled around good deal. but he has
entered into all the program with spirit and
evident enjoyment
On steamboats, In the streets everywhere
he has laid aside unnecessary formality
and has put himself wholly into the hands
of the people here. He has talked with
them privately in a spirit of the utmost
friendiiness and kindly feeling: in public
he has talked to them in a heart-to-heart
manner. His words everywhere have been
sincere and hearty. This bearing has done
more to get close to people than the ac-
tual words uttered in public. For instance,
the sons of confederates and old soldiers
themselves have congregated around him
with apparent pride whenever opportunity
presented. He has talked to them about
Tie accomplishments oil their OfficerS and
soldiers. Last night two young fellows
spoke to him. One of them said: NJ
father was in Gen. Micah Jenkins COM
mand in the confederate army and was
wounded three times" Another said: My
father was a soldier in Kershaw's 1egi-
ment and brigade and lost an arm at
Fredericksburg.
Emblems of Their Mobility
he ,.-itI a
then added: Young men. those wounds
and the records of your fathers are the
emblems of your nobility. Nothing is
more beautiful and valuable to the young
men of the United States than the valor-
Gus records of their fathers, even if they
did fight against each other"
So Mr. Roosevelt has successfully won
the love of the old confederate soldiers as
he has that of the veterans of the G. A r.
Those who are frequently about the White
House in Washington know with what a
degree of love. and confidence the old SOL
diers of the north go to the Executive MAN.
sion and with what degree of warmth and
sympathy they are received there
President Roosevelt visited Fort Sumter
yesterday afternoon. He was the first Pres
ident to visit that historic spot in the mid
die of Charleston harbor. The wind was
blowing a gale strong that a man could
hardly stand on his feet, and the sand flew
Ike brlstles IN the face of everybody Yet
the President was unmindful of these
things In his mind and heart he was go
ing back TO the days of fighting and brav-
cry in and around the vicinity. seeing every
thing and having everything explained to
him by the local people. He went through
all the underground ma agazine chambers
saw the immense disappearing guns raised
and lowered. shook hands with the com
mon. dirt-begrimed Iaborers. who came
close up TO get a look al him. His hat blew
OF once and went sailing down a precipi-
tous place. n laborer ran hastily after IT,
lf-y itt1Nar
President. who surprised the young fellow
by heartily grasping his hand
Enthusiasm on the Streets.
President Roosevelt has been received
with enthusiasm on the streets as well as
elsewhere. The people have cheered with
apparent earnestress, and this is one thing
that has made the President feel that. af-
ter all. there has been grave mistake in
the slightest suppositiOn that he would not
be heartily welcomed here. There are
more secret service men and Washington
detectives here than / ever saw following a
PRESIDENT. Three times as many as ever
went anywhere with Mckinley The local
people have kept Charleston soldiers close
to the President, and have themselves
guarded the President with care. 1t is
probable that the Pre- sident would not eIish
SO many officers if he knew IL But he
doesn't know that the officials in Wash
1ngton have acted with much safeguard
There has been no hint of anything out of
the ordinary.
In the parade this morning and at the ex-
position grounds today the President was
most heartily received by the people Near
~ everybody here is from the state so the
Presidents eception is confined almost ex-
clusiyely TO home people. 1t is not as in
great city in the north or east where a
cosmopolitan population sometimes turns
out hoS of admirers of man without
the residents themselves taking any inter-
est In the matter. Charleston's tribute to
President Roosevelt today was by Charles
ton and South Carolina people exclusively
Procession to the Grounds.
The procession from the city to the ex-
position grounds was an ovation for the
President. 1t came, too. from the best
classes of the city. In the sections of the
city populated by the best people, the
Cheering, applause. hand-clapping and flag