The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-10

minating event of the visit to Charles
ton and the Exposition was when he
came into the Auditorium and smiled
his Acknowledgements to the cheering
which greeted him by 10000 threats.
The Auditorium is a handsome
building and with its flags and bunt-
ing freshly arranged for Presidents
Day and with a dais for the speaker,
the front of which was covered with
large flag, was particularly beau
tiful. The audience heard each speaker
with most attentive appreciation and
cheered to the echo many of the Senti-
ments expressed, but the President
was of course the center of attraction
at all times. President Roosevelt's
incisive, clear-cut words never fell on
more attentive ears. There was much
in what he said and more in his man
ner of saying it. The President greet
ed his audience as Americans" and
While giving all credit to the South
and South Carolina for her part in
the history of the country, he made it
plain that there must be enterprise
and industry, continued and unceasing
if success and achievements were to
be had in the future that would be
comparable to the past.
The President was dressed in a we'll
fitting Prince Albert, cut rather high in
the neck and buttoned closely, show
ing only a small section of a. turned
down collar and blue and white four
finland tie.
Thousands were banked up in front
of the building and at the side, but the
crowd was not allowed to rush in, only
a few being let in at a time.
The stage was crowded with prominent
citizens of Charleston and abroad, in
-, -
Council, city officials and distinguished
citizens. The ladies of the Womans
Board and the members of the Recep-
ton Committee occupied boxes. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, together with Capt.
Wagner and officers of the exposition,
occupied seats on a small platform
erected in the center OF the stage, and
the audience commanded a. splendid
view. The artillery band occupied seats
to the Presidents left and furnished de-
lightful music at intervals during the
exercises.
The OratiOns Begin.
The first speaker was Capt. F. w.
WAGNER, president of the Exposition
Company. He vas received enthusi-
astically and in a very few words ex-
tended cordial greetings to the Presi-
dent and the members of the party
Gov McSweeney of South Carolina
was the next speaker and he extended
the warmest and kindest greetings to
the President from the people of
South Carolina.
The next address was made by Gov.
Aycock of North Carolina, who brought
kind words and heartfelt welcome
from the old North State. Gov. Ay-
cock is a most eloquent speaker and
L. =
He assured the President that all North
Carolina was glad to have him in the
South at any time, but especially on
this particular occasion, the home OF
the greatest exposition ever held in
the South.
Many visitors were here from his
own state to join with South Carolina
in welcoming him.
Mayor j. Adger Smyth then intro
duced the President. The audience
seemed to have guessed Mayor Smyth's
purpose, for there was burst of APP
plause the moment he arose from his
seat.
Refers to His Mothers People.
1t is to me a peculiar privilege to
speak here in your beautiful city. My
mothers people were from Georgia,
but before they came to Georgia, before
the Revolution, in the days of colonial
rule, they dwelt for nearly a century
in South Carolina; and therefore 1 can
claim your state as mine by Inherit
ance no less than by the stronger and
nobler right which makes each foot
of American soil in a sense the prop
erty of all Americans.
Charleston is not only a typical
Southern city; it is also city whose
history teens with events which link
themselves to American history as a
whole. In the early colonial days
Charleston was the outpost of our peo-
pie 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 up
on the popular mind. 1t was here that
the tremendous, terrible drama of the
Civil War opened.
With delicate and thoughtful court
esq you originally asked me to come
to this Exposition on the birthday of
Abraham Lincoln. The invitation not
only showed a fine generosity and man
liness in you, my hosts, but
it also emphasized as hardly
anything else could have en-
phasized how completely we are now a
united people. The wounds left by the
great Civil War, incomparably the
greatest war of modern times, have
healed; and it's memories are now
priceless heritages of honor alike to
the North and to the South. The de-
votion. the self-sacrif1ce, the steadfast
resolution and lofty daring, the high
devotion to the right as each man saw
it, whether Northerner or Southerner-
all these qualities Of the men and wo-
men of the early sixties now shine lum-
nous before our eyes, while mists of
anger and hatred that once dimmed
them have passed away forever.
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