The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-02-12

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and has come through it all stronger
and more courageous than ever. In
the civil war she furnished more men
and money than any city of equal size
and wealth ever furnished i'm any war
The visit of tie General Assembly tc
Charleston at this time is a happy
omen; 1T marks the wiplng out Ui
many things unpleasant. Charleston
Is still part of South Carolina AMI is
proud of the balance of the State, and
the whole State is proud of Charleston.
He sail he believed the wisest appro.
priation the General Assembly ever
made was The $50 900 to the Charles
ton Exposition, and spoke of the pleas
ure it gave him, as Speaker of the
ll"use, to sign the appropriation
Charleston has no enemies in the Leg
lslature now, he said, and he said he
believed that from now on forever
Charleston would feel more friendly
and more in sympathy with the other
sections of the State.
Gov. McSweeney was then intro.
duced and responded in feeling man
ner. He said:
"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentle.
men: l esteem it pleasure and a
privilege TO be here on this occasion.
1T Is right, il is proper, that the repre-
sentatives Of the people of the great
State of South Carolina should take a
day off and come and SEQ for them
selves what you have and what YOU
have done. We knew that the well
come would be cordial and hearty.
we appreciate it none the less because
we knew in advance what it would be.
1t ls always so when you come to this
grand old city. Even the stranger
within your gates finds hearty hand
shake and warm greeting.
We are no strangers. We are all
part of one commonwealth. This en-
terprise is ours as well as yours, though
we appreciate the sacrifice and the la
Dor you have expended to make it |
the success which it is, but we are all |
one people with common aim and a |
single purpose, and that is the progress |
and the development of our State and
the happiness and prosperity of our
people. Whatever contributes to the
attainment of this purpose and this
aim has the endorsement and The en-
couragement of every patriotic and de.
voted son of the commonwealth.
F" Ne are here to encourage you and
show you not only with words but by
our presence, of our sympathy and our
to cooperate with you and
aid you in making this Exposition
what the patriotic sons of this CITY
who were the promoters of this enter
prise intended it to be.
"The people of South Carolina look
upon this as their Exposition, and feel
a personal interest in 1t. They evil
lenced tNcir interest by an approrria.
lion through their representatives of
ShO 900 for the State building and the
beautiful structure which forms part
Jf the court of palaces on yonder
grounds stands as testimonial TO that
interest.
81 never come to Charleston but
my mind runs back to the days of wore
and my heart always swells with love
for the men and the women who have
made this city historic. Earthquakes
and cyclones and high water and fire
have never daunted the energy and in
iomitable courage which have always
characterized the people of this city.
What you have needed has been to
stretch out and get in closer touch with
your brethren of the Piedmont an the
Pee Dee, and am glad to know that
this you are now doing, and L believe
this Exposition will be largely instru-
mental In bringing all sections of our
State and of the whole country in
closer touch with one another, and if
1t accomplish nothing more, that alone
will be large compensation for the
money and energy expended.
When L was here in December
with the Press Association there was
one thing that impressed me possibly
more than any other. The first build
ing completed was the woman's build
ing, and yet when you reflect for
moment on the sacrifices made and the
energy always displayed by our noble
women that should not have been a
matter of great surprise. They are al
ways foremost in all good works. Last
at the cross and first at the sepulchre
where there was suffering TO be allevi-
ated and flowers to be strewn.
My mind goes back also to that
adopted son of this city who barred his
breast as a beardless boy to the can
non and shell of the enemy in defense
CT the Southern cause and who after
that cause was lost cast his fortunes
with the vanquished, and set about the
rebuilding of his adopted home with an
energy and determination Of purpose
rarely equalle,l and never excelled, and
l have often thought how the heart of
f. w. Dawson would have rej)iced if |
he could have lived to take part in con-
of his great powers to the sue
cess of this enterprise.
Z" But we are not here to deal in rem
iniscence, and speaking for the State it |
gives me great pleasure to say to you
how much we appreciate the hearty
welcome you have extended us, and 10 |
assure you that we will make ourselves
at home while in your midst"
AT the conclusion of Gov. McSwee- |
ney's address the Legislators and their
friends were invited to the Crescent
Inn, where an elegant luncheon was
served to the entire party. THIS was
surprise to the visitors, but was ore
OF the most delightful features of the |
day.
After this the members scattered
through the grounds and spent the re-