The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-04-16
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
A Strong, Interesting and Earnest
TaIk--A High Tribute to Major
Jenkins.

your beautiful city. My mothers
people were from Georgia, but before
they came to Georgia, before the
Revolution, in days of Colonial rule,
shey dwelt for. nearly a century in
South Carolina, and therefore I can
claim your state as mine by inheri-
tance, no less than by a stronger and
nobler right which makes eacq foot
of American soil in a sense the prop.
erty of all Americans.
charleston is not only typical
Southern city; it is also city where
history teens with events which link
themselves to American history as a
whole. It was here the tremendous,
terrible drama of the civil war opened.
with a delicate and thoughtful
courtesy you originally asked me to
come to this exposition on the birth
day of Abraham Lincoln: the invita-
ton not only showed a generosity
and manliness in you, but also en-
phasized what hardly anything else
could emphasize.-how completely
We are now a united people. The
wounds left by the great civil war,
incompsrably the greatest war OF
modern times, have healed and it's
memories are priceless heritages of
honor alike to North and to South.
ssThose were iron times and only
iron men could fight to it's terrible
finish the giant struggle between the
hosts of Grant and Lee.
ITO US of the present day and to
our children, and children's children
the valiant deeds, high endea7or and
sbnegation of self shown in that
struggle By those who took part
therein will remain forevermore to
mark the level in which we, in our
turn, must rise whenever our nations
need may come.
"When four years ago this nation
was compelled to face foreign fee,
completeness of reunion became in
stantly and strikingly evident. It
was nv good fortune to serve under
an ex-Confederate General, the gal
liant old Joe Wheeler, who command
ed the cavalry at Santiago. In my
regiment there was certainly as many
whose fathers had served in Southern
as there were men whose fathers
served in the Northern army.
Among the Captains there was an
opportunity to promote but one to
field rank. The man who was
singled out for the promotion, be-
cause of his conspicuous gallantry in
the field, was son of a Confederate
General and was himself citizen of
this Palmetto State; and no American
officer could wish to march to battle
beside more loyal, gallant and ab-
solutely fearless comrade than my
former Csptain and Mejor, your fel-
low citizen, Micah Jenkins.
"a few months ago, owing TO the
enforced absence OF the governor of
the Philippines, it became necessary
to nominate vice governor. I nom
mated an ex Confederate, General
Luke Wright of Tennessee. It is
therefore an ex-Confederate who now
stands IS exponent of this govern
meDs and this people in that great
group of islands.
The progress made under Wright,
and those like him, has been marvel
Ions. In fact letter Of the generals
the other day seemed to show that
be considered thnt there is far more
warfare about the Philippines in this
country than there was warefare in
the Philippines themselves.
You have made particular effort
in your exhibition to get into touch
With the West Indies. This is wise.
= The events of the last four years have
shown US that these West Indies and
the Istbmus in the future will oc-
eupy a far larger place in our nation
al policy than in the past. This was
proven in negotiations for the pur-