The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-19

the pleasure of welcoming to the city
three former Presidents of the United
States-James K. Polk, James Buch
anan and Andrew Johnson-and to-
day they will welcome Theodore
Roosevelt the present Chief Magis-
trate of the foremost Republic of the
world On each occasion. regardless
of party ties, the people of North
Carolina have gathered at the State
Capital to give proper welcome to the
Chief Magistrate of their country.
Whether elected by their votes or in
candidate, the people of North Caro-
lima have recognized the fact that the
American people have exercised re-
markable wisdom in the selection of
their Presidents. To be sure we have
not had for seventy-five years Wash
ington or Jefferson for President.
Washington was the foremost soldier
in the annals of the Republic unless
we put Robert E. Lee and Stonewall
Jackson in the class of the three
foremost men of war. They deserve
that rank and history will give it to
them, though they We're the leaders of
an unsuccessful cause while Washing
ton led a glorious host to victory.
Moreover Washington was man of
such equipoise and ripe judgment as
to put him a class by himself among
the men chosen as chief servants of
the American Republic. Jefferson
or any age, giving to America and the
world the formulated creed of a new
equality that never before had been
more than dreamed of by the men
whose souls revolted against the "di-
vine right of kings" theory that made
many men booted and spurred to ride
rough-shod over the mass of man
kind.
But though we have elected no
man of the superior greatness of
Washington and Jefferson, we have
chosen no small man for that great
office-no man who lacked ability in
some line worthily to serve his coun
try Lincoln was greater than Grant
as Madison was greater than Cleveland
and as John Quincy Adams was great
er than Zachary Taylor but a study
of the lives of all the Presidents will
show that no small man has ever
been elected to that great office.
The first President to visit Raleigh
in
North Carolina and educated at the
University of this State. He left his
mark at Chapel Hill, not as a man
noted for brilliance or eloquence,
but as gentleman of character. a
studious and thoughtful youth, who
without anything spectacular always
measured up to the best men of his
class in the excellence and thorough
ness of his work. That was his char
acteristic through life and gave him
have been chosen to the Presidency.
For a long time, owing to the fact
that he defeated the eloquent and daZ-
zling Henry Clay whose brilliancy
and wonderful genius made his follow
ers such hero worshippers that they
thought no other man was to be COM
pared to their idol the Wing adulation
of Clay and depreciation of Polk had
the effect of denying to Polk the prop
er position in American history to
which his long and honorable career
entitled him. A few years ago, upon
the occasion of a visit to Raleigh, at
a dinner given to him by gentleman
i'm Raleigh, the question of Folks
proper position in history was being
discussed. One gentleman, whose
people had been Wings in the old
times, referred to Polk as. zone of
the smallest men who had been elect
ed President in the history of the
country" The discussion around the
table grew general and finally ti,e
host. turning to Mr.. Wilson, asked that
profound scholar and student for his
estimate Of Polk as a statesman As
answer, Mr.. WILSON CAV: as briefly
as could be done a comprehensive re-
view of the public career of Nj. Polk
ana COnclu0eQ by SdSlHS tildt an e.
animation OF his State papers would
show that they deserved to rank with
those of jefferson and Madison and,
while lacking the genius of eloquence,
in profound knowledge and construc-
tive craftsmanship, Polk ranked in
the same class with Jefferson, and
Madison-men whose reputation rests
securely upon their State papers ana
upon the great questions they met and
wisely solved. No man has lived liz
America since the War Between the
States better qualified than William
l.. Wilson to place proper estimate
upon the service of any public man
Of our country.
Accompanied by several members
of his Cabinet, President Polk reached
Raleigh, Saturday afternoon, May 9Th,
1S47, and spent Sunday very quietly
in the city, en- route to Chapel Hill, his
al roatpr Rut his rappptiop Satlr-