The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-10-26
IN VIRGINIA CAPITAL
President is Given Most En-
thusiastic Reception.
FIRST STOP ON HIS TOUR
Makes Several Addresses in Which
He Lauds the South, Her People
and Her Phenomenal Indus
trial Progress.

President Roosevelt began his tour
of the south at $3.50 Wednesday morn
ing. The departure from Washington
was without incident. The first stop
was at Richmond. Va and during the
seven hours Of the presidents stay
in the Virginia capital, state and city
officials and citizens accorded him a
welcome, hearty and sincere.
His entry into the city was tie sig
nal for wild demonstration from a
multitude, and the welcoming enthusi-
asm Onuly ceased when his train con.
tinued on its journey to the south.
The president made several ad-
dresses, one at the capitol square, be-
fore one of the largest audiences ever
assembled in Virginra's capital; an
other at banquet in Masonic tenn
pie, where 400 of the representative
people of the Old Dominion were gath.
cred at Lee monument, wher he spoke
to large number of confederate vet
Grams, and Cnce more at a gathering
of negroes.
The wounds left by the great civil
war have long healed, but it's mem
cries remain. Think of it, oh, my
countrymen, think of the good for
tune that is ours!. That whereas every
other wars of modern times has left
feelings of rancor and bitterness to
keep asunder the combatants. our
great war has left to the sons and
daughters Of the men who fought, on
whichever side they fought, the same
right to feel the keenest pride in the
great deeds alike of the men who
fought on one side AID of the men who
fought on the other
Great though the need of praise
is which is due the south for the
soldierly valor of her sons displayed
during the four years of war, /
think that even greater praise is due
plished in the forty years of peace
which followed. For forty years the
south has made not merely a cour-
ageous, but at times a desperate strug-
gle. as she has striven for moral and
material well being.
Her success has been extraordina-
ry, and all citizens of our common
country should feel JOY and pride in
1T, for any great deed done, Or any
fine qualities shown, by one group of
Americans Of necessity reflects credit
upon all Americans. Only a heroic
people could have battled successful.
ly against the conditions with which
the people of the south found them.
selves face to face at the end of the
civil war.
There had been utter destruction
and disaster, and wholly new bust
ness and social problems had to be
faced with the scantiest means. The
economic and political fabric had TO
be readjusted in the midst of dire
want, of grinding poverty. The future
OF the broken, War-Swept south seem
ed beyond hope, and if her sons and
daughters had been of weaker fiber
there would in very truth have been
no hope
But the men AMI the sons of the
men who he'd faced with unfaltering
front every alienation of good and
evil fortune from Manassas to Apo
mattOx, AMI the women, their wives
and mothers, whose courage and en-
durance had reached an even higher
heroic leyel-these men and these
women set themselves undauntedly
to the great task before them. For
twenty years the struggle was hard
and at times doubtful, Then the splen.
cid qualities of your manhood and wo-
manhood told, as they were bound
to tell, and the wealth of your extra
ordinary natural resources began to
be shown.
Now the teeming riches of mine
and field and factory attest the pros
L'er!ty of those who are all the strong
or because Of the trials and struggles
through which prosperity has come
You stand .ioyaliy TO your traditions
and memories; you also stand loyal
ly for our great common country of
today, and for our common flag, which
symbolizes all that is brightest and
most hopeful for tho future of man.
kind; yon face the new age in the
spirit OF the age. Alike in your ma
teriai and n your spiritual and intel.
Iecyual development. you stand abreast
Of the foremost in the worlds prog
ress'