The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-10-26
WELCOME WAS BOUNDLESS
Everywhere the Nations Chief Execu-
tive Was the Recipient Of Typical
Southern Hospitality-Happy in
His Speeches-Wen Up on Local
History-Greeted With Enthusiasm
by Enormous Crowds.

The splendid Southern tour Of
President Roosevelt began with his
visit to Richmond on Wednesday.
Thousands upon thousands of patri-
otto citizens poured out at the capital
city of the Old Dominion to do hon.
age by their presence to the nations
first citizen. No printed account can
do justice to the enthusiastic recep-
ton accorded the distinguished guests
of the city and the State. Address
ing the tremendous throng present,
MI. Roosevelt, among many tactful,
patriotic and thrilling things, said:
CT trust I need hardly say how
great is my pleasure at speaking in
this historic capital of your historic
State; the State than which no other
has contributed a larger proportion
to the leadership of the nation; for
on the honor roll of those American
worthless whose greatness is not only
for the age, but for all time, not
only for one nation for all the world,
on this honor roll Virginia's name
stands above all others. And in
greeting all of you, I know that no
one will grudge my saying a special
word of acknowledgment to the vet
Grams of the civil war. A man would,
indeed. be but a poor American who
could without a thrill witness the
way in which, in city after city,
In the North as well as In the South,
on every public occasion, the men
who wore the blue and the men who
wore the gray now march and stand
shoulder to shoulder giving tangible
proof that we are all now in fact as
well as In name a reunited people, a
people infinitely richer because cf the
priceless memories left to all Amer
leans by you men who fought in the
great war. Last Memorial Day I
spoke In Brooklyn at the unwilling
Of the statue of a Northern general,
under the auspices Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and that great
audience cheered every allusion to the
valor and self-devotion of the men
who followed Lee as heartily as they
cheered every alusion to the valor
and s~elf-devotion of the men who
followed Grant.
"The wounds left by the great
civil war have long healed, but its
memories remain. Think of It, oh,
my countrymen, think of the good
fortune that is ours! That whereas
every other war 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 and of the men
who fought on the other. The proud
self-sacriice, the resolute and daring
courage, the high and steadfast de-
votion to the right as each man saw
it, whether Northerner or Southern
er, these qualities render all Amer
leans forever the debtors of those
who in the dark days from 81 to ;65
proved their truth by their endeavor.
Here around Richmond, here in your
own State, there lies battlefield after
battlefield, rendered memorable by
the men who counted death as but
a little thing when weighed in the
balance against doing their duty as it
was given them to see it. These men