The news & observer., 1905-10-12
Spirit of the Pre- IS.
The Presidents Southern Trip.
Washington Post.

| Washington Post.
President Roosevelts trip through
| the South promises to be one OF the
| happiest incidents of his official l1e'
beneficial alike TO him and to the peo-
pie of the South. Everywhere along
his route there is the keenest inter-
est in his coming. Towns and cities
are struggling to obtain as many MN
tttes of his time as they can. Ills
schedule is kept somewhat elastic, and
| it is probable that thousands of peo-
pie in smaller places who are now
disappointed will be able to see ana
perhaps to hear him. At Richmond,
Raleigh. Atlanta, Birmingham, TusGe-
see, and New Orleans, at least. the
president is expected to deliver ad-
dresses which will command the at
tention of the entire country. 1t is
more than probable that he will make
important imprOmptu speeches AT
ether places.
.fhe Southern people are strong adj
mirers of the qualities most conspic-
uous in the President. They are gem
erous enough to recognize them in
political opponent. Some of his great
est achievements, which rise above
ell partisan lines, are as heartily APP
plauded in the South as though they
had been accomplished by Southern
Democrat. Universal praise through
out the South is accorded to Presi-
dent Roosevelt for his efforts in bring
ing about peace between Russia and
Japan No section of the country
was quicker to extend it's congratula-
tions to him, and it will delight to
do him persoanl honor.
The Presidents vigorous policy with
regard to the Panama Canal is spo-
ken of in the South with warm APP
proval. The coming of the great event
when ocean will be joined to ocean
is already foreshadowed in Louis
lana, Alabama, Georgia, and other
Southern States, which are growing
with remarkable rapidity. New Or
leans, in spite of the blight of yellow
fever is growing as rapidly as any
city in the country, largely on account
of the prospective commerce between
the South and the isthmus. When the
President enters that city, and pierces
the very stronghold of the plague
specter, he will have done inestimable
service to New Orleans. And his re-
ward will be an ovation worthy of Il
conqueror.
A mistaken impression prevails in
lsome quarters regarding the reception
to be given to the President at Mont
gomery, Ala, on account of the mar
row attitude of a councilman toward
an appropriation of city funds. The
people of Montgomery share the feel
ingS of the rest of the South. They
are anxious to see and hear the PreSi-
dent of the United States, and to do
him honor. 1t is probable that they
will outdo themselves in honoring him,
as result of the unfortunate impress
sion that went abroad from Mont
gomeIy.
At Richmond the President will
speak in the Capitol grounds, sur
rounded with reminders of the Con-
federacy and the long history of Vtr-
ginia. A memorable welcome awaits
him, and no doubt his utterances on
that occasion will make his hearers
still warmer friends. At Raleigh the
North Carolina State Fair will be
open, and it is estimated that 1OO,OOO
Carolinians will see the President. 1T
will be a peculiar event to tens ot
thousands, to be remembered during
their lifetime. In Georgia the PresI-
dent will visit the home of his moth
er, who was so loyal Southerne1 that
she flung the Confederate nag from
the window of her home in Phlladel-
phia, during the late unpleasantness.
Georgia will claim President Roose-
welt as her own.
The attention of the country Will be
strikingly called, finally, to the Amer
lean navy when the President returns
from the South on one OF the hnest
war vessels i'm the world.