The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-10-03
GOVERNOR PATTERSON'S ADDRESS
Welcome TO HOme-COmers at Nashville
Last Week.


tory Of the Old Volunteer State, for it
Is the period of Home Coming and of
Joyous meeting.
''Strong with the spirit Of adventure,
bold and self-reliant, the sons OF Ten
nessee have gone to the frontiers of
civilization and have become potent
factors in the founding and upbuilding
of the newer Commonwealths. Nur-i
tured by such mother, it is small
wonder that Tennesseans have carried
with them the pride Of their state, and
found happiness and fortune wherever
they have gone.
"They have responded to the call Of
this mother for her children and have
gathered to do her honor, to lay rever-
ence and rosemary at her feet, and
renew the tender ties which bind them
to the past.
'In the name OF Tennessee, am
commissioned to extend her welcome
to the distinguished gentlemen, the
Governor Of Missouri, who will respond
to this address, and all other of her
sons who have wandered from the reof-
tree, but, turning homeward, have met
again in the land which gave them
birth; to look again in the faces OF
friends and kindred, to view the scenes
of childhood, dear and fadeless ell, as
long as memory lasts or the heart still
beats with human love.
''In the name of the people Of this
Commonwealth, I welcome home the
bone of their bone, the blood OF their
blood, the flesh of their flesh.
Tennessee never realized, before
she saw the vast numbers which have
come to meet at this historical capital,
how much she has given to other
states of the Union, and when she
looks upon this mighty throng she
feels a thrill Of pride, strangely
mingled with O sense Of sorrow.
Pride, that those who left her have
borne we'll their part in distant lands,
and acquitted themselves like men in
whatsoever place and station fortune
has had in store; and sorrow that they
have gone from the home and old
familiar scenes. But the tear that
moistens her eye is not oil of pride and
sorrow, for it is also eloquent OF love
for the dear ones who have come back
and stand at the threshold waiting fol
the welcome they know is coming
when the door swings open wide, and
hand grasps hand, and lip meets lip il
the glad rush of happy meeting. How
bitter often is memory, and yet how
sweet it is. How weak, and yet how
strong is human love. 1t often fails
and yet it struggles, never dies, and il
yearns beyond the grave itself. Wha
scoffer, if he thought, could not reat
Immortality in the heart before h'
read it in the stars! Who can doub
we are akin to the eternal love, wher
neither time, change, season nor dis
lance can dim the fires which burn a
the altar of the soul? Who will no
, believe that man shall rise, and re
created, meet again in another home
coming, and that God did not put thi
loving and craving in the soul unit
He meant that love should be eternal
OF all created things, man alone cal
smile and weep; he alone does not for
get, and he alone looks up to the SIX,
and thinks.
STRONGER AND BETTER.
ION this reunion day we are strong
I er and better, because we are lookin
upward. Though Tennessee has give
freely to other states, she is still rio
, in the manhood and womanhood whic
have borne her name and fame afar i
r the land.
SIN the house Of the Nevis the me
Q are all bravo and the women are O
! pure, for wealth and luxury have nc
= enervated her men, or spoiled th
' innocency of her women.
8 "There are Auburns still left in Tel
nessee. The grand old name of ger
L tleman' has not yet been lost, nor be
d reverence and high-bred courtesy diI
:, appeared from the land.
"The state was never In better COL
. dition to extend this generous we
0 come.
II "Those who have remained in ii
r old Commonwealth have wrought vel
and the fruits of their labors are appa
emit on every side. Our people are col
!, tented, happy and prosperous. Anon
them there is neither the extreme
:, wealth nor povarty, that most fort
" nate situation Of an independent ar
liberty-loving race. The mine, Il
- factory and the forge are adding the
% wealth to the general store, and the
,. manifold produces to the use and @
u joyment of man. From border to BIO
y der, there is thrift and industry 81
"a plenty. Capital and labor are {
friendly terms, and both have CO
tributed to the upbuilding of the stat
"a and there is harmony between Ell
r ployer and employe. These happy !
le lations are undisturbed, and will co
10 tinue so long as mutual contiden
as exists and capital is not unfair to labC
9, and labor is not unreasonable in
r. demands on capital. In Tennessee.
probably in few other states in &
Al