Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-05-27
Says tie Mecklenburg Declare.
ton Of Independence Was
Authentic.
EXPLAINS HIS POLICY
Expects No Political Revolution In
South--Hopes a Respectable OPP
position Party VIII he Develop
ed--CIoudburst broke on
City during Parade.

Charlotte, y. c.. May 2o--Presid en,
Taft came to-day to Charlotte. the home
Ct the Meckenburg declaration Of indie
pcndence. signed in May of It's. and
placed himself squaTey on the side OF
these who look back upon this declara.
tion as one Of the first significant steps
which led ultimately to American indie
rendence.
In his address to the people Of NORTH
Carolina late in the day the Presiden,
clearly explained his policy toward the
south HIS own recent appointment Of
democrat to the federal bench in this
safe gave him an opportunity to ex.
rand upon his previously expressed
Vows. Mr.. Taft urged again the advis
n'ility Of an intelligent logical opposi
ton party.
81 do not believe that we are on thu
point Of political revolution in the
South" said the President. Il never
lave had such dream. What do de-
sire. and believe we are on the eve Of. I.
complete tolerance Of opinion and tina,
there shall grow into respect and power
an intelligent fighting opposition pa,ty
In every State Of the Union"
Mr.. Taft constantly was INTERRUPTED
by the cheers that rose Spontaneously
from his Southern hearers. The Pres
ident declared that throughout the
South he intended to pursue the policy
he already had indicated Of appointing
to office only that man who. republi-
an or democrat can command the
highest confidence and commend him
self to the community in which he
lives.
Mr. Taft's plea for political toler-
ance In the South and his statemen,
that he wanted the people OF the
South to know that the Washington
government was not government,
allen to them. had all the effect Of ex-
temporaneous utterances. for the Pres
ident spoke without notes once he had
drifted into politics.
A cloudhurst breaking over the cit,
during the afternoon just as the splen
did military floral and civic parade
was passing In review before tn,
President. promised serious conse
ouences for time. It set the dense
~ packed throng in front OF the re
viewing stand into panic and ther,
was a wild rush for shelter The
Presidents box was goal for man,
men and women and the chief execu
tive had to be surrounded to save hin
from the sudden crush In the mids
of the storm, a passing Industrial foa
became entangled in live electri,
wire and tore 1t from It's support. tn,
slender thread Of copper sagCing al
most to the heads OF the scamperine
crowd below.
EXPLOSION OF POWDER
While the confusion was at it:
height there was binding flash o.
fame and a loud report not so ward.
from whore the President stood.
quantity of black powder which wa.
to have been used for saluting pur
poses had been prcmaturely ignited
No one was injured either in the ex
plosion or in the crush about the re
viewing stand.
The President received quite drerch
ing and for time it seemed that tn,
frail canvass covering the reviewin,
stand would tumble about the heads O
those beneath. Among these was Mrs
Stonewal jackson. When she had me
Mr.. Taft earlier in the day she had earn
estly exclaimed: II am indeed delighted
to know the harmonizer Of all on
hearts"
PARADE VERY PRETENTIOUs.
The parade was ono OF the most pre-
tentious ever undertaken In the South
Beautiful floats representing weeks o
la Dor were transformed in minute I
faded, bedraggled masses. On many O
the floats rode women and little childrel
in flmy summer frocks. They wer
drenched before they could flee for shelf
er.
President Taft spoke twice during tn
day. The storm interferred with his ad
dress from the reviewing stand, but h
spoke afterward in the Charlotte audi
torum and was driven to the colore
students OF Bdde university outside tn
city,
Mr.. Taft declared that he would nc
count visit to the South complete with
out an opportunity to express to tn
colored people his interest in them an
his sympathy for them in their problem!
THE PRESIDENT QUITE fiOARSE.
After a public reception tonight tn
President left for Washington. The tw
| days Of constant going have been quit
trying upon the President and he wa
perceptibly hoarse to-day.
Among the guests on the platform a
the auditorium when the President wa
| speaking Of his belief In the Mecklenbur
declaration regardless Of the exat
language In which the resolutions wer
accepted. was Major j. c. Hemphill, tn
Charleston, s. e.. editor. who recent
| spoke Of The Akecklenburg myth. whic
President Taft is to celebrate. | am sorr
| to say"
After being introduced the Presider
referred smiingly to Major Hemphill
| remark. I'VE are here" he said. ITO celt
brate a declaration OF Independence. n
Eardless OF the fact that there are som
unrcgenerate persons in South Caroline
and elsewhere that for various motive!
have cast doubt upon the claim"
President TAFT declared that tn
important part Of the Mecklenbur
| declaration from the standpoint O
patriotism was not the general dec
larations as to the rights Of man. bu
| the practical provision for a govern
ment which was to succeed that O
Great Britain.
TOUCHES ON THE WAR.
Mr.. Taft spoke Of the war betwee
the States and said:
You In the southland had the trou
bles. the suffering, the sad losse
burned into your hearts with niue
more emphasis than we in the north
land. and IT Is entirely natural tina
even after 40 years there shoulA CON
tinue some bitterness OF FEELING w