Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-13

| Dickinson was the guest VI hOiioA 60
| principal speaker at the banquet tonight
: Of the southern club, held in the Audi
1 torium annex. AS BETTING the OCCASION
I MIR. Dickinson's remarks touched princi-
pally on the relations of the administra-
| ton toward the south, he declaring that
he was Impressed with the bellef that
/ great good would come to that sectlon
| from the administration Of President
Taft. The next four years, Mr.. Dickin-
son declared, should be period OF great
development in the south and economic
and industrial conditions would exert
more profound infiuenc Elm shaping the
destinies of the south than they have
hitherto
Speech of Dickinson
| He spoke substantially as follows:
The compliment of this reception. hav-
/ ing relation as il does, to my eleva-
ton TO the council of the president OF
the United States, is, l am conhdent'
meant as a tribute to him as well as TO
me; and it is right that 1t should be'
| for / am but the humble exponent py
which he has expressed his good will for
that part OF our country to which you
owe your birth, and to which you con-
! secrate love that no time nor distance
can diminish.
/ MANY men could be found in the south
who would more than measure up TO
! the requirements of the office to which
/ have been called but the ages produce
only at rare intervals men whose hearts
go out spontaneously to those who OPP
pose their ambition, whose patriotism
| eomprehends within it's strivings for the
public welfare impartially every part
/ of the country, however affected by po-
litical differences, whose courage dares
pursue an unexplored way which may
/ invite harsh criticism and strong oppo-
sition and whose wisdom is prescient to
correctly interpret the spirit of the times.
Rare Qualities Combined
| Those rare qualities are combined in
the president of the United States, who'
Judged by all the standards by which
men are tried, gives such promise as
iustihes the American people in expect
( ing all the national prosperity and hap
piness that can be vouchsafed by an
able. wise, honest and fearless admin
istration. At times we have convictions
founded more upon sentiment than upon
knowledge. and nevertheless they are
| strong-yes. often even stronger than
when resting upon known conditions
which reasoning may dissipate as being
without substance, or as inconclusive.
/ cannot give any definite conception or
| lust how II will come about, but i am
! deeply impressed with the belief that
! great good is going to come to the south
under the administration of President
Taft While a cold, distant, unsympathet-
4 &c president would not necessarily retard
| the progress Of the south, 1T is certain
/ that one with warm, big heart, beat
/ Ing in unison with our hearts, mind
alert to discern, and a disposition keen
/ to promote, what will rebound to our
welfare, a CHEEKY smile that lifts tons.
| will act like tonic, inspiring hope and
stimulating TO high endeavor.
A Happy Conjunction
No president could effectively help and
none would continue to be disposed to
help. those who are repellant or coldly
| distant There is certainly now a happy
] conjunction. We have a president who
| sincerely wishes to actively cooperate
| with us to promote our general welfare,
ard our people believe in him and give
him their fullest confidence. If that were
ALI the combination would lack an es-
sentIal quality. The people of the north,
| as is amply manifested by the public
press, are in full harmony with the ut
| teranees of the president in respect OF
the south This is an invaluable condi-
/ ton, for full fruition cannot come with
out their hearty approval and co-opera-
ton
The next four years should be period
of great development in the south. An
era OF general good feeling emphasized
by the great head of the nation on the
many occasions that will be presented
| TO him. will give more confidence at home
end abroad, and both are greatly needed.
Capital will not continue to be alarmed
/ as Il has been in the past by unkind crit
! icism. higher respect for the law,
! greater observance of order, should and
win follow. The prevalence of kindlier
sentiment will bring about a greater tUi
| nf 11ffarAnpaE I'm npinfOn and
mote a freer discussion, which always
brings enlightenment. The south has
been much disposed to resent criticism
! from the outside and to stifle 1t at home.
! There can be no more fatal bar to prog
| ress There will always be some there,
/ as Is always the case elsewhere, who
prefer the sway of prejudice who would
rather continue conditions that foster APP
peals to ignorance and passion, who
would rather rule in a stagnant civiliza-
ton than ne relegated to the Obscurity
| that awaits them when better ideals pre-
vail and a leadership that embraces In
its patriotism the entire country is sue
cessful.
Necessity for COOPERATIVE Exertion
! Economic and industrial conditions will
exert a more profound influence in shap-
ing the destinies of the south than they
| have hitherto. More and more, are we
! realizing the necessity for cooperative
exertion. The old civilization of the
south in it's nature fostered individuahsm
and developed personal independence at
the expense OF communal interest. The
plantation was a government within itself,
| where under the old regime everything
was carried on upon an independent basis.
There was very little general public CO.
| operation. The schooling was largely
through private tutors or the voluntary
| association of those of the same social
/ class Even the roads were largely built
| by the planters at their own expense.
There was an almost all-pervading sense
that each man must work out his own
destiny There were produced, under this
| system, a strength of character. a self
reliance, and a personal independence and
| courage that have never been surpassed.
Through such a personnel the nation was
greatly enriched by the services of great
| administrators OF public affairs and ma
tional leaders produced by the south But
on the other hand, there was cores
ponding want of that development which
advances d people through the influence
OF cooperative capital and the union of
all civic forces for the promotion of the
! general welfare.
ChicRgO's Public Spirit
What more striking illustration has the
world ever given of what may be ac-
complished than that furnished by the