The Washington herald., 1909-05-16


Charlotte. n. c., Nay I5-Tuesdav.
Wednesday. and Thursday. OF next week,
VIII be saia days il this city. The occa-
sion viii be celebration commemorate ting
the signing Of the Mecklenburg decls-
ratiol OF independence. on Nav 20 1--s
Nnlch antedated the instrument signea in
Philadelphia by nearly one year and two
months. among other things, the people
OF Charlotte win entertain President ard
Mrs Taft and il is expected The demon
stfation viii be one OF the biggest things
ever pulled OF in the Old North state.
Il was on Nay 1s. 1775. that a BODY OF
the eolonists Of 8iecklenburg met bv an
polntment 10 discuss the differences exist
Ing al that tine between the colonies
and the mother country. The conference
lasted all night. resolutions were me-
sented. signed by q committee OF twenty
seven. and these resolutions constitrte
the now far-fsmed MeckIenburr decia-
ration # independence. Before the meet
ing broke Up news OF the battle ~
Lexington was received. and great en-
thusiasm prevailed
4 copy Of the resolutions vss sent p,
the Continental Congress. then IN sezsio,
al Philadelphia
Proud OF This History.
The people Of Mecklenburg COUNTY q,
the State OF North Carolina s,d o35s-
States OF the South. are verv urops ~
this history. and, although many peo1Ia
n other sections Of the country bavs
ridieuled the idea as an interesting 77vsb
The proofs that this declaration n t15e-
penaence was really signed in Charlotte.
On May .. HIS. are manifold.
Many Of the descendants OF the sirna-s
make their homes IN Charlotte. and fron,
them may be obtained many inte-ss+sr-
I Facts pertaining 70 the famous rAsol,,,f,--
WHiea have been handed down through
intervening generations. and afford the
strongest kind OF proof IN support OF 4ba
authenticity Of the claim that the Afa,t-
/ !enoGTg declaration IS a historical fac4
! Many who have doubted have f-,..--s
saled and been convinced Those wbo
/ sun doubt may be convinced bv roirv
I % Salem. y c. and there. aao.r -
sacred records OF the 8Ioravia7 ci-u-.A
preserved during al the years thsr ere
y@st read The original entry. which tells
OF the noble stand made By tie 7i-+f.
band OF Mecklenburg patriots in Ssfe-se
Of their rights
Students Gather the Facts.
students Of history in North Carolina
and in other States have ps-bs-sz
large body OF facts in s1pDo-t of -
truth. and now only those u7i7fo--,.,s
ana Few who are determined nor n IA
convinced. refuse 10 believe in Tho NJ,
ienburg declaration Of Nav - IL
charlotte and Mecklenburg were NAMED
1or Princess Charlotte Of Mecklenbvrr
wife Of George III Of England. Tba
statement made by Lord CornwaIIis thar
he got into a veritabIe hornerS 7es+ 7-bs,
he came 10 Charlotte Town has eanee5
the place 10 be called. at times The
Hornets Nest City.
30 deeply 90 the people Of C~ba-roets
ieel the Importance Of this event -bst
theIe Is nothing in their opinion. IN re,5
20 properly celebrate IL In looking b,--+
Tot tne best the country affords n care
Tor the 18th Of May OF this year. II v-7s
Oecl0ed 70 Try and get the President Of
tne United States to come and be The
guest OF honor. and naturally the cbias
feature Of the occasion
committee Of twenty-one citizens
waited upon the President al the Ebfta
House and extended 10 him an invita-
ton to come 10 Charlotte. which he hss
accepted. and he viii be in Charlotte
next Thursday, accompanied b. Mrs
I; tart where they VIII be the guests OF
Charlotte for the day.
Making Great Preparations.
Charlotte is fairly outdoing herself n
the way Of preparation 70 make .bfs
occasion Of the visit Of Mr. and Mrs
Taft 70 Charlotte the largest and rpos-
elaborate celebration in the history OF the
,ity.
The governors OF the thirteen original
States have been invited. and win be
present in person or have suitable
representative
A mammoth reviewing stand, whieh
VII seat several thousand people, is up.
nd VIII be handsomely decorated. Sew
raj large arches are also nearly finished
nd viii add materially 20 the deco~a-
ions which VIII dress the pri7cfosl
Jreets- striking feature VIII be
olonade, composed Of many columns
" pure white, and mounted BY a flag
I the top Of each and brilliantly HUM
mated with hundreds Of incandescent
gnts at night Practically every bus
ness house IN the streets viii have the
ront covered with flags bunting. and
lectric lights Of various colors.
The southern Power Company has Of
cred free current TO all who wish IN
ecorate with lights Advantage is being
AIKEN Of this offer and preparations are
eng made which viii make the streets
S light BY night as they are bv dav-
more brilliant spectacle cannot be
nagined than that which the streets
Charlotte viii present
Troops VIII Escort Taft.
As an escort to the President during
IS stay in Charlotte. Troop z. of the
leventh United States Cavalry. q hat
l!ioR OF the Seventeenth Infantry and
le Seventeenth United States Infsnfrv
and viii arrive for the 18th and remain
ltil after the 9th
A striking feature Of the celebration
Ill be a parade Of great length, which
III be composed Of eight distinct diri-
ons as follows: military. industrial.
sraL colonial equestrian. farmers. fra
TraI societies. and secret orders. auto
obiles, and fire department.
The military division viii comprise one
lttaiion Of United States regulars. ons
oop OF United States Cavalry, the regi-
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