New-York tribune., 1909-05-20
MR.. TAFT PLEADS
FOR NATIONAL SANITY
"WAR EXPENSIVE PEACE
FACTOR"
BelieUes in Opposing Parties, but
Says Restrain the Fools "-EquaI
Tribute to North and South.


Petersburg, Va. May 19-Driving over his-
toric roads and battleffelds through clouds OF
choking white dust President Taft attended to-
day the unveiling of shaft of granite and an
heroic figure in bronze the battle-ground OF
Fort Malone to General John F. Hartranft and
the Pennsylvania soldiers Of the Third Division
of the Ninth Corps Of the Union army. He al
dressed notable gathering of veterans in blue
and gray
Later he the guest AT an al fresco luncn-
con served on the oak shaded lawns Of one OF
the most beautiful old homes in the South. and
finally. standing a knoll OF Centre Hill Man
sion. facing a multitude, he made earnest
plea for self sacrificing and non-partisan sup
port for the reunited and common country.
1T has been a great day he declared. not
alone for Petersburg, for Pennsylvania and for
Virginia. but in the history of the whole country;
a day which will conduce to a greater unior-a
day to make stronger our common love for our
common country for which all of US when
necessary are ready to die"
The Presidents speech al the Pennsylvania
memorial a studied tribute the North
and the South He was unstinted in his
recognition OF the heroic deeds of both sides.
The common heritage Of heroism" his
theme. Enduring good. he believed. had come
from the strife which had been inevitable. In
his later speech. however. when he had been
taken in charge by the people of the Virginia
commonwealth, Mr.. Taft, beginning in hUnOr-
Gus vein by twitting Governor Swanson on the
rare gift of being able to make four speeches
in one day. became serious and for fifteen MIN
utes held his audience in silent attention as ne
outlined in a general way his ideas OF citizen
ship which in the North and South alike should
carry the country forward 20 'permanence OF
prosperity and an ever-gIorious future
URGES TWO OPPOSING PARTIES
| When he did lapse into the subject Of partisan
! government the President spoke broadly He
urged the Southern people 70 direct themselves
! toward an intelligent and healthy opposition
! He believed in two opposing parties ne salo'
/ with fighting nucleus in every state Of the
| unfon to make the party in power do business
| properly
Turning to the subject Of the tariff Mr.. Taft
| Iaughingly declared:
| I'm not going TO say that tariff for reVe-
nue only and tariff for the purposes OF protec-
+for are one and the same thing when they coth
reach the same amount But when ION
| gresham from Alabama favors . tarlH On
lumber for revenue and a Congressman liOlii
| washington or Oregon faSors a - tarin on
,,r,bar for protection they haven't any great
| amount of dispute between them Personally
on, mot In favor of 81 tariff on lumber for any
n,,rposs But it all means. my friends, that we
are working closer and closer together aIohs
| different routes The Southern CongresslIsH
! who have been sharply criticised by their nome
/ papers for deserting the sacred prlnclpleS Oh
| free trade come about as close 10 knowing what
their constituents at home want as do the lead-
| ing papers of the same community This. again.
i but a further illustration Of the fact that We
| are getting together
| A the President stood addressing the great
| tbrong in the growing shadows the scene ABOUT
him was picturesque. The President and a score
of distinguished guests had eaten late luncneon
on the wide veranda of Centre Hill Mansion the
home Of Charles Hall Davis. president OF the
Petersburg Chamber OF Commerce, while a
thousand others dined at turf-covered tables on
the lawn There were several after-luncheon
speeches from the veranda, and then the Pres1-
dent and the guests went to the rear lawn Be-
! meath the knoll from which he spoke we're gath
| cred several hundred school children, who sang
The star Spangled Banner Dixie and
| america" with equal fervor. In the streets be-
meath the wall surrounding the grounds thou
sands of negroes were gathered The President
declared that he had intended to make only
few brief remarks. but the crowd inspired MN %
q more serious effort Governor Swanson ex-
pressed TO the President the regret that illness
| had prevented Mrs Taft from being present
| The dav was brough. a close with lawn
| fste and reception the Center Hill manson
Grounds The President and his party left la1s
tonight for Charlotte. y c. where MI Iaie
lii attend the Mecklenburg celebration to- NOR
row.
ADDRESS AT FORT MAHONE-
| AZ Fort Malone Mr.. Taft said in part
W.. could not dedicate this beautiful and eN-
during memorial to the volunteer soldiers OF
| Pa1nsvIvauia with such sense OF It's Justlce
| - sDDropriateness had they not been con-
froptad nv an enemy capable or reSiStlhS -IleiT
| osSsuIts with equal vigOr and forutude-
, | To- PENNSYLVANIA. one OF the great states
| Of the Union. engaged in the determination 70
| go II fell the burden OF furnishing tens OF
| thousands of men for the struggle IN every paTI
80 the line of attack: but especially IN the Arfry
| - tLe potomac was the force OF her people and
. ! tbeir devotion 10 the cause felt
! | In the time which has passed the bitterness
| of the internecine struggle has passed away ahd
| NO nov treasure as a common heritage OF !he
! country the bravery and the valor OF botn sI9cs
| 4, that controversy. The Army Of the potomac
| under Grant and Meade. was seconded ana SUP
DOrted bv a generous government IL was ltaI
II so with the Confederate forces Scantly
/ aD0