Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-20
A GRF AT DAY FOR
OUR WHOLE COUNTRY
Thus Taft Characlerizes Exercises
al Petersburg Yesterday
is Equally Distributed.
PRESIDENT RECEIVES AN OVATION
Chief Executive Recognized Heroic
Deeds on Both Sides-for Every
Ealogy of North, He Had Tribute
Fer Those Who Fought Under Stars
and Bars.


PETERSBURG, VA, May i9.-DriV'
ing over his o.ic roads and battieheldS
through clouds Of choking dust winch
a: times resembled the wind-b blown
smoke of battle: attending the unvell-
ing of a shaft of granite and an ne
role figure in bronze placed on the
bloody battle ground of Fort Mahone
10 commemorate the va,Or and heIoism
Of Gen. John r. Hartranit and the
PENNSYLVANIA soldiers who made UP
the Third division of the Ninth corps
of the Union army: addressing there
a notable gathering of wea,her-beaten
and time-grizzled old veterans in the
blue of the North and the gray of the
South; acclaimed through the throns-
ed streets of Petersburg in the mos'
splendid greeting he has had since his
inauguration: the honor guest at as
al fresco luncheon served en- the mag
nifcen; oak shaded lawn of one of the
most beautiful old homes in all the
Southland. and finally standing on L.
knoll of Center Hill mansion facing
multitude which apparently represent
cd all of Petersburg and goodly por-
ton of many of the surrounding cities.
and making an earnest plea in the
long summer twilight following the
setting of the sun for self-sacrificins
and non-partisan support for the re-
united and common country. President
Taft had today one of the most unique
experiences that befall a CHIEF execu-
tive of the nation.
Great Day For Whole Country.
1T has been a great day he de-
clared. not alone for Petersburg. for
Pennsylvania or Virginia. but III the
history OF the whole country; day
which will conduce TO a greater union
"a dav 10 make stronger our common
love for our common country for
which all Of us when necessary are
ready TO die"
The Presidents speech at the Penn
sylvania memorial. at the base of
which were gathered many of the vet
Grams of the keystone State and Viz
einia, who fought the battles tina,
made the enduring shaft significant.
was a studied tribute to the North
and TO the South. Mr. Taft was I'M
stinted in his recognition of the he
roic deeds of both sides. For every
eulogy of the Northern men he hau
an equally glowing tribute for those
who fought under the Stars and
Bars
Heroism a Common Heritage.
The common heritage Of heroism
was his theme. Enduring good. he be
Iieved. had come from the strife whicS
had been inevitable. In his later
sDeech. however. when ne had ceased
to be the guest of Pennsylvania ana
had been taken in charge by the peO-
pie of the Virginia commonwealth. ex-
temporaneously addressing multi
tude which surprised the Presidens
himself in its size and effervescent
enthusiasm. Mr.. Taft beginning in n
humorous vein by twitting the cover
nor Of Virginia. Mr.. Swanson. on the
rare gift Of being able TO make -four
speeches in one day. suddenly became
serious and for fifteen minutes held
his audience IN silent attention tina.
was deeply impressive. a he outlined
in n general way his ideas Of citi-
zenship which IN the North and South
alike should carry the country for
ward 20 permanence Of prosperity and
ever glorious future.
a Touch or Politics.
There was jHst a touch Of politics
n this latter speech for which the
President first made apology. IT. was
q day. he declared. 20 forget politics.
When he did lapse into the subject o;
partisan government the President
srCkc broadly.
T5e urged the Southern people 20 d.
rect themselves toward an intelligent
ard healthy opposition. lie believed
in two opposing pauics. ne said. with
a fighting nucleus in every State 20
make the rariv in power do bus.-
ress properly"
Chsfed Southern coneressmen.
The President could not refrain
from turning the laugh upon a num-
Der Of Southern congressman who
were prcscnt by = comment upon the
sfi.trdc Of the Democrats IN the tar
IN fgst
I'm not going 10 saw he laugh
inziv declared. that tariff fof revenue
only and tariff Tor the purpose Of pro
lection are enc ard The same when
they both reach the same am0unt
But when a congressman from Ala