The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-28
TAFT WILL TRY ID UNITE
 COUNTRY MORE CLOSELY
President Says He Feels Sure That Another Decade or Two Will Bring About Many Political
 Changes.

Philadelphia, April Z7.-PreSldent Taft tonight was the principal speaker at the Grant birthday dinner of the Union league in this city, and paid a striking tribute to the soldier President. MT. Taft was sharply criticised a year ago because of certain of his references to General Grant, and he took advantage of tonights op- portunity to express anew his admiration for General Grant as man, as a sol- dier and as chief executive of the United States
 The President reached Philadelphia at 6:55 p. m. There was a delay en route from Washington of nearly an hour, caused by the breaking of drawhead in the coupling of two of the cars on the regular New York express to which his private car "Independence" was at tached. The fact that the coupling gave way two cars in front of his own brought out considerable good-natured chaff for the President
 committee of the Union league met the President at West Philadelphia The President, accompanied by Captain Butt, his military aide was met at Broad street by an immense throng. The vast con course of the Broad street station was filled, and a spontaneous cheer broke from the crowd as the President was quickly recognized. Entering an automo- bile the President was escorted to the fUnion league club house Broad street by the First City troop of cavalry which 4 has acted as escort to every President of recent years who has visited Philadel- phia The way from the station to the N Union league club was lined with thou sands of citzens who cheered the Pres- ident vociferously. He acknowledged the cheers and plaudits of the throng by constantly lifting his hat.
 At the club house the President held a reception for more than an hour, some POGO Union league mehAbers shaking hands with him.
 The banquet hall of the club where about 300 sat at the tables was pro- fusely decorated with flowers, flags and 4 electric lights.
 H Gen. Horace Porter of New York and f President James F. Hope of the Union league were among the speakers who pre- ceded President Taft. The latter fol- lowing his almost nvariable custom spoke extemporaneously at times in a half quizzical manner and there was ire quent laughter as well as applause at his reference to political conditions in the south
 After making complimentary references to the Union leagues patriotic support of the union army at the outbreak of the war and during it's continuance MT. Taft said
 Tt is peculiarly fitting that this club each year should celebrate the birthday of that man who was then coming into prominence and upon whom hung, 1t would seem, the whole destinies of this nation.
 Fitting Occasion.
 Tt is not for me, in the presence of gentleman who knew him, who served with him who the risk life nd death with him. to descant upon his life, his peculiar virtues at length to at tempt to picture his character to this company. But there are certain things with respect to General Grant that today come back with reference to our passing life.
 "They said that Grant had not the mill itary genius that other generals displayed in the war. To my mind his mind and brain represented the very genius of the war to suppress the rebellion, because it was his mind that grasped the thought that until we had fought 1t out with our brave opponents and met them in the field and fought them as soldiers, until we convinced them by our strength that the battle was hopeless, could not ex- pect to have united country.
 Spirit of Peace.
 "What I wished particularly to dwell upon tonight was the spirit of that peace at Appomattox, represented the one hand by the magnanimity and foresight edness of Grant, and by the self-restraint and courage and farsghted patriotism (for that 1t was) on the part of Lee, in bring ing the struggle to a close. That spirit at Appomattox is today, l trust, tri- umphant. Between the two leaders it existed when the terms of the surrender were signed, but it was impossible under the conditions that spirit should control and make itself immediately manifest between the two sections. The conditions such that that could not be. The remnants of slavery the distressed con- dition of the south and the feelings that had been wrought between the two tions could not be downed by the mere expression Of two such leaders as Grant and Lee as it was necessary, I suppose, that we should so through that 30 40 years in order that the rent which was made in the foundations of our country and of our civilization, should be reunited in common country with common spirit But, what I mean to point out it that spirit we now rejoice in, as we find between the two sections no remain ing bitterness, is spirit that as between the two great commanders existed the day that they shook hands and signed the terms of surrender. It is a matter that nave very much at heart.
 Union of People.
 I believe it IS possible to make the two sections even closer together The south Is more homogeneous people than we. Emigration into this country spread over the north and west not into the south and the south preserved it's traditions longer than we did Ii the north Addeo to that trait and quality of theirs was the fact that for a long time the traces of war and the sufferings from war wer, present to them and always they have present the colored race to bring back recollection of the strife Prosperity has come to the south Some changes I fear are necessary in fixed economic principles to promote the business of the south We are all In the same boat in more em- phatic sense than we ever were before In the history of the country-I mean bus ,ness boat-and they of the south, es-