The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-20

and kindly expression of regret al Mrs Taft's absence. stating that ht shared that regret. and that If hfi hearers knew her presence would bt certain to restrict and make his re marks less perhaps they would havt an added pleasure In her being here. II know the Southern heart is fui of sentiment. I know that 1t is easily aroused, but you shall not convince ms today that 1t was not sincere recep. tfon that was given 50 the brave olt veterans of Penney1xania and to tho President of the United States as WI came along the streets of this historis old city.
 T could not but feel this afternoon as sat and listened to the truthful and unexaggerated statements of VIr. ginia heroism, of Virginia sentiment of Virginia ability, made by President Alderman, of the University of Vir' gin.a, that Virginia had right tc the feeling of pride in her past and had a right to the strength of senti- ment that unites Virginians wherever they are, and could not but feel re- 5oiced because believe that I speak the truth when I saw that as we look forward we can count on that virgfnis sentiment. that Virginia heroism. that Virginia patriotism, as being directed Tn the common flow of patriotism in support of the grand old starry flag that we all so much love.
 Now. there Is not the slightest doubt that the danger to the country that arose in the Spanish war united the South to the North in a way that nothing else could. But, my friends national war Is just a bit expensive in point of money and blood, and l think we have got to the point where we can go on getting closer and closer without that supreme test that a na- tionai war brings about.
 T agree that in the history of na- lions and in the history of this nation, the great character of the nation has been shown in the supreme test in times of danger, but we must look for ward to time when war shall cease to come as frequently as in the past, and we must look forward to training up those virtues. less heroic. less spec tacular but quite as essential to the building up of great people and a people of great character as the test of courage and warlike and martial ardor. We must have the economic spirit of se1f-restraint of providence; we must cultivate the unselflsh desire to promote the public veal every day and every week and not every three or four years.
 bChOFO ~ AS pOebiDl0 1T WG 6ll strive in the same spirit. to make this one common country for all of us, to make 1t so in every respect. I know that e very sensible and patriotic Northerner can sit and listen to the tales of heroism of the Southerner in the war between the States and feel proud of the deeds that were done by men of the Sunny South in that con- test. And I know that the sensible FsAA Ap saf aan n fhA nj Q with respect to the recounting of the glorious deeds of the Northern army in the same contest
 You will always find some fool at one end of the crowd saying something that e fool at the other end of the crowd takes as a challenge, and then they try to stir up the middle by some altogether thoughtless statement which no sensible man would pay attention to, and therefore what we have got to do among us all is to restrain the fools. We must eliminate as far as possible those people on both sides with whom none of us sympathize."
 After his reference to the tarin, pre- viously referred to, Mir. Taft contin- ued:
 We are going to have ultimately two great parties, a nucleus for each in every State to hold the other in a sort of proper condition to do business properly. so that when we have reach ed that condition we shall so on to prosperity such as we deserve if we uphold, as we must, the standard of political and official integrity and in- sist on that in every respect, whether it be in Washington. in the White House. in your Governors chair, in Congress, in the Senate. or the bench, or in the State Legislature. s-sf,-a..,