The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-20
IN MECKLENBURC
Annual Celebration of First
Declaration of Independence
Is Given Added Interest by Pres
<ence of President Taft.
SALUTE OF 21 GUNS.
Fired as the Chief Executive
Entered the City.
Many Farmers i'm the Parade
Wearing Colonial Costumes.

oent Taft and party arrived here at
1915 a. M, from Petersburg, Va.
Mr.. Taft was greeted by an i'm
mense throng, which had gathered
at the Southern railway station. A
heavy rain fell during the morning,
but ceased just before Mr.. Taft
reached the city
1t required the services of several
companies of militia to keep the
cheering crowds at the depot in
check as the president alighted and
made his way to a waiting carriage.
Mr.. Taft, accompanied by Captain
Archibald Butt, his military aid was
met at North Charlotte by a local
committee. Despite the cessation of
rain as the president arrived, the
weather continued threatening but in
no wise interfered with the carrying
out of the days programme. Inter
est in the presidents visit to Char
lotte at this time centered in the
Mecklenburg declaration of independ-
ence.
Mr.. Taft takes the position that re-
gardless of the exact language of the
declaration made in May, 1775, a full
year before the signing of the Jeffer-
son declaration at Philadelphia July
4, 1875, the fact remains that there
was a Declaration of Independence
on the part of the citizens of North
Carolina
Stands by the Declaration.
''It is not so material as to the
exact language used,' said the
president today. f"The measure of a
declaration for the principles of civil
liberty and self government is not so
much the abuse or the denuncfatfon
of the former controlling power as
the provisions made for the future
form of government. The impressive
thing of the North Carolina PROPOSE
the state, after deciding to sever the
relations with Great Britain went
about the matter of setting up gov
ernment of their own. They ap-
pointed select men, provided for their
military officers, their courts and
forms of legal procedure. 1t showed
not alone desire for liberty, but the
ability to govern and a thorough
knowledge of the subject"
The sharp controversy which was
declaration has had to do largely
with the language of the document
signed either May 20 or May 81, 1775.
1t has been charged that the language
of the declaration as accepted here
in North Carolina was too much like
that employed by Jefferson to have
been original. The president in his
speech this afternoon did not under
take to reconcile the long existing
difference The important thing after
all he pointed out, is the ability. of
Anglo-Sa -Saxons to rule and the i'm
pressive way they always have gone
about the setting up Of simple and
lust forms of government and the
means of maintaining civil liberty.
The president came all the way
from Petersburg by special train.
Charlotte is thronged with visitors
from all parts of North Carolina and
several neighboring states.
Subject of Much Controversy.
Charlotte, N c., May 20.-President
Taft's presence in Charlotte today lent
notable interest to the annual celebra-
ton of the signing of the Mecklenburg
declaration of independence which it is
claimed was the first step toward lib
erty taken by the American colonists.
The presidents participation marked
the elimination of three days cele-
bration.
The Mecklenburg declaration long
has been subject of stubborn con-
troversy. This is declared by it's sup
porters to have antedated the famous
declaration of July 4. 1776. and has
been denounced as a myth" The diff
Mecklenburg document and it's critics
long have been considered irreconcil-
able. 1t was with great elation, how
ever. that the people of North Carolina
obtained the acceptance of President
Taft to attend the festivities of the
closing day of the celebration of 1909.
1t is claimed the Mecklenburg de-
claration was signed May 20, 1775 A
body of colonists met at Mecklenburg,
near Charlotte, and resolving them
selves into a committee of safety, it is
declared they drew up declaration
of independence. Unfortunately for the
discussion which has followed the or
iginal copy of the Mecklenburg declar-
alton was said to have been lost in a
fire which destroyed the home of John
McNnitt Alexander in whose keeping
it was.
A Copy Was Found.
Among Alexander's papers. however,
it is related that copy of the original,
signed by him as a delegate and clerk
of the convention was found. 1t was in
1926 that the people of North Carolina
first formally observed May 90 In
1890 the legislature of the state ap-
pointed a committee to consider all the
evidence obtainable concerning the af-
fair The committee affirmed the gen
uineness of the Mecklenbdrg resolu-
tions. Today the date May 20, is en-
blazoned on the great seal of North
the statute books of the state and each
year the anniversary is observed
Among the residents of Charlotte are
many descendants of those who are
claimed 10 nave framed ana signed this
first declaration of American inde-
pendence.
The president who yesterday was the
guest of Petersburg, Va. was met al
the railway station on his arrival here
by an imposing committee of citizens
and escorted to the Selwyn hotel. As
the regular Southern railway train
bearing the presidents car crossed the
city limits presidential salute of p
guns was fired by the Charlotte artil-
lery. Arriving at the hotel the presi-
dent held reception. Then with scores
of union and confederate veterans fol
Lhis escort. the president accompanied