The Washington times., 1909-05-20
TAT 7 BRANDS GOOD
THE DECLARATION
OF MECKLENBURG
Is One With Carolina as to
Authenticity of Docu-
ment.
CcontInued from Flrst 20


turned loose in the land. But it all
goes TO show that the county of Neck
lenburg was right
No one walks so proudly in Charlotte
today as descendent OF a signer OF
that declaration "Thc Sons of the
Signers' are the aristocracy OF the
county, and to judge from the numbers
Sf the Sons, the ''SignersF were
plentiful.
They saluted the President with the
Presidential salute OF twenty-One guns
they have been beating drums and blow
ing horns since sunrise: booths for SELL
ing soft drinks and Taft pictures have
been working overtime. and all the
bunting OF seven States has been bought
and hung upon the buildings.
After the reception at the hotel, the
President got into carriage and head
cd the parade through the town. On
South Tryon street ne reviewed the
parade, in which trere were United
States infantry, bands. secret orders.
nfty automobiles, and the Sons OF
Sjgners.
Whole City En- Fete.
The demonstration accorded the
President has been really wonderful
He was met at the railroad station by
a throng that seemed impossible when
he started to make his way to his car
riage. Whenever and wherever he ap-
peared on the streets, he was greeted
with cheers that were continuous. As
Petersburg did yesterday, so Charlotte
shouted today. that Tar is the best
liked Republican President who has
ever been in the South.
One indication of how thoroughly Mr..
Taft is the central figure here today is
the manner in which the crowds lost
sight of Governor Kitchin for a good
while. lie was in the carriage behind
the Presidents, but he drove along for
n block before hts name was shouted
together with that of Taft
After his speech this afternoon and a
public reception, Mr. Taft will leave for
Washington. arriving there early tOmOr-
row morning. His speech is eagerly
awaited. Will he say the Mecklenburg
declaration was adopted on May 20 or
2S2 II is a momentOus question. a prob
lem which is making Charlotte sit up
and ask itself why.
Sides With Mecklenburg.
But as a matter Of fact Mr.. Taft has
been more than half won over to the
side OF the Mecklenburg Declaration
contenders. and when he makes his
speech he VIII come out strong for the
authenticity OF the document.
There is no doubt whatever" said
tho President on the way TO Charlotte,
lHdt a QrCiaFdilOH CT independence
vas drawn up. There is no doubt that
the coIonists of Mecblenburg decided to
sever their connection with Great
Britain and that they planned their
own future government by making pro-
visions for courts municipal officials.
the collection OF taxes, and various
other needs. But whether the decIara-
ton they framed contained the Ian
guage that Jefferson~u used in the Dec
laTation of Independence of July 4,
-1l76, is q matter of controversy"
In his address he viii take the
Mecklenburg declaration as an example
OF the manner in which the Anglo
Saxons so about the business of self
improvement and progress. Other peo-
pies delight in making high-sounding
declarations of liberty against tyranny.
hut fail TO provide for any sane methods
Of self-government after the hated yoke
is cast aside.