The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-21
AIeckienburg lCelebration.

4
 Alecklenburg tcelebration.
 Charlotte, N. C., May 20.-President Tafts presence in Charlotte today lent notable interest to the anual celebra- tion of the signing of the Meek lenburg Declaration of Independence. which 1t is claimed was the first step toward liberty taken by the AmericAn colon marked the cuiInipation of Q three days celebration.
 The Meckienburg declaration long has been a subject of stubbornacontro- versy. It is declared by It's supporters to have ante-dated the famous declhra- tion of July {, 177e, and has been de- nounced as a myth" The differences between the uphoiders of the Mecklen- burg document and its critics. have long been considered irreconcilabie. It was with great elation, however, that the people of North Carolina gained attend the festivities. of. the closing day ofs the celebration of 1909.
 It is claimed that the MeckiauhurR declaration was signed May 20. 117b. A body of coionists met at Mecklenburg near Charlotte. and resolving them !. selves into committee of safety and it is declared that they drew up. a declaration of independencece. Unfor- tunately for the discussion which has followed the original copy of the Mecklenburg declaration was said to have been lost in a fire which destroyed the home of John McKnitt Alexander, in whose keeping 1t was. Among AL exander's papers, however, 1t is relat- ed that a copy of the original, signed by him as Q delegate and clerk of the convention was found. It was in 1925 that the people of North Carolina first formally observed May 20. Tn 1880 the Legislature of the State appointed. Q n nnn0tAoP all fha aVidanna obtainable concerning the affair. The committee affirmed the genuineness of the Mecilenburg resolutions. Today the date May 20 is emblazoned on the great seal of North Carolina. the dec- laration appears in the statute book z of the State and each year the anni- versary is observed. Among the resi- dents of Charlotte are many descend- ants of those who are claimed to have framed and signed this first declarn- tion of American Independence.
 Mir. Taft was greeted by an immense Southern Railway station when ha reached the city. A heavy rain fell dur ing the morning but ceased just bI.- fore MT. Taft arrived.
 It required the services of seversI companies of militia to keep the cheer ing cr9wds in check as tho President alighted and made his way to a walt ing carriage. Mir Taft aceoynpanled by Captain Butt, his military aide, was met at North Charlotte by local com mittee. Interest in the Presidents vis- 1t centered in the attitude he wouli take toward the Mecklenburg Deciara- tion of Independence, the anniversary of the signing of which Is celeb bratea throughout the State of North Carolina the goth of each May.
 Mir. Taft takes the position that re- gardless of the exact language of the M- A E.... A@ as- -an year before the signing of the JefTer- son declaration at Philadelphia July {. I776, the fact remains that there was a declaration of independence on the part of the citizenS of North Carolina
 "It is not so material as 10 the ex- act language used" said the President today "The measure of a declaration for the principles of civil liberty and self government is not so much the abuse or denunoiation of the former controlling power as the provisions made for the future form of govern ment The impressive thing about the North Carolinian is the sensible way the people of the state. after deciding to sever relations with Great Britain went about the matter of setting up a governmen of their own. They ap- pointed select men, provided for their military officers. their courts and forms of legal procedure. It showed not alone a desire for liberty but the ability to govern and a thorough knowledge of the subject"
 sharp Controversy,
 .O The sharp controversy which was waged about the Mechlenburg declar- aaion has had to do largely with the language of the document signed eith- ar Nv 20 or May 31. 1775. It has been charged that the language of the de- cIaration as accepted here in North Carolina was too much like that em- ployed by Jefferson to nave been orig mai The President in his speech late this afternoon does not undertake to reconcile She IoAg existing differences The important thing after all. he points out, is the ability of Anglo Eaxons tc rule and the impressive way they have always gone about the setting up of simple and just forms