The Washington herald., 1909-04-28


Philadelphia, April z.-Presldent Taft
attended a dinner IN Philadelphia tonight
in honor Of the eighty-seventh auniver-
sary Of the birth Of Ulysses s. Grant.
He was the guest OF the Union League,
and the dinner was served in the clubs
house Of that organization
The guest list included about so citi-
zens Of Philadelphia who are members OF
the Union League. and al OF those at
tended reception given By President
Taft IN the clubhouse Immediately pre-
ceding the banquet.
The train which brought the President
to Philadelphia was delayed for more
than half an hour at Wilmington by the
loss Of drawhead from one Of the
cars. and the President did not reach here
until O'clock. He was met al West
Philadelphia by a committee Of local
citizens, who rode with him to the Broad
stree station. where several automobiles
we're waiting for him and the members
Of his party.
Outside the station was the famous
Philadelphia City Troop. the brilliantly
uniformed horsemea Of which saluted the
President as he entered MS carriage. The
President was driven directly to the club
house Of the Union League and the recep-
ton to members began Immediately after
his arrival there.
Scene Brilliant One.
The club house was brilliantly deco
rated. an extraordinary quantity Of cut
flowers and q great number OF coIOrsd
electric lights being used for the purpose
The banquet hall was decorated with
flowers and flags. and the scene vas =
+ brilliant one when the President entered.
All the hargueters rose and gave q cheer
as Sir. Taft took his place At the right OF
James F Hope. president OF the Uaion
League. who presided al the banquet
President Taft let II be known IN sd-
vance that he didn't expect TO make a
long speech or a notable one. but that
he would merely make some informal re-
marks. There was however. a formal
programme Of speech-ruaking-
Gen Horace Porter, former Ambassador
TO France. spoke on Gen. Grant Gov.
Stuart. Of Pennsylvania. responded 10 the
toast The Commonwealth: Mayor Rey-
burn spoke on The City OF Philadelphia.
and Senator Penrose on Union League
traditions.
The keynote OF President Taft's speech
was the political regeneration OF the
South His remarks or this subject were
not Of very pointed character. but they
showed plainly what was in Nj Taft's
mind. At one point in his address ne I'm
piled with much clearness that the negro
question was the question which kept =
majority OF the Southern people from the
Republican fold.
Wants n Better Understanding.
The President expressed the hope that
there might be brought about before
long more perfect union between the
North and South This closer union, Mr..
Taft indicated. win be Of political char
acter. Applause and cheers greeted the
Presidents speech throughout. and al the
close the banqueters arose. waving their
napkins and cheering for several mia-
utes
After referring 10 the part taken by the
Union League during the war in behalf
OF the North, and paying a tribute 10 the
genius OF Gen. Grant. the President said:
What wished particularly 70 dwell
upon tonight vas the spirit OF that peace
at APpomsttox. represented on the one
hand by the magnamity and fsrsighted-
ness Of Grant. and by the self-res.=aint
and courage and farsisnted patriotism
{for that Il wasl or the part Of Lee IN
bringing the struggle 10 a finish
That spirit at APpomattox Is to-day.
trust triumphant. Between the two lead
ers It existed when the terms Of the sur
render were signed. but it was impossible
under the conditions that that spirit
should control and make itself immedi-
ately manifest between the two sections.
Conditions Are Changing.
The conditions were such that that
could not be The remnants Of slavery.
the distressed condition OF the South. and
the feeling that had been wrought be-
tween the two sections could not be
dSwne6 by the mere expression OF two
such leaders as Grant and Lee. and Il
was necessary. I suppose, that We should
go through that thirty or forty years IN
order that the rent which Was made 70
the foundations Of our country and Of our
civilization should be reunited in a com
mon country. with common spirit.
"But what ] mean to point out is that
that spirit We now rejoice in. as We find
between the two sections no remaining
bitterness. IS a spirit that as between
tae tso great commanders existed the
Gay thar they shook hands and signed the
terms OF surrender.
1t is a matter that I have very much
al heart believe Il Is possible 10 make
the two sections even closer together
The South IS a more homogeneous peo-
pie than We Emigration into this coun-
try spread over the North and not into
The South. ard the South preserved its
traditions longer than Gid Re IN the
North
Brings Back Memories.
ADDED 10 that trait and equality 81
theirs WIS the fact that for a long tine
the traces Of war and the sunerinzs
from war were present 70 them. and
always nave been present as the eolored
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