The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-05-26
THAT OLD MYTH
President Taft Talks About it at
Charlotte
IN A DIPLOMATIC WAY
He Received the Welcome of His
Life on Thursday While Visiting
Charlotte, Where He Was Sa-
luted by Cannon and Met by Inn
posing Committee and Military.

luted by Cannon and Met by I'm.
posing Committee and Military.
President Taft's presence in Char
lotte Thursday lent notable interest
! to the annual celebration of the sign
ing of the Mecklenburg declaration
of independence, which, it is claimed,
was the first step toward liberty TAX
en- by the American colonists. The
presidents participation marks the
elimination of a three days cele-
bralion.
The Mecklenburg declaration long
has been the subject of a stubborn
controversy. It is declared by its
supporters to have antedated the
famous declaration of July 4, 177S.
and has been denounced as myth"
The difference between the upholders
of the Mecklenburg document and
its critics long have been considered
lrreconcilable. 1t was with great
elation, however, that the people Of
North Carolina secured the accept
ance of President Taft to attend the
festivities of the closing day of the
celebration of 1909.
The president upon his arrival
in Charlotte at 1915 o'clock was
met at; the railway station by an i'm
posing committee Of citizens and es-
corted at once to the Selwyn hotel:
AS the regular Southern railway
train bearing the presidents car
crossed the city limits, presidential
salute of 2l guns was fred by the
Charlotte artillery. Arriving at the
hotel, the president held a reception
for one hour. At noon, with scores
of Union and Confederate veterans
for his escort, accompanied by Mrs.
"Stonewall' Jackson, he proceeded
to the reviewing stand, from which
he witnessed the passing of probably
the most notable parade ever held
in Charlotte.
The militay escort to the presi-
dent during his stay in Charlotte
consists of troop E Of the Eleventh
United States cavalry, a battalion Of
the Seventeenth Infantry band. A
detachment of the regulars headed
the military division of the parade.
Altogether there were eight divis-
ions to the pageant as follows:
Industrial, floral, colonial, eques-.
trian, farmers, fraternal societies
and secret orders, automobiles and
the fire department. Large detach-
ments of the National Guard Of
North and South Carolina were in
line. The industrial, colonial and
floral divisions were made up Of
handsomely decorated floats.
The president made two speeches
during his stay in Charlotte. Fol-
lowing luncheon at 2 p. N. he ad-
dressed the people at 4 o'clock Gov
ernor Kitchen introduced the presi--.
dent on both occasions. At $50
he delivered an address especially
to the colored people and to the
students Of Biddle university. At
$50 the president dined and from
8 to $3.50 held a second public rec
ception. The president left at 10:30
O'Clock Thursday night for Washing
ton.
Interest in the presidents visit to
Charlotte centered in the attitude
he would take toward the Mecklen-
burg declaration of independence.
Presi9uet Taft takes the position
that regardless Of the exact language
of the declarations made in May,
l775, full year before the signing
of the declaration at Philadelphia.
July 4, 1776, the fact remains that
there was declaration Of indepen-
dence on the part of the citizens of
North Carolina
1T is not so material as to the
exact language used," said President
Taft, ''The measure of the declara-
tion for the principles of civil liberty
and self government is not so much
the abuse or denunciation Of the for
mer controlling power as provisions
made for the future form of govern
ment The impressive thing about
the North Carolina proposition is
the sensible way in which the people
of the State, after deciding to sever
relations with Great Britain, went
about the matter of setting up g
government of their own"
The president in his speech does
not undertake to reconcile the long
existing differences. The important
thing, after all, he points out, is
the ability of the Anglo-Saxons to
rule and the impressive way they
have always gone about the setting
up of simple and just forms Of gov
ernment and mean sof maintaining