The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-05-27
Petersburg dispatch. 10Th.

Petersburg dispatch. 10Th.
Driving over historic roads and battle
fields through clouds OF choking white
dust, which, at times, resembled the
wind-blown smoke of battle, President
Taft today attended the unwilling of a
shaft of granite and a heroic figure in
bronze, placed on the bloody battle
ground of Fort Malone to commemorate
| the valor and heroism of Gen. John F.
Hartranft, and the Pennsylvania SOL
diers of the Third Division of the Ninth
Corps of the Union army He addressed
the notable gathering of weather beaten
and time-grizzled old veterans in the
blue of the North and the gray OF the
| South, and was acclaimed through
| thronged streets of Petersburg, in the
most splendid greeting he has had since
his Inauguration.
Later he was the honoree at an al
fresco luncheon served on the magnificent
O6k-shaded lawns of one of the most
beautiful old homes in all the South, and
finally, standing on knoll of Centre
Hill Mansion, facing n multitude which
apparently represented all OF Petersburg
and a goodly portion of many of the
surrounding cities, he made an earnest
plea in the long twilight for seif-sacri-
ticing and non-partisan support for the
reunited and common country.
''lt has been a great day" he declared
tonight, "aot alone for Petersburg. for
Pennsylvania or Virginia, but in the his
tory of the whole country; II day which
will conduce to a greater Union, to make
stronger our common love for our com
mon country for which all of us, when
necessary, are ready to die"
SOME THINGS THE PRESIDENT
SAID.
Il know the Southern heart is full of
sentiment. | know that it is easily
aroused, but you shall not convince me
today that it was not a sincere recep-
| tion that was given to the brave old
| veterans of Pennsylvania and to the
| President of the United States as we
came along the streets OF this historic
| old city.
| Il could not but feel this afternoon as
! sat and listened to the truthful and un.
exaggerated statements OF Virginia hero.
ism. Of Virginia sentiment, OF Virginia
ability made by President Alderman, oi
the University of Virginia, that Virginia
had right to the feeling Of pride in her
past, and had a right to strength OF SEN
timent that unites Virginians wherever
they are, and | could not but feel re-
joiced because believe that speak the
truth when | say that as we look for
ward we can count on that Virginia
sentiment, that Virginia heroism, that
Virginia patriotism as being directed in
the common flow of patriotism in sup
port of the grand old Government and
the grand old starry flag that we all sc
much love.
| II heard something about the Declara
ton of Independence in Philadelphia
when Virginia and Pennsylvania were
the only ones to respond but am going
to North Carolina tomorrow and want
you gentlemen to understand with refer
ence to declarations of independence there
are other pebbles on the beach. and my
Brother Alderman had better he a little
careful in his expressionsc committing him
sen too much to the Virginia and Penn
sylvania declarations when he visits the
home of his nativity.
Now there is not the slightest doub,
| that the danger to the country that
arose in the Spanish war united the
South to the North in IA way that moth
ing else could. 1t put n touch of the
y
lieve that more than any one singl,
thing, it has made us a united country
But, my friends, a National war il just q
bit expensive in point OF money and
blood, and think we have got to tn.
point where we can go on getting closer
and closer without that supreme test
that a National war brings about.
we must look forward to n tim,
when war shall cease to come as fire
quently as in the past, and we must lool
forward to training up those virtues
less heroic, less spectacular, but quite IA
essential to the building up Of grea
people, and n people of great character
as the test OF courage and warlike anC
martial ardor. We must have the eco
nomic spirit oi self-restraint, of provi
dence; we must cultivate the unselfisl
desire to promote the public zeal every
day and every week and not every thre'
or four yeaE-. Now, 1t is in that direc
tion that we must turn our Nationa
spirit and must consume our Nationa
energy.
II believe it is possible If we all striy,
in the same spirit to make this one com
mon country for all of US, TO max. il ~
in every respect. ] know that a verJ
sensible and patriotic Nortierner can MI
and listen to the tales Of heroism OF tb,
Southerner in the war between TIN
States and feel proud Of the deeds tina
| were done by the men OF the Sunny South
in that contest, and | know that tb'
sensible men Of the South can do tn
same thing. But. my dear friends, yo'
will always find in n community som.
ext. emists who get av~Tar apart iron
each other as possible but they are a!
ways willing To go To the came meaBs q
confuse the sensible man between. iot
will always find some fool at one end o
the crowd saying something that o foo
at the other end takes as challenge
and then they try To stir up the middl'
by some altogether thoughtle-s state
ment that We know sensible fnen woule
not pay any attention TO, and therefor
what we have got 10 do among us all i
to restrain the fools" lApplause.)
Thank God every morning whef
you get up that you are forced TO dc
something and to do your very best
for that viii breed in you selfcon
troll, diligence, eontent, strength o
will and a hundred yirtues.-Chas
Kingsley.