New-York tribune., 1909-04-28
MIR. TAFT LAUDS GRANT
POLITICS IN THE SOUTH.
Spirit Of 4ppomatton Forecast a
Reunited Country.

2 striking tribute the solder-President. Mr..
Taft expressed anew his admiration for General
Grant as e man. a soldier and as Chief Execu-
Tive Of the United States.
The President reached Philadelphia at SIS p. m.
There was delay route from Washington OF
nearly an hour caused by the breaking of a draw
head in the coupling of two Of the cars on the
regular New York express. TO which his private
car Independence was attached The train was
Tot unusually heavy, AMI the fact that the coupling
gave way two in front Of his own brought out
considerable good natured chaf for the President.
Wayne Macyeagh, brother OF the Secretary of the
Treasury, and Mrs. MacVeagh were the Presidents
guests from Washington 10 this city. A committee
of the Union League met the President West
Philadelphia. where his car was detached from the
train and brought into the Broad street station by
a YARD engine
The President accompanied by Captain Archibald
Purt his military aid a Broad street by
an immense rhrong. The vast concourse in Broad
street station was filed, and a spontaneous cheer
rrcke rom the crowd the President quickly
recognized Entering automobile Mr. Taft was
escorted 10 The Urson League Club house in Broad
street by the lst City Troop Of Cavalry which has
acted az escort to every President of recent years
who has visited Philadelphia.
The way from the station to the Union League
club lined with thousands of citizens. who
cbeered the President vociferoUsIy. It the
most notable greeting Mr.. Taft has experienced
since MS Inauguration He acknowledged the
cheers the throng by constantly lifting his hat.
Al the clubhouse the President held a reception
FOR than hour, some two thousand or
Union League members shaking hands with him
The banquet hall of the club, where about three
hundred sat ST the tables, profusely deco
rated with flowers flags and electric lights
General Horace Porter, Of New York. and Presi-
dent James T. Hope. Of the Union League, were
among the speakers who preceded President Taft
The latter. following his almost invariabe custom,
spoke eXtemporanoOusly-
MR. TAFT's SPEECH.
Nj TAFT spoke at times in a half QuizzicaI man
rer and there was frequent laughter well as
applause at his reference political conditions in
the South After making complimentary reference
70 the Union Leagues patriotic support OF the
Union Army at the outbreak Of the war and dur
ing lis continuance Mr.. Taft said:
Il is peculiarly fitting that this club each year
should celebrate the birthday Of that man who then
was coming into prominence. and upon whom hung,
i would seem, whole destinies of this nation
who < Knew @ him WI Who " served y With him NJ Who ran the
Tlsh OF ne sn9 dealn with nm, 70 CeIa. .t a m ~
picture his character TO this company. But there
are certain things with respect 10 General Grant
fp5r TODAY come hack with reference TO our pass
rsry genius that other generals displayed in the
ny ] C % ms 1 21q 9a 9a o sp8ress P5I 6e Tebeilion
because il was his mind that grasPed the thought
pouenIs and met them in the field and fought them
a soldiers. until We convinced them by our strength
that the battle was hopeless. We could not expect
The -irne he began in Belmont until he accepted
t1s s-lrrerder Of lee at Appomattox he fought
ci-iez. not points Of strategy. but he fought the
enemy. and he fought and fought ana fought untli
Hs wore out the opposing forces because only by
condition N which there should be complete peace.
What ! wished particularly to dwell upon to-
night WAS the spirit Of that peace at Appomattox.
-eseI2Jed on the one hand by me ,agIla'lIy @ aI b
tie seLf-resJrainr and courage and far-sIghted
patriotism for that il was) on the part Of Lee in
bringing the struggle 70 a finish That spirit at
ApporatJoX IS TO-DAY l trust uluIlphant bet"esn cen
The two leaders it existed when the terms OF me me
surrender were signed. but II was impossible under
rs;se i1seIf iInnedateiv manifest between the two
sections. The conditions We're such that that could
The remnants of slavery, the distressed condi-
wrought between the two sections could not be
downed by the expression Of two such leaders
as Grant and Lee. and it was necessary. suppose.
that we should 90 through that thirty or forty
Years IN order Ilat tle ItIlI Wn @ "aS 2 i,if,z al
Jion should be reunited in a common country, with
49, [[ l ~ s fo eec6Ie @ no remaining bitterness is
INee t-.e lo a. - o-Saa+ emma nd
ers- existed the day they shook hands and signed
The terms % Of Sendfr a eie + is # a65eg R 66sgbe fhaf to make @
The two sections even closer together.
SOUTH MORE HOMOGENEOUS
The people Of the South are more homogeneous
sD~ead over the North and not into the South,
di5 We in the North. Added to that trait and
quality Of theirs the fact that for long time
were present 70 them. and always they have pres
ent the coloTed race 10 bring BACK S o o
cFarres fear are necessary in fixed economic
TrincIrjes 10 promote the business Of the South.
We are all in the same boat in a more ernphatlcc
sense than we were before IN the history OF
the south especially their business men, are trem-
bling the balance OF doubt as 10 just "here Ihey
In that condition / feel certain that the next
decade two decades VIII bring aoout Gi4iite | ~
~ % -lIssei shf1 in The Union League Club 1laugh
ter but such as to 1T them for independent action
and at times 10 b willing, Wnen opoT lqir.y Ei III III 4;
10 vote for a different candidate from nm VINO Is
f-
I an not making Republican speech, and | am
not speaking from RepuDilSzn .i 5ig,,,ei
least 7 hone can spare myself from that olsposl-
-; slf,1eI ~ ~ fro.e7 tbe standpoint hope Of
RI Tq.-i,tic interest in nv country. look for
ward into the next decade. not with the nope thsJ
the south shall become Republican and make an an
tie country T2enubJcau for, stanch as ] am IN my
support Of the Republican party InIIlh a S is
neeessar TO make the Republican party II 1t Is 10
control the government. useful 70 the peoPie' 0i "
WE an looking forward a division in the
parties in the South so u!at Lneie +tat IN their
snce Of political opinion there, so tnat IN go
state go-a~rrnerts and in their national aIlairs
F5fs~-iI,s5 "a ar8 su6Dorted believe that gener-
aiy through South the men VINO are mo- lot end
tlyey engaged in politics would recognize 'i'a'
ss one deyoUtly 10 he wished
PATRIOTIC DESIRE ONLY MOTIVE
In expressing these desires am quite conscious or
that my motives likely to be mscohsIu %,
more political oIicy than patriotic desire, put,
nevertheess persist in eNpIeSslils IL @1Ilt -osaot
1haf serfior in congress and in the Senate are
Constantly throwing cold water on my aIuenRS ~
encourage 4 little Independence OF ponucaI VI utfN IN
sng in the South and saying that II IS 80
ne 70 attempt 10 bring about chaIse css ~. ~ +baIn
regard they will excuse If attribute 10 IIeI
little Of that political preJudlce that tny IN
aeuating daughter ana IL Is ,PF+{ P4eOl ninio1
n the South with all the ferVor OF some HS
Patriots in that section who 90 not hold now Ile
Position Of preventative or Senator in washing
ton
But. however it is feel certain that the real
splrit Of Arnonoetfox is marching and that II