The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-29

Of tremendous forces in n spectacular
and significant campaign. and Ne
have called In our neighbors and
friends to rejoice with ua and TO
help W celebrate the fuifllment Of
our hopes and the realisation OF our
most daring dreams.
The Morning. After.
On the morning after the Novem-
Der election. early risers In the east
ern part Of the city saw every win
dow on the crest OF yonder line of
hills afiame with glory reflected from
q rising sun, while those living be-
yond the Manse declared that a per-
feet rainbow spanned that now his
toric home. What more beautiful
decoration or what mere gracious
suggestion could we have had than
this celectial token Of promise and
OF hope set like an aureole about the
house In which Woodrow Wilson was
born!
On the following day a committee
from the Woodrow Wilson Club" Of
Staunton waited on the president
elect In his Princeton home, ana in
vited him to visit Staunton. Not
withstanding the exciting preoccupa-
ttons of the hour. he received them
with gracious cordially and at once
accepted the invitation. In all that
political campaign through which he
had Just passed and which had SO
often sparkled with his acts Of
knightly courtesy. there was nothing
finer than his instant and hearty re-
Spouse to the proud and grateful SEN
timents of his native place. And yet
he did an even finer deed when. on
his own initiative, he selected his
birthday as the occasion Of his visit
He went out from us as q very lit
tie boy. laden with the prayers and
benedictions Of a small congregation
Of Christian people. He comes back
to us today. by the favor of an over
ruling Providence. a proven leader of
men, wearing the plaudits Of the
whole civilized world, and chosen 70
f3ll the highest civil Office ever given
to man by the suffrages of his fell
low-men.
A Welcome From An.
Now then. fellow citizens. lend mo
your hearts, lend me your threats.
lend me your silver trumpets, your
drums and clsngfng cymtsals, and
whatever else can feel delight or make
Joyful noise, whilst attempt 20
give utterance to the emotions OF
this hour.
speak for ell of you. men. women
and children, visitors and home peo-
pie. regardless of political affiliaiion
or religious creed. Irrespective II oc-
cupation or social rank, nationality
or color. as the one voice of this
multitudinous assembly. when I say
to him that We thank him for the
honor of his visit; we extend to him
a boundless welcome to the place that
gave him birth; we Join with him N
celebrating his birthday and wish MIN
many happy returns; we congratulate
him on the honors he has won and
the opportunity for world service he
has achieved: we accept him. ir the
language OF the Scriptures. as the
minister OF God to Us for good: we
assure him OF our respectful symra-
thy and our Christian prayers sa,nios,
all the cares and perils of public yer
vice: we pledge him q fair-m.ndsd
and manly Interpretation OF all his
official acts: and we promise aim all
proper support in every RICH. en-
deavor to enforce the laws. pi unp,sa
the welfare or maintain the homer OF
the country.
All these joyous saiutations are in
tended not only for Mr.. Wilson. but
also for the honored lady who will
intimately share the -responsih .itiea
OF his high station. and whose pres
ence here adds q luster TO the ocSa.
sion that 10 all its own.
have the distinction OF presenting
tho president elect OF the United
States. the Honorable Woodrow WI.
SON.