“‘D. G. Purse,
“‘President Savannah Board of Trade.’
“The resolutions were adopted by a rising vote.
“The Plant System employees were represented by Hon. A. A. Wiley, who spoke as follows:
“‘Mr. President, Mr. Plant, Ladies, and Gentlemen: These men who wear these badges to-day, whether they come from South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, or Alabama, are the employees of the Plant System, consisting of telegraph, express, railway, and steamship lines. They number perhaps three thousand, but represent more than twelve thousand employees, and have come from the smoke and the dust of the workshop, from the railway car, from the locomotive, from express and law offices, to pay their tribute of respect, and to manifest their love for our distinguished chief, their admiration and appreciation of him. [Applause and cheers.]
“‘This great day becomes a national day, because it is replete with mighty consequences to both North and South.
“‘Here we may forget our business cares and worldly contests, for the soft hand of kindness, friendship, and hospitality smoothes down the ruffled brow. A quarter of a century ago, ruthless and unpitying war, with all the devastations that follow in its wake, swept with relentless fury over our fair and fruitful fields.
“‘When that fratricidal struggle was ended and the soldiers who survived it returned to their desolated homes to find poverty and want at every door, Mr. Henry B. Plant, a Union man, who, notwithstanding his loyalty to the North, had been commissioned by President Davis, because of his honesty and integrity, to go at will everywhere throughout Dixie, was also true to the South. He recognized the fact that the war was over. He had confidence in the reserved energy, loyalty, devotion, and patriotism of the men who wore the gray. [Applause and cheers.]
“‘He had faith in the magnificent possibilities of this land of golden summers. He knew that we would never again renew hostilities against the Union of our fathers; and he was right.
“‘Mr. Plant began anew with us the battles of life. He poured out his wealth like water, to build up and beautify our waste places. He put activity and intelligent direction into the industrial life of the South; and his confidence was not misplaced. He has built grandly and well—wiser, perhaps, than he knew—and has rolled onward the car of progress and prosperity. The whole South has felt the touch of his magical hand, and recognized in him a potential factor in the advancement of commerce and civilization. To-day about fifty thousand people owe food, shelter, and raiment to his bounty and munificence. [Applause and cheers.]
“‘He has carried happiness and plenty to many a fireside, and poured the sunshine of peace and gladness into many a weary heart. [Great cheering and applause.]