The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-09-27
THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT.
From our own Correspondent. !


and every one is happy. This President
born into Office amid wranglings and heart
burnings, whose advent TO his high position
st enc time threatened to light again the luriC
fires of civil war, has made his peace with the
whsle broad Southern country and they vel
come him as their own. he never could
have accomplished this most desirable end ex.
eept by turning his back on the relentless
Radicals of his party and becoming in fact
As well as in name, the President of the
United States in spirit and in truth. He did
this IN his bold handling of the South Carroll.
IA and Louisiana questions; and 8 united
South recognized him as a President who
meant to do right if his whole party turned
their backs on him.
Louisville, as the gAte-city of the West to
this mighty Southlsnd--which, forty years
from to-day, will be the seat of empire in the
point of population and wealth-determined
10 show her appreciation of President Hayes
noble, Just, and patriotic course. Conse-
suently the Mayor and Common Council, at
the instance of large number of the most
prominent residents of the city, extended
most cordial invitation to the Chief Magistrate
of the nation to visit Louisville during the
Exposition. The invitation was accepted in
the same kindly spirit which dictated it, and
SO after the due course of time, he came.
Twas on a Monday morning, the 18th Of
September The city had put on a gala-day
outfit; every store and house was decked with
flags, streamers and Chinese lanterns to an
extent that those outside Of the trade won
dered where they all came from; business
was suspended to large extent. 1t was plain
that the citizens of Louisville were in earnest,
and when they invited President Hayes it was
not done with mere lipservice, but with de-
termination to extend to him that prodigal,
generous, whole-hesrted hospitality for which
Kentucky is famous the wide world over.
In fact, they felt that their honor was pledged
to make his visit to the city enjoyable in the
highest degree, and have it at the same time
pass of without any unpleasant incident
which could be regret to them in the future.
Woe unto the man who would have dared to
ing remark or open blackguardism. He that
would have done so would have speedily
found the ease and readiness with which a
true Kentuckian avenges an insult upon his
Sacred honor.
The Presidential party was due at IL
o'clock Monday. Long before the hour thou
sands upon thousands of people swarmed to
the depot The police were powerless to keep
back the fast-thrOnging multitude. The peo-
pie were packed close on every available foot
Of ground and freight-cars were
covered. At noon promptly the train bear
ing the expected guests rumbled across the
bridge and backed slowly down to the depot.
On the front platform of the Pullman sleeper
stood the President and his lovely Kentucky
wife. As soon as the great crowd had taken
q good long look at the pleasant smiling faces
Of His E1cellency and wife, the long loud
SHOUT OF WELCOME ROLLED UPWARD
To the listening sky. The President and
Mrs. Hayes bowed and smiled to the right
and left. They looked in every respect
good-mannered kind-hearted couple; so the
wbsle-souled Kentucky crowd determined to
like them, and they don't do such things by
halves. The Mayor was ready with his
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
The President responded most happily.
The entire party entered carriages and the
procession started for the Gait House. Right
in front was the Old Confederate Guard
af
whom took their first sniff of gun powder in
storming the heights Of Monterey, or on the
bloody field of Cerro Gordo. Representatives
were there from every desperate battlefield
of the late wa1-now once again marching to
the music of the Union under the flag of
their fathers. When the procession arrived
at the Gait House, DR.. Stuart Robinson, the
eminent Presbyterian divine, gave the Presi-
dent an unofficial welcome in the name Of the
people of the whole South. His Excellency
responded in the happy, pleasing vein which
has been the marked characteristic of all his
speeches Wade Hampton, and Secretaries
Schurz, Evarts, Key, Thompson, and Nc
Crary made each one few telling remarks
that were well received.
THE BOYS IN GRAY.
The introduction of the Confederate heroes
to the President was one of the most striking
features of the day. Gen. Basil Duke led
them, as he did many time oft on less peace
full occasions The President gave a warm,
hearty hsnd-clasp to each and all of those
stern-faced, resolute men. 1t was plain to be
seen that they meant business when they
gave friendly greeting to President Hayes as
the Chief Magistrate of the nation. 1t was
done in their capacity as honest and loyal cit
liens of the United States, who felt that this
was their land and their children's.
AT THE EXPOSITION.
After dinner a visit to the Exposition was
in order. The building had been packed for
heurs beforehand with dense mass of deeply |
interested people. There must have been ff-
teen thousand persons jsmmed inside of the
colossal structure There was a large quota |