The New York herald., 1879-09-26
GENERAL GRANT AT OAKLAND.
HIS HEARTY WELCOME IN THE ''ATHENs OF
OF THE PAcIFIc'-oyATIoN FROM THE
SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Oakland, sometimes termed the "Athens of tho
Pacific by its residents. to San Francisco what
Brooklyn was to New York twenty-five years ago. 1t
differs from Brooklyn at this time only in its lack Of
large business and extensive manufactures. 1t is
essentially the bedroom of Francisco. and. like
Washington, is city OF magnificent distances.
Many fine houses line the principal avenues.
The place wears an air of repose and elegance
in remarkable contrast to the hurry and hustle Of
the sister city the bay. line of ferryboats
ply between the two Cities The occasion of Gen
eral Grants visit to Oakland to-day brought an i'm
mense crowd. not from San Francisco alone, but
from Alameda. Santa Clara and Contra Costa coun-
ties. Trains and ferry steamers from every quarter
were crowded, and an hour before noon there were
fully hundred thousand people in the city,
60.00O moro than the regular population. Whom the
General landed at the foot of broadway there
general ringing of bells and blowing of whistles.
The magnificent principal avenue of the city was
crowded with pedestrians. Numerous country
wagons also. bearing loads of grangers, filled the
causeways. The decorations were fully elaborate
as those OF San Francisco. ana had the additional
advantage of the reception occurring by daylight.
THE RECEPTION CEREMONIES.
The procession marked by the usual charac-
teristics OF such displays The local police force
WAS at the head. followed by infantry. dragoons
far the most touching and pleasing feature the
ovation from the school children. The procession
passed through Fourteenth street, where, opposite
the City Hail. nearly five thousand school children
were assembled on either side OF the street. The
procession halted and General Grant alighted
from his carriage and passed. arm in arm with the
President OF the Board of School Directors, with
barred head. down eide of the street. returning
the opposite side to his carriage. The children
cheercd. waved their tiny banners and strewod his
path with flowers. and. as he passed, showered
bouquets upon him in profusion. The General bowed
and smiled he passed along, while among the
elder spectators there not wanting evidences of
emotion. After this demonstration the General
joined the procession aud proceeded to the Pavilion
where he received the people. Mrs. Grant received
the ladies at Tubbs' Hotel.
VISIT.
At seven min utes past eleven O'Clock the Amador
left the wharf at San Francisco. On board were
Mayor Bryant II. +. Page, NJ. d. Roruck. the Japan
Consul; Colonel Stephenson Judge Hoffman and
other leading citizens. together with the Oakland
Reception Committee consisting of L. &. Cole,
David Howes. j. w. Babcock. j. West Martin, W.
w. Crane. G.. N. Fox, Captain Little DR..
L. H. Carey. W. Z. Hall, L.. L. Alexander,
A. c. Henry, j. W. Badger, A. X. Harmon and ]. Il.
Hardenburg. AS the boat approached the Oakland
wharf u salute of twentyone guns was fred under
the direction OF the Citizens Committee. The wharf
aud the vessels lying alongside were gayy decorated.
A large banner. on which was inscribed the word
Welcome" hung across the entrance to the
wharf. The party was met at the boat by Mayor
Andrus and the city officials.
THE MAYORS WELCOME.
An address of welcome delivered by the Mayor
as follows:-"General Grant-Your merited ova-
havo ancir cled fhe world hav haop
grand and varied the nations that have offered
them. and yet among them all there has been no
moro honest, sincere and cordial welcome than
the city of Oakland extends to you.
This is pre-eminently city of homes and
OF families, of husbands and wives, Of
parents and children, OF churches and schools.
There is no tie more sacred than that OF family. At
the family altar the fires Of liberty first kndled
ana there patriotism is born. Love Of home, of
kindred and country is the and tounaation
Of our welcome to you, defender OF firesides
ami families" The Mayor then handed the General
roll containing resolutions OF greeting adopted by the
city authorities. The General was then conducted to
carriage in waiting. Carriages with the City Coun-
cl Citizens Committee, Board Of Supervisors and
other citizens followed. When all was in readi-
ness the carriage containing General Grant and
Mayor Andrus filed through the gates aud passed
head of the procession.
Suspended across the avenue where the children
were gathered were three banners. the first
inscribed WELCOME to General Grant, the
City's Guest" The second contained this
quotation from General Grants Des Moines
speech:-"The free school is the promoter of
that intelligence which is to preserve us tree ma
tion." In the third the motto 1--WE strew these
beneath the feet Of him who saved US from
defeat"
After dinner at Lubb's Hotel General Grant ad-
dressed the throng follows:-
'iENrLEMEN OF THE Two ARMIES AND NAvIEs-
am very proud of the welcome you have given me
to-day. l am particularly happy to the good
will and cordiality existing between the SOL
diers of the two armies, and I have an
abiding faith that this good feeling will always
exist. Thus united have nothing to fear
from any nation in the world l am satisfied
from my travels in foreign lands that no
country will wish to meet us as q united
people They will be perfectly willing to do JUS
tice without appeal to arms, aud that is all that
Americans want am confident that our country has
a long of peace and prosperity before her."
Soon after the speech the General took the cars at
Brooklyn station to return to tho city, While wait
ing few minutes for the train an immense crowd
gathered round, anxious to get last glimpse
at the city's guest. and a number of ladies
made their way through all distractions to
take him by the hand. little girl
who could not succeed III reaching him. account
OF the crowd. lifted above the heads of the peo-
plo and passed along to tho General, who took her
in his arms and kissed her. amid the tumultuous
cheers OF the surrounding thousands.
A large number of citizens accompanied the party
20 tho wharf. taking leave of the General he en-
barkcd on the ferry to return to the city.
Dennis kearney called at tho Palace Hotel to-day
and up his card General Grant, but the Con-
eral declined to- receive him.
THE FRANCISCO BANQUET.
The Public banquet Committee waited on General
Grant to-day with regard to fixing tho date on which
the banquet should take place. The General in-
formed them that he was awaiting despatch from
General sherman relative to tho meeting of the
veterans Of the Army of the Tennessee. Ho intended
to 40 to Yosemite next week and his future
mcnts would depend upon the nature of General
rpp He preIe rrad hat tl,n