Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-16
THE BEST DAY YET.
MEXICAN VETERANS AT THE
EXPOSITION.
General Sherman on the Grounds
A Patriotic Address Eloquent
Tribute OF Gen. Henry Il. jack
son TO Ris Old COmrades-Ehe De-
Partments All tn ReadIness-Nu-
merous ExcursIOns.

ATLANTA, November 15.-lt was de-
lightful day. The city was crowded with
visitors. Large excursions came from
Charleston and Greenville, s. c. 1t was the
biggest day yet at the Exposition. ALI the
departments are now in full, working order.
The Florida building is filing up with at
fractions, and had many visitors to-day.
Hon. Horace Maynard, of Tennessee, Hon.
D. Wyatt Aiken of South Carolina, and Hon.
VIM. Coates, of Alabama, were among the
distinguished visitors.
Commodore VIM. Hone, of Savannah,
headed party from that city. The South
Carolina excursonists were invited TO meet
IN the Judges Hall at noon and listen to the
welcome speech from Director General
Kimbsll, but they did not meet, for reasons
best known to themselves. 1t was a timely
rebuke.
General Sherman. accompanied by Gen.
Poe and Col. Morrow, of his staff, ar
rived with Director General Kimball last
night, but they came as private individuals
In citizens clothes, and declined any
reception or official courtesIes as
military officers, which relieved
Tue kOduHluR COmml6Go6 Oh VerV perpleX-
ing self-assumed duty. General Sherman's
day at the Exposition, because of the South
Carolina excursion. He quietly visited the
Exposition with Senator Brown and passed
about the building unattended by any
crowd. He did not choose the day OF his visit
and is not responsible for being here IN re-
sponse to Director General Kimball's invi-
tstion on the anniversary of the burning of
Atlanta
The Mexican War Veterans met in the
Judges Hall at three o'clock.
General William 8. Walker presided, the
veterans occupying front seats. The hall
was packed with ladies and gentlemen, the
finest audience ever assembled there Major
John Jones, formerly of Columbus, Msjor
F. Waddel, of Alabama, and VIM. s.
GramliDg, of Atlanta, occupied the plat
form with Director General Kimball. GEN
eral Henry r JacksOn's address was an elo-
quent and mastery review of the leading
points of the Mexican war, and was fire.
quently applauded. His tribute to Generals
Twiggs and Wm. Henry Talbot Walker
were very fine, especially his defense of the
latter's Confederate record, General Jack
ron, while just to all, held fast to his South
ern comrades, and was heartily cheered.
General Sherman and staff occupied
sea's in the audience, and at the
close Of the address there were loud calls
for him, but he did not respond. son of
Ex-Governor Charles j. Mcdonald, of
the Mexicsn Veterans, arose and
stated that General Sherman was there
as private citizen, and his old Mexican
war com AIDES wanted to hear from him.
Msi1r Waddell then went down from the
platform and escorted General Sherman
back amid hearty applause. The General
said:
81 came here to observe what you are dc
ing here, of which had read IN the papers
and been told about by others, who had
seen the fair. But being here, and being
urged 10 speak few words IS an old Mext-
can veteran, l feel that / can refuse nothing
to soldiers, however averse / may feel about
doing so. regard sOldiery as being so pure
and enuObling that whoever has felt it's
spirit once csn never forget It, and
whenever l am called upon, whether it
be by soldiers of the Florida war or any
other war, my heart responds rs by an in
spiration" General Sherman then spoke of
his come ctioD with the Mexican war, 10
which he served with the cavalry. He then
continued: snow, gentlemen, we have
heard the eloquent address Of this memora-
BILE day. Its spirit is good, and / see 20
reason why we may not now declare with
Webster: Thank God, | am an American
citizen We are American citizens. ]
thank God that am one, aud | tell you that
L y
and stop where please, so long as behave
myself and obey the laws of the place, aud
that Is the spirit of our government.
That is what made us the United
States OF America, and that is the founds-
tion stone upon hich governments are
built on this continent. We fought our
mother ard acquired our independence, and
to-day we ere the same nation, the same
soldiers, the same government, the same
flag, and, so far as l am concerned, am
Just as friendly to Georgia as l am TO my
native State OF Ohio. Immense applause.
'If you all think Georgia is better part OF
the country, why stick to Georgia.; and If you
want to go to California, why go there. That
is the great value OF our system OF govern
ment. 1t is a government worth fighting
for. l have come to-day to look upon these
buildings, where once we had battle fields,
and / delight more 10 look upon them
than to lcOk upon the scene which
was here enacted sixteen years ago,
aud 1 say that every native man
aud every kindly woman takes as much
pleasure in your prosperity and in this Ex-
position as do those who are sitting IN this
presence to day. l did not intend to be
brought out even this much, but think that
we are all now in position to say, every one
of us, that we thank God we are each and
every one OF US, great and small, young and
old, American citizens"
Thus ended the biggest and best day on the
grounds or in the judges Hall since the
Exposition opened. General Jsckson's sd
dress was q grand one, and Georgia will
ever be proud of It's eloquence and patriot
ism.
Mr.. Stephens left for Washington to-day
at noon.
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