West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-03-01
THE PRESIDENTS TRIP.

visit To tho South A dispatch from Jack
sonville, Fla, s1ys that the President aud
Mrs Cleveland arrived i'm Savannah at .
o'clock A. NJ The Mayor and committee
of citizens met and welcomed them nt the
depot amid scene of tho most
unqualified enthusiasm. AS tho train
rolled in salute was fred by the
Chatham Artillery, whistles were blown and
loud huzgahs went up from the thousands OF
people who had gathered To do honor 10 the
nations chief Tho party was escorted
10 tho long room of tho depot,
which had been prepared for tho occasion
and decorated with potted plants, flowers and
evorgrcens. An informal reception, lasting
about ten minutes. was held, and about q
thousand peoplo were presented TO the Presi.
dent and Mrs, Cleveland and other members
of tho party. The Georgia HuSsars acted as
an escort
Tho Jasper Monument festival boing In
progress, all the buildings were gayly de
corated with bunting, Tho only stop made
in tho course OF the drive was at the Talcfora
Academy of Fine Arts. Mrs. Cleveland had
expressed n desire 20 see the collections OF
statuary and paintings there.
Tho depot was reached without other in
cilcnt OF any kind worth mentioning. An
hour had been spent in the drive and tho
President expressed himself as being much
pleased with H. Within fifteen minutes after
reaching the depot the party was on It's way
to jacksonville
The Presidential train arrived at jackson.
VILE, Fla. in the afternoon and was greeted
with salute OF twenty-ono guns and the
ncclnmatioas OF an immense concourso OF
people IL rnined steadily the day before tho
visit OF the Chief Magistrat, and the town
was plunged I'm woe but the approach of tho
President seemed to send cleveland
weather. in advance, and with bright sun
shine aud the mercury lovins,ly gnmbollng in
the vicinity of the seventies the worthy Jack
sonvillians received the President and party
In great shape. Tho city was one mass OF
tropical foliage, festoons OF oranges inter.
spersed with Florida hanging moss and fan
palms, Even the lamp posts and telegraph
poles were wreathcd In palms and bunting.
Upwards OF lfty arches spanned
tho streets through which the
compli mcntnry aud welcoming inscriptions.
The arches were made OF palmottos, palms,
magnolins orange branches in full bloom, on
n background of the gray moss, and inter-
spers d with quantities Of the golden fruit.
Every building on Bay street was concealed
10y "a mass of tropical foliage, AMI with tho
frequent arches tho city looked like IA Florida
forest gone crazy
Arrangements had been made by the com.
mittee In chargcto furnish accommodations
fov eight thousand guests. and tho
capacity Of the hotels and lodging.
houses was strained 10 the utmost.
Special trains have been running from
all over Florida, pouring excursionists into
the town at remarkably low rates Tho
streets are alive with people, many Of whom
had never seen n city ns large Jacksonville
before.
The party was escorted 30 the St James
Hotel by the Stnto military the Reception
Committee in carriages aud "A band playing
patriotic airs. Mayor Blrbridge role In
the carriage with the President and Mrs.
Cleveland, which was decorated with
flowers and evergreen At halfpast
one o'clock, after the Presidential
party had takon lunch, the marshal OF tho
a.
formed the procession On the arrival OF the
procession NJ the Exposition Building another
salute OF twenty-one guns was fired 10y n de-
tachmnnt OF Wilson's Battery.
Tho President, Mrs. Cleveland and their
party and tho visiting Congressman were
met at the north entrance by the Reception
Committee Of the Sub Tropical Exposi.
ton, with Director General Paine and the Of
iicers OF tho association and were escorted
20 the platform In front OF the north gal
lerics Tho other guests were escorted TO the
south gallery. Tho military then entered
nm stacked qrms except the guards on
duty. Seats were provided on the platform for
representatives OF the city, State aud United
Suites governments distinguished citizens
aud committee. When tho President, Mrs
Cleveland and the accompanying guests were
seated, Co'onel i. j. Daniel delivered AN nd
dress OF welcome, which was greeted with
resOunding cheers. When quiet had been re-
stored the Pre- sidont replied as follows:
II am exceedingly grati6ed that am ablo
it's Kind hearted people, and the sincerity OF
your welcome hasma1o me already feel quite
a. my ease
81 am sure that every person must ba i'm
pressed with tho extent OF our country and
the diversity Of It's climate and products
when he finds that by travelling tweuty-four
hours within is limits winter and snow can
be loft behind and exchanged for bnlmy air
and bloom aud ver1uro Of summer
"The American citizen i'm search OF health
or pleasure and comfort In any variety Of cli-
mate or in almost any changed condition. has
no neel 70 leave American soil or 10 loose
the benefit and freedom Of American insti-
tutiOus and laws / suppose the adj
vantage Of foreign travel should be freely APP
prerated. but 10 seems 20 m that there s
enough iu our own land 20 inte -est and in
-tndct, oftentim's with the greatest adj
vantage. many Of our citizens who insist upon
seeking tho novelties and sights Of foreign
countries There IL, however n satisfaction
In the fact that none Of tiiese return without
an increased appreciation ~ their home.
This Irove' that our citizenship and our pat
riOtisu can be- relied upon az against nil tho
Llandishments of the Old World
~ have sometimes thought II good share
Of time thus spent n learning how much We
loved our country was devoted tO acquiring
moro intrinsic knowledge ~ rs beauties aud
TO- advantages both our citizenship and our
patriotism might hc improved.
Il expect my present occupation nt tho
at ~ our government. where our country
and its people and all their needs are con-
stHntly sub .ects of thought mud care. mikes
10 hard for me % omit reference to Theses
thngg. and set ] woull not have you think
that on this social visit the holiday which /
have taken is 10 be spent iu any other way
than In the ~ est enjoyment VIII CD Your
Kindness and The facilities Of your State and
citynTord. ] want 70 ser the exhibition Of
your products. the scenery Of your rivers
and The growth aud perfection Of your
fruits. intend that during my briof visit
% you official cares shall give way TO frccs
dom which you kindly invite, ira the hops
and cxpectat on that with the enlarged
conception OF the greatness and
beauty NJ my vast country
which ] shall hcrc acquire. ] shall return 10
my post of duty better able 90 serve my TEL
low citizens.
The President. reply was greeted with tho
rt1st W. ferrous and long continued applause.
The slarch Century VIII contain tho
story Of "Colonol Roses Tunnel at Libby
lrison. " told by one Of the one hundred
and nine Unioa Officers who escaped on
the night OF February o, 1864. The
successful construction Of this tunnel,
dug from dark corner OF the cellar Of
The prison. through fity feet Of solid
earth. the 0nly tools being two broken