The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-01
A sUB.IRoPICAL WELCOME.
Tho Presidents Greeting in tho Land OF
FloWcrs,=

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, February u
The Presidents train arrived here this
afternoon and was greeted with :. salute
of twenty.one guns and the acclamation
of all immense concourse of people. The
party. was escorted to the St. James Hotel
by the State military, the reception COM
mittee in carriages and band playing
patriotic airs. Mayor Burbridge rode in
the carriage with The President and Mrs.
Cleveland, which was decorated with
flowers and evergreens. At 1.90 o'clock,
after the Presidential party had taken
lunch, the marshal of the day. Major
Harkishir1er, with twenty aides, formed
the procession. The following wss the
order of the procession:
First Diyision-Police in platoous,
marshal and his aids, lat Florida bat.
TALON with band, Presidential party in
carriages, carriage of President and Mrs
Cleveland being drawn by six black
! horses; Wilson's battery mounted as
special escort to President, End Florida
battalion, Congressional party in carria
ges, Press Association ip carriages,
invited guests in carriages.
Second Diyision-Key West Band OF
colored men, Uniformed Knights of
Pythias, Independent Order of Red Men,
Perry Guards of colored State militia,
Duval Guards of coored State militia,
Jacksonville Typographical Union, No.
162, aud Jacksonville fire department.
Other organizations and citizens gener.
ally followed.
The line of march was along the prin
cipal streets, which were gay with deco:
rations of all kinds, including evergreena,
bunting, festoons Of oranges sud orange
flowers. Masses of people in holiday
attire lined the route, and it is estimated
that 100000 citizens ard visitors wit
messed the procession, including thou
sands of Northern tourists. On the
arrival of the procession at the Exposi.
tior building another salute of twenty.
one guns was fired by detachment of
Wilson's battery.
The President, Mrs. Cleveland and
their party, and visiting Congressman
we're met at the north entrance by the
reception committee of the Sub. Tropical
Exposition, with Director General Paine
and the officers of the Association, and
were escorted to platform, in front Of
the north gallery. The military then
entered and stacked arms, except the
guards on duty. Seats were provided on
the platform for representatives of the
city, State and United States Govern,
ment's distinguished citizens and com,
mittees.
When the President, Mrs Cleveland,
and the accompanying guests we're
seated, Col. J. K. Daniel delivered an
address of welcome, which was warmly
applauded. He said:
Mr.. President, it is my grateful Office
to express to Mrs. Cleveland and yourself
the qualification which your presence
here to day affords US, and to extend to
you the most cordial welcome, kind
wishes and greetings of cur people. l
welcome you, sir, in behalf Of our Sub.
Tropical Exposition and its management,
the city of Jacksonville, the board Of
trade aud State of Florida and her people,
one and all.
"We feel, sir, that you have greatly
honored us by accepting our invitation
to visit this Exposition. 1t is a happy
coincidence that on this day, commemo-
rative If the birth of the first President
of our Commonwealth, at a city named
in honor of another of his illustrious line,
to whose vigorous administration your
own has been not unity compared, the
citizens of our State are accorded the
rare privilege of meeting face to face
their Chief Magistrate, for whom they
entertain, | can assure, you, sentiments
of the most profound affection and
esteem.
"What we desire most on the occasion
is that your visit may prove season of
rest and recreation both to Mrs. Clere-
land and yourself, and that you will in
after life recur with pleasure to the MEM
ories of your brief sojourn among US.
Our only regret is that it cannot be
otherwise than brief. This exposition
displays to you the varied products of
our State. 1t speaks more eloquently
than words of mine can tell of the
attractions which Florida presents aud
the wealth which lies hidden in her soil,
her forests, her golden groves, her lakes
and rivers and her genial cline.
II would fain speak to you, sir, of
Florida, our fair mother, whose praises
her sons are ever ready to recite, but why
should I do more than say she stands
before you, venerable among the colonies
of the old world, which first peopled this
Western continent, yet radiant with the
bloom of eternal youth. You have but
to bathe in her sunlight smile, to listen
to the melody of her soft breezes and
catch the perfume of her balmy breath,
to gather from her fragrant bosom the
golden treasures which she offers, to look
upon yon noble river, pouring her com.
merce forth upon the world, and see the
lines radiating from this centre 10 her
remotest limitss in order to proclaim with
us the charms as well as the future prom
Use of our beloved State.
"Nor need l dwell upon our people,
except to say that here you will Gnd a
people who represent not only the new
South but the new era of American life.
Here, sir, the past is forgotten, saving
only the deathless memories of its
achievements and sufferings, honorable
alike to those on either side who bore
their part in the struggle manfully and
we'll. These sacred memories We would
enshrine in the glorious future which
awaits our great and united country. To
our city.and State have come good men
and true, from every State and territory
in this broad Union, and here have they
clasped fraternal hands around the hal.
lowed circle within which peace aud
prosperity are Joined together.
"These are the people on whom you
look to day, whose voices mingle as do
their hearts to do you honor. 1t is for
them again, sir, I bid you welcome, and
with them devoutly pray that the bless
ling Of Almighty God, the God of our
fathers and Of our nation, may rest upon
you and be your guide in the further
administration of the great trust, which
thus far you have so wisely and faithfully
discharged, and that to Mrs. Cleveland
and yourself may come in the fullest
measure the choicest gifts His bounty
can bestow."
When quiet had been restored the
President replied as follows:
81 am exceedingly grati6ed that I am
able to see the wonders of your State and
to meet its kind-hearted people, and the
sincerity of your welcome has made me
already feel ouite at nv ease.