The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-17
THE PRESIDENTIAL PROGRESS.
A Series of Characteristic South
ern Ovations All Along.
Big Crowds, Hearty Cheering and Strong
Speeches Mt Each Stopping Place-Hc
strikes Strong Blows for Diversified
observation-disclosures versus Cot
ton-Pleasing Incidents at Birming-
ham-To Meet the President of Mexico.

ton-Pleasing Incidents at Birminc-
ham-To Meet the President of Iexico.
ATLANTA. April 16.-lSpecial]-The
President left hero this morning for
Birmingham; large crowd assembled
to see him off. lie spoke briefly from
the platform of tho train as follows:
my Fellow Citizens: saw this city
once under circumstances of very un-
favorable character. 1 did not think
l would like it, though we were making
great effort to get it. l am glad after
all these years to see the great pros
perity and development that has come
to you. think l am able to understand
some of the influences that are at the
bottom of it all, and 1 am sure that
look into the face Of community, that
whatever their differences may have
been, however they viewed tho question
of war when it was upon US, can have
but onc1 thought now as to what is
best. We can all say with the Confed-
crate soldier who carried gun for what
seemed to be right, that the Lord knew
betterithan any of us what was best for
the country and for tho world
"You are thankful for what ho has
wrought and chiefly for emancipation.
1t has opened up to diversified indus
tries these States that were otherwise
exclusively agricultural, and made it
possible for you not only to raise cotton
but to spin and weave it, and has made
Georgia such State as it could not
havo been under old conditions. am
sure we have many common purposes
Let us do our duty and while exacting
all our own rights let us bravely and
generously give every other man his
equal rights before the law"
BIRMiNGHAM, Ala, April 16-[Special1
The city was wilderness Of flags and
bunting when the Presidential train
rolled in. AT noon the streets were i'm
passible. The party had delightful
trip from Atlanta over tho Georgia Pa
cihc. The President showed great inter
est in tho celebrated hills of Georgia,
the cotton plantations, and evidences of
enterprise to be seen on every side.
The feature of the run to Birmingham
was the prominent display of American
colors at all the stations. The patriotic
display of flags was particularly noticed
at Ta1apoosa. known in that region as
The Yankee City Under the Southern
Sum-" because SO much New England
capital is invested there. Talapoosa
gave the President cordial reception.
Soon after passing Tallapoossa the
train crossed the Georgia line into Ala
bama, and at the samo time tho gov
ernor OF Alabama and his staff left
birmingham in special train to meet
the President. There was n grca
crowd at Admission and the reception was
most enthusiastic. The town was
decorated for the occasion and presented
gala appearance. The local military
and band of Sunday school children
with flags formed n limo in front of the
station, and each member of the l'resi-
Dental party was given fine silk
badge suitably inscribed, and the ladies
were also given beautiful bouquets.
Tho President made Il strong speech
simplifying the lines of his Atlanta
address, and struck strong vein of
sympathy in his audience. 81 am
glad. said he. that you arc realizing
the benefits of diversified agriculture,
and that the production upon your
farms of staples which you once bought
elsewhere is largely increasing, and |
am glad that to diversified agriculture
you have also added these great me-
into your communities artisans ard
laborerS who take from ad acent farms
the surplus of your fertile lands. There
has been received in the South since
the war not less than $1,000, 900, 600 for
cotton, and while rejoice in that, am
glad to know that in this genial region
there are nearly 100000 acres devoted
to raising watermelons.
NO farmer, certainly no planter, in
the old time would have consented to sell !
watermelons. You are learning that
things which were small and despiscd
have come to be great elements in yo,
commerce now. Your railroads make |
special provision for the transportation
of crop which in the aggregate brings |
large wealth to your people. mcntie n |
this as good illustration Of the chang |
ing condition into which you are enter |
ing on arc realizing the benefit of |
nome markets for what you produce. E |
When birmingham was reached the |
hring OF cannon, whistling of engines |
and cheering from the vast crowds
greeted the party. The Pre- sidcnt was |
welcomed by tho mayor and made a
tour of the city. a public re ception was |
held at the Caldwell House. Four thou.
sand school children turned out to greet
the President just before he reached |
INC O@iuWeli IiouSe nc was approached |
by two little girls, Carrie Cobbs and |
Sadie Elliot, who on behalf of the pub
lie schools, presented him with an ad-
dress of welcome printed on satin. The
President stepped out OF his carriage to
receive it and, taking the children in
his arms, kissed them both amidst the
cheers OF the populace.
The President has assented to an ar
rangement for meeting the president OF
Mexico during his visit to Ell Paso next
week.