Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-09

l the people of Birmingham than was ten- l dered Col. Alexander K. Mcclure, editor- | in-chef of the Philadelphia Times, yester-
 day afternoon.
 | Arrangements had been made for his re- 1 ception aud the people knew he was com | ing. Three thousand of Birmingham 8 | citizens were at the union depot to well come this grand man, who has done more for the advancement of the south than any other man north of Mason and Dixon 8 | line.
 | Al 3:10 o'clock every whistle in the rail- | road yards and at the industrial points be- | gan to blow, aud the sound of the whistles, | together with the ringing of the bells, made l such din that one could hardly hear their | own ears. This was kept up for fully 6f- | teen minutes.
 At precisely 3:12 p. nj. Louisville and 1 Nashville train No. pulled into the union passenger station, and to this train was at- | tached private boudoir car "Coronet. o | When the train stopped the reception com. mittee, Messrs. George M. Cruikshank, | Frank V. Evans, R. N. Rhodes, N. F.. Thompson, R. D. Johnston and John l w. Tomlinson, entered the car gnd in | few minutes the party appeared upon the | platform.
 The Birmingham battalion, which had been marched under the shed before the ar- | rival of the train, greeted the party with senuarms.'
 Shouts of applause aud warm welcome | went up from the throats of thousands of | enthusiastic citizens.
 Headed by Station Master c. E. Meglem. | cry, the party and committee were es- corted to the carriages which were waiting | just outside the depot and driven to | O'Brien s opera house. The party was fol- lowed by the three local military conpa- | nies, under the command of Col. l.. V. | Clark. The military marched into the | opera house, where seais had been reserved i, l while Colonel McClure's party were given a box, he himself being escorted to the | stage.
 | At 3:SO the curtain went up and with it | continued applause from a packed house. e l MT. George M. Cruikshank announced to {f he audlence that President B. F. Moore Cf
 he Commercial club would preside, whGre-
 pon MT. Moore took the chair Ind an-
 selected to de!ixeG the addressof welcome.
 Mayor vanHoose addressed the chair
 and then the audience, aud stated that it
 was pleasing indeed to see what royal
 welcome was being given private citizen. In pleasing speech he welcomed Colonel Mcclure and party, and closed by saying that If he ever left Philadelphia Brming- ham would receive him with wide open arms.
 President B. F. Moore then addressed the audience and welcomed Colonel Mcclure in behalf of the Commercial club of Bir- mingham. He said that the Commercial club was always glad to welcome such a man into Birmingham, and moreover a | man who felt such an interest in Birming- ham as did Colonel Mcclure. He then in- l troduced Capt. Joseph F. Johnston, who introduced the speaker, saying: "A few years ago the people of Birmipg- | ham turned out to do honor to a gentleman who occupied the office of president of the United States. The great body of us had opposed his election, but it was thought | proper to do honor to the incumbent of that great office.
 ''roday this overfowiDg house of the | best citizens of Birmingham is here assem- | bled to do honor to private citizen of the l United States;. a gentleman who comes to
 us not decorated by the pomp and circum-y | stance of office, but illuminated by great | intellect, broad citizenship and a charity 1 that ignores section, creed and party. It | is hopeful sign of the future of this great
 republic that the people honor above all | things private virtue and public fidelity. "Feliow citizens, it gives me great deal l of pleasure to present to you gentleman | you all know and honor and admire, the generous hearted, broad d-minded, patriotic | Scotch Irish statesman, scholar and philan- l thropist from Pennsylvania, Alexander K. l McClure.''
 Colonel Mcclure arose from his seat and | in low tone of voice said, in substance: For the most generous welcome 10 pri- l vate citizen of another state can only say 1 heartily that thank you.
 | If in any humble way have aided in the | progress of the south and of Birmingham l have done no more than my duty. When 1 the south shall be made prosperous it only adds to the prosperity of a nation. Our l interests are so closely interwoven that they cannot be separated. recall with | pleasure my first visit to Birmingham, for
 the reason that l stand upon the exact spot
 now that did then. Without any notice | whatever from any of the citizens of your cityI was met at the train by your city officials and members of the commercial organization and told that was expected | to make an address that night. l con- sented, but later learned that w. J. Scan
 Ian was billed for that night. They said
 that was all arranged and that Scanlan and myself should perform together.
 At ' o'clock the curtain went up and MT. Bcanlan and gave our performances. l
 made my speech, and after few minutes
 MT. Scanlan went OF with his part of the | show.
 | After studying the resources of the l United States I have come to the conclu.
 sion that no part of the country can sur | pass Alabama with her industries. l When went home after my first visit
 aud told the Pennsylvania people that in l ten years Alabama would undersell Phia-
 for fanatic asylum. Iron is made here
 today cheaper than any other spot on l Gods green earth, aud better wages are l paid men for their labor.
 | Upon my first visit Colonel Hillman | showed me around the Birmingham dis
 trict and showed me the almost un-
 bounded resources for the man anufacturins 8
 of iron. l was pleased with such an ex- | hibt.
 Today your furnaces turn out double the
 quantity of iron they did five years ago,
 and say frankly that Pennsylvania can-
 not compete with Birmingham in the man. | ufacture of iron.
 The American people are so adaptable
 that the people of today can follow another pursuit when one is ended, and if we can'l
 make iron in Pennsylvania as cheap as you