The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-17
THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY
WAS SPENT AT CHATTANOO-
GA YESTERDAY.
NM. M'K|NLEY attended SERVICES
At the Methodist Church-SeveraI OF
the Party Visited the Historic
Battle FieIds-COnsidering
the Spanish Mission.

week of travel, sightseeing, speech-mak-
ing and social duties. somewhat onerous,
though pleasant in performance, Presi-
dent Mckinley, Mrs. Mckinley and the
more immediate of the staff. had Sab
bath of restfulness. The heat, while in
tense, was more or less tempered by a
northwestern breeze, which, however, was
not much in evidence in the railway sta
| tion into which the train pulled from Nash
| vile just as the day was breaking. The
run was made very slowly in order that
| the president and wife would not be dis
| turbed Immediately upon their arrival
here. They breakfasted in their car and
Immediately after, much to the regret of
| many prominent citizens who wished to
| meet the chief executive in the morning,
| drove to the residence of Hon. II. Clay
| Evans, United States commissioner of pen
siOns. 1t was not the desire of the hos
| in any way to contrOvert the presidents
| wishes.
At 1870 o'clock the president, accom-
panied by ex-Postmaster General Key and
Mr.. Evans, went to the First Methodist
church. Mrs. Mckinley did not accom-
pany them. The pastorof the church, DR..
5. II. Westhafer, preached from Genesis,
xxi, IA: I'm the mount of the Lord, it
shall be seem" The general subject of
the sermon was "Transfgured Humani-
ty," and no reference whatever was made
to the distinguished guests in sermon or
service except that the blessing of Provi-
dence was asked for him and his admins
tratiOn in the opening prayer. The musical
services were by an octet of male voices,
assisted by a chorus of young people. The
church was, of course, crowded, and many
were unable to obtain admission.
At the close of the services the presi-
dent returned to Mr.. Evans home, where
he quietly rested until about 5 O'clock
when Mesdames Mckinley and Evans,
the president and commissioner, drove to
Orchard Knob, one Of the crucial points in
the battle of Missionary Ridge. They re-
turned in time for dinner, after which the
president gave a short reception in the
Road House, which commenced at 1870 p.
III. The reception, owing TO the sacred
ness of the day, was not prolonged beyond
twenty minutes.
At o'clock the president went to the
house of Capt. H. S. Chamberlain, per-
sonal friend, where he remained a short
time, afterwards going again to Commits
sioner Evans home. whence he escorted
Mrs. Mckinley to the train.
That Chattanooga did not give greater
demonstrations of hospitality and more
earnest manifestations of welcome. was
form entirely with the wishes of the chief
executive and the fact that it was the Sab
bath.
Secretary Sherman did not attend divine
services, but remained with his daughter
at the residence of William Larsey, whose
wife is relative of the Sherman family.
Mr.. Sherman's daughter, Mrs. McCullom,
was affected by the heat iii Nashville Fri
day, and today has been quite indisposed.
Secretaries Alger and Wilson attended
the Second Presbyterian church, Dr. w. }.
Trimble pastor.
Secretary to the President Porter and
many of the presidential guests, together
with large representation from the news
paper men, left at $50 by rail for Chicka-
manga park stopping at Lyle Hill, where
number of cOnveyances were IN readl-
ness to take the party over the historic
ground. The party were fortunate in
having as cicerones Gen. Charles eros.
venor of Ohio and Gen. J. Il. Wilder of
Johnson City, Tenn.
Both of these gentlemen bore distin-
guished parts in the battle of Chickamau-
"a and the other conflicts which make
Chattanooga and its environs so great a
factor in the history of the Civil war.
Among the others We're Col. Nenophon
Wheeler. Gen. Willard Warner and Col.
II. b. Chase. When Snodgrass hill was
reached the party alighted, and Gen. Gros-
venor, in brief and graphic address, de-
scribed the events of that fatal Sabbath.
Returning to the city Lookout Mountain
was visited, and a delightful afternoon
was spent on that elevated plateau.
There is absolutely nothing new to say
in regard to the Spanish mission. and as
this in great measure includes the Cuban
question no outlines of policy in the latter
direction can be given. A gentleman very
close to the administration said to the AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent today.
1.-The question of the Spanish mission oc-
cupies the presidents mind night and day.
The situation is an embarrassing, though
not an unusual one. | think | am fully
justified in saying that the offer of the
mission has not been officially made to any
one. Therefore, to say that Gen. Cox or
any one else has declined it is not true. VI
course, you know that Mr.. Dawes OF Chi-
cago brought word from Gen. Cox that he
was busy writing "reminiscences. or rather
A history, of his connection with the war,
and for that and other reasons was NOT
willing to go. Herein lies the embarrass,
ment First-class men, properly quallnea
and eminently fitted for this most import
ant post, do not care to appear in the Ignt
of an Interior choice. The president teels
that it is as much the duty of the patriot
TO accept service to prevent war as 1t Is 10
enter the army for the prosecution of one.
",There is possibility that MIR. MclAln-
lev will decide to select some gentleman,
who. well known in his section and to the
appointing power as proper man to sue
coed Minister Taylor, is not as well known
to the people or the politicians as the gen,
tlemen whose names have been suggested
in connection with this mission"
The presidential train pulled out between
10 and IL. and went three miles to Sher-
mans hills. where it remained until the
schedule time for leaving, the purpose be-
ing to avoid the heat of the city.
The special train with the presldentiai
party aboard left Sherman Heights at
5iE N, for Ashevillp n c., where