The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-25
M'KINLEY DAY Ar BUFFALO.
The President Received With En-
thusinsm-A Grand banquet.

The President Received with EN-
thusinsm-A Grand banquet.
Buffalo, N. y, Aug. 24-This was the
day for the Grand Army Of the Republic
to pay tribute to the President of the
United States, one of their comrades. and
with much fervor did they perform the
duty. From the moment that the special
train that bore the President and his
party arrived until he retired tonight,
there was one glorious and spontaneous
demonstration. and President Mckinley
said that he had never before half ap-
preciated the warmth of sentiment among
the veterans.
Shortly after o'clock Columbia Post,
dressed in handsome fatigue coats and
white duck trousers, arrived at the hotei
and acted as escort to the President to the
Elliott building. where the post entertain
ed the President at a banquet. As Pres
ident Mckinley passed from the hotel to
the banquet hail. the police had to literally
drive way through the crowd for the
carriages, and at the Elliott, the club cor
rdors were so densey packed that the
President had to be lifted through by stall
wart policemen. In the reception room Of
the club he met prominent citizens of Buff
falo and then a little later he entered the
great banquet hall as the guest of honor of
Columbia Post Of Chicago, with 800 other
distinguished guests and soldiers. Among
the guests were Secretary Alger, Gov.
Black a number Of congressman and lead
ing officials in the Grand Army of the Re
public.
When an elaborate menu had been dis
cussed to the satisfaction of the guests,
the POSTMASTER called for Gov. Frank S.
Black, who extended welcome for Co
lumbia Post to President Mckinley.
At 7;45 p M Senator Mark Hanna, who
had just arrived In the city, came into
the banquet hall His entry was noted
by applause at the further end of the hall.
and as the proceedings passed, President
Mckinley rose from his seat and moved
along the hall TO meet him. There was a
| shout OF applause as the two men clasped
hands, and the Presidents left hand went
upon Mr.. Hauna's shoulder. Both took
their seats amid applause.
Mr. Hanna had to hold a levee. Closely
following Mr.. Hanna's entrance II was
announced that the President, desiring
to hear Archbishop Ireland and other
speakers, had decided to make a brief
visit to some Of the camp fires and then
return. lie left. accompanied by Com
mander Clarkson.
The toastmaster then announced the
next toast, THE City OF Buffalo, Wei
comes the G. A. r." Mayor Jewett re-
sponded
While Mr.. Jewett was speaking the pres
ident returned and for a few moments
pandemonium reigned supreme. somebody
a A
that was taken up and repeated again
and again.
When Mr. Jewett had finished his adj
dress, President Mckinley was introduced
and for fully i've minutes IL seemed as
though the roof would have to fall with
roars Of applause.
Then the President said very slowly and
distinctly: "Mr Toaslmaster and Com
rades and My Fellow Citizens: / wish
might frame fitting words to make suit
able response 60 the more than gracious
welcome which you have accorded me
here tonight. I come with no set form Of
speech; / come with no studied phrases 10
present TO you. but / come In the spirit
OF cOmradeship, 10 talk with you as we
have often talked In the past, around the
camp fires In war; as well as at camp fires
in peace. To me. / see by the programme,
has been assigned the toast, THE Coun-
try ana It's Defenders My fellow Citi-
zens, blessed ~ that country whose de-
Tenders are patriots. Blessed is that coun-
try whose soldiers fight for u and are
willing to give the best they
have, the best that any man has,
their own lives, 10 preserve It. because they
love It, Such an army the United States
has always commanded In every crisis Of
her history. From the war OF the revolu-
ton 10 the late civil war the men followed
that flag In battle because they loved that
flag aud believed IN what II represented
That was the stun or which the volunteer
army Of 81 was made. Every one Of the
men not only fought, but they thought,
and many Of them did their own think
ing and ala not always agree with
their commander A young soldier IN the
late war upon the battle limo was ahead
with the color guard, bearing the stars
and stripes. way IN front Of The line but
with the enemy SIN IN front Of him. The
general called Bring those colors back
10 tho line" he answered: Bring the
line up 10 the colors."
n WAS the voice OF command: there was
a man behind n, and there was patriotism
IN his heart
SO nigh TO grandeur rs our dust.
so near 10 God is man,
when duty whispers. 10. thou must"
The youth replied, 81 can"
And so moro than 100000 brave men
thus responded.
~--s-n@s