The morning news., 1898-12-18

Monroe, Polk, Fillmore, Arthur
and CIeveIand-Past Presidential
Bnnquets and the TOasts of the
Observation-Disclosures, Receptions
and Dinners savannah's Usual
Methods Of Entertainment.
GIimpses of Past History Interest
ing at This Tine.
May 1901, George Washington
May 8, 1919, James Monroe.
March 10, 1S49, James *. Polk.
ApriI %, 1854, MiIIard Fillmore.
April Is, 1888, Chester 4. Arthur.
February 81, 1855, Grover CIeve-
land.
december II, 1895, william Nc
IIinIey.
This is the list of the seven Presidents
Of the United States who have visited Sa-
vannah; and the times at which they
came. Polk and Fillmore were ex-Presi-
idents. hardly more than out OF office,
when they came to this city. The others
were holding the highest office in the gift
of the people when they honored savan-
nah with their presence.
try was a long narrow strip, extending
only to the Florida line and practically
on unbrolxen wilderness on the other side
of the Aneghanies. Savannah was a viii
lage. nothing more, with It's future a mat
ter of uncertainty, although there were
not lacking signs of the commercial su-
premacy that was later to be lis. One
fifth President finds Savannah approach
ing 10000 in population, recognized as the
chief sea port of the entire South Attain
tic coast; a city renowned, even as it
was in the day that the first President
came as the home of virtue intelligence,
culture and solid progressiveness. The
bounds of the nation have been extended
until they extend around two-thirds of the
globe. The growth of Savannah has been
but typical of the growth of the nation.
The cordiality of the greeting to the twen-
ty-hfth President shows that since the day
that George Washington was received with
the acclaims Of the populace Savannah
has lost none of her spirit of hospitality
and none of her reverence for the office
and person of the chief magistrate
1t is interesting to look back to the visits
of these other Presidents. The news
present time, did not go into much of the
minute details of such occasions. The
chief event of the visit of President Wash
ington, like that of the visit of President
Mckinley, was a banquet rendered by rep
resentative citizens. On that occasion
though, the dinner was served in the open
under beautiful arboT supported by three
rows of pillars entirely covered with lau-
rel and bay leaves The arbor was orna-
mented with festoons of flowers. From
the spot on which it had been built
view of the city and of the harbor was
obtained. By this arrangement the great
body Of the people, not partalking of the
dinner were enabled to see Its progress
and feast their eyes on the Father of
His Country" The artillery company
dlned under another arch near by. The
following toasts were given:
The United States of America
" Prosperity to the Citizens of Savan-
nah and It's Vicinity'-By the President.
The Fair of America
&c The Vice President Of the United
States
The Memorable Era Of Independence
The Count dEstaing.'
The Memory of Gen. Greene
The Arts and Sciences
The Memory of Those Brave Men Who
Fell Before the Lines of Savannah on the
9th Of October, 17S9.'
ernment Throughout the Globe
AN Foreign Powers in Friendship
With the United States
May Religion and Philosophy Always
Triumph Over Superstition and Prejudice
in America
The Present Dexterous Corps of Artil-
lery'-CThe Presidents toast)
"After the President retiredD-"The
President Of the United States
The construction of the arbor and the
manner in which the entertainment was
provided and conducted did great honor to
the gentlemen to whose direction the whole
was committed.
In the evening there was a handsome
exhibition of fireworks and the amuse-
ments of this day of joy and festivity were
concluded by a concert"
As might have been expected, no honor
was too great to be paid the President. A
committee Of citizens met him at Purrys-
blrgh, on the South Carolina shore, and
from there he was rowed to the city in
boat by nine American captains, all
dressed in light blue silk Jackets, black
satin breeches and white silk stockings.
Ihey wore round hats, encirced with black
ribbons, upon which were traced in letters
OF gold the words Long live the Presi-
cent Ten miles from the city a process
sion of boats met them, with a brass band.
AS the President passed the band played
/ lie Comes, the Hero Comes" and the
citizens took up the tune and united in a
vocal musical welcome. Arriving at the
city, the Chatham Artillery, that noted
saluter of Presidents, fired twenty-six
guns. A parade of the company Of infan-
Oy, The artillery and the citizens follow
ed- The President spent several days in
the city, being entertained at dinner by
tne corporation, by the Georgia Society
oI the Cincinnati and then by the citizens.
III was as special acknowledgment OF
i tne honors paid him here that President
Washington, soon after his return to the
capital complimented the Chatham Artil-
Iery with two field pieces which had been
captured at Yorktown. These guns have
oeen used in saluting the Presidents who
nave come after, and yesterday belched
lorih welcome to President William Nc
kinney.
When President James Monroe came he
too. Nas The c.1,nct nf l,nnnr IL q hnn-