Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-17
ALL WERE BRAVE.
President McKinley's Words at Alan.
ta Peace Jubilee.


Atlanta, Dec. l5.-It .yas exactly s
O'Clock when the train bearing Preside mt
Mckinley and party, who are to attend
the peace jubilee, entered the depot in
Atlanta. A large crowd was present, in
spite of the cold weather, and rousinS
cheer went up as the train came to Il
standstill.
The president made memorable the
first day Of the jubilee by notable ut
terance in his speech before the joint
session of the legisla ture yesterday
afternoon. His reception by the gem
eral assembly was warm AMI hearty in
the extreme, and his spe ech was inter
rupted with fre reQuent outhulsts Of cheer
ing. 1t is admitted on all sides that the
event marked an epoch in hiss y, and
it is OF every lip.
Upon the presidents arrival at the
capitol he was greeted with field ar
tillery salute and was at once escorted
to Governor Gamblers office. There
short Informal reception took place,
Uron its conclusion the president was
conducted to the assembly chamber
where he occupied the speakers chair
with Governor Gambler on his right.
When President Dobson of the senate
called the legislature to order the gal
leries were thronged with men and
women. The body of the chamber was
we'll filled with state senators and as
semblymen, while the uniforms of Nari-
Gus officers and the governors STAFF gave
a touch of brilliant color to the gather
ing.
The speaker raped for silence and In
trodured the president to the audience,
after congratulating the state of Georgia
upon the presence of their distinguished
guests. AS the president rose, the audi
ence applauded. During the course of
his short speech Mr.. Mckinley constant
ly paused for the cheers TO stop.
A scene of intense enthusiasm followed
when, amid impressive silence, these
words fell upon the lips Of the president:
Every soldiers grave made during
the Civil war Is tribute to American
valor. And while, when these graves
were made we differed widely about the
future of the government. thoGe differ
ences were long ago settled by the arbi-
trament of arms-and the time has now
come in the evolution of sentiment and
feeling, under the providence of God,
when in the spirit of fraternity we should
share with you in the care of the graves
of the Confederate soldiers"
A wild cheer went up from every throat
in the typical southern audience. cheer
that echoed and reached through the
chamber until 1t was taken up by the
crowds outside. Old men who fought for
the south rose from their seats and
waved their hats. One Confederate
veteran, now venerable legislator, had
passed forward until he was leaning
against the speakers desk, hanging on
each word the president uttered. When
the reference was made to the Confeder-
ate dead, this old man buried his head in
his arms and, while cheers rang out
cried like child. OF all the many con-
ciliatory speeches which have been made
since Grant said: Let there be peace"
nothing has more deeply stirred south
ern audience than the simple words of
President Mckinley yesterday afternoon.
No sooner had President Mckinley con-
cluded than there were loud cries for
Wheeler, and when that little man got
up, his head scarcely higher than the
speakers desk the audience once more
gave vent to wild enthusiasm. General
Wheeler referred eulogistically to the
efforts of the president towards preserv
ing peace as long as the countrys honor
would permit such efforts and of his
masterful policy after it was inevitable.
General Wheeler paid tribute to Ad-
miral Dewey, and added: The army, in
conjunction with the navy, was ordered
to attack and destroy the Spanish forces
in Santiago In four weeks that order
was obeyed and its purpose accom-
plshed. The proud Spanish nation stood
suing for peace from the nation which
a month before it had held up to ridicule
and scorn."
Calls for Brigadier General Young
brought that officer to his feet with a
short speech regarding the condition Of
the army camps in the south. He said
that no troops in the world were better
more regally fed and treated than were
the troops in South Carolina and Georgia.
General Lawton was loudly cheered.
but refused to make speech. He sim
ply thanked on behalf of his men at San
tiago the legislature and people Of
Georgia for their tribute to himself
Secretary Alger refused to speak and
the legislature dissolved.
The president held a private reception
in the senate and afterward public re-
ception on the steps Of the rotunda
There were hundreds Of southerners
crushed and jostled by each other in their
anxiety to shake a northern presidents
hand. Many had come from miles dis
tant, and at 2:15 p. M, when the presi-
dent left the capitol, there were still hun
dreds bitterly disappointed because they
had not been able to make their way
through the surging throng to get a sec
ond hold on his hands.
The days festivities included a unique
floral parade, which was reviewed by the
president, and festival last night to the
distinguished guests at the Capitol City
club.