The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-15
WILD CHEERS BURST OU
TIME TO SHARE IN CARE OF CON
FEDERATE GRAVES.
so DECLARES MCKINLEY AT ATLANrA
Received by the General Assembly Of 6eorg'
Before Which he Spoke. He Thrilled
his Southern Audience to
the Very Core.

the Very Gore.
Atlanta. Ga. Dee. 14.-President Nc
KinIey made memorable the first day of
the Atlanta peace jubilee ny notable
utterance in his speech before the joint
session of the Georgia Legislature this
afternoon. His reception by the Gener-
al Assembly was warm and hearty in
the extreme, and his speech was punctu-
ated with frequent outbursts of cheer
ing. 1t is admitted on all sides that the
address marked an epoch in history,
and is tonight on every lip. Upon the
Presidents arrival at the capitol he was
greeted with a field of artillery salute,
and was at once escorted TO Governor
Gamblers office. There short informal
reception took place. Upon its conclu-
sion the President was conducted to the
Assembly Chamber where he occupied
the Speakers chair with Governor
Candier on his right When President
Dodson, of the Senate. called the Legis-
lature to order. the galleries were throng-
ed with men and women. The body of
the Chamber was well filed with State
Senators and Assemblymen. while the
uniforms of various officers and the
Governors staff gave a touch of brilliant
color to the gathering. On the first row
facing the Speaker sat Secretaries Gage,
Long. .lilson and Smith, and Private
Secretary Porter. Beside the Speakers
desk and below the President Generals
Wheeler, Lawton and Young in full uni
form sat in chairs The Speaker raped
for silence and introduced the President
to the audience after congratulating the
State Of Georgia upon the presence Of
their distinguished guests. As the Presi-
dent rose, the audience applauded. Dur
ing the course of his short speech, Dir.
: Mckinley referred TO his notes and con-
stantly paused for the cheers to stop. A
scene of intense enthusiasm followed
when, amid impressive silence, these
words fell from the lips of the Presi-
dent:
Every soldiers grave made during the
unfortunate Civil War is attributed to
American valor And while. when those
graves were made we differed widely
about the future of the Government,
those differences were long ago settled by
the arbitrament of arms-and the time
has now come in the evolution of senti-
ment 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 sold iers."
A wild cheer went up from every
throat in the typical Southern audience.
n cheer that echoed and re-ecboed
through the chamber until it was taken
mp by the crowds outside.
Old men who fought for the South.
rose from their seats and waved their
hats. One Confederate veteran, now
venera BILE legislator. Ind passed forward
until he was leaning against the Speak
er's desk, hanging ON each word the
President uttered. When the reference
was made to the Confederate dead. this
old man buried his head in his arms and
while cheers rang ont, cried like little
child. Of all the many conciliatory
speeches which have been made since
Grant said "Iet there be peacs" moth
Ing has more deeply stirred a Southern
audience than the simple words of Presi-
dent Mckinley this afternoon.
The President spoke MS follows:
Sectional lines no LONGER mar the map
of the United States. Sectional feeling
no longer holds back the love we bear
to each other. Fraternity is the nation
al anthem. sung by chorus of 45
States. and our territories at home and
beyond the seas. The Union is once
more the common atlas Of our love and
LOYALTY. our devotion and sacrifice. The
old flag again waves over us i'm peace,
with new glores which your sons and
ours have this year added to it's sacred
folds. What cause we have for reioic-
irg, saddened only by the fact that so
many of our brave men fell on the field
of battle, or sickencd and died from
hardship and exposure. and others re-
turned bringing wounds and disease
from which they viii long suffer. The
memory of the dead will be precious
legacy. and the disabled viii be the ma
tion's care.
"A nation which cares for its disabled
soldiers as we have alwavs done. will
never lack defenders. The national
cemeteries for those who fell in battle
ere proof that the dead. as well as the
living have orr love. What an army of
silent sentinels we have. and with what
loving care their graves are kept.
Every soldiers grave made during
our unfortunate Civil War is q tribute
to American valor. And while. when
those graves were made we differed
widely about the future of this Govern
ment. the differences were long ago set
tied by the arbitrament OF arms-and
the time has now come in the evolution
of sentiment and feeling under the PROV
idence OF God. when, in the spirit of
fraternity, we should share with you in