Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-17

Sitfzens-President Also Visits Booker
I. Washington's School for CoIored Boys
and Girls at Tuskeeee.
Montgomery. Ala. Dec. 1.-THE pres
ident and his party Were given a mag
nificent welcome in the Confederacy's
first capital yesterday. The pres.ds nt's
train was escorted from Atlanta to
Tuskegee and thence here by the state
assembly. Governor Johnston. CHIEF
Justice Mcclellan and a party of ladies'
At the Union station the presidential
party was met by the governor, COM
mittees from the assembly. the mayor
and city council and the commercial
and industrial associations. Mayor
Clisby received the president with a
well-worded speech at the station. The
whole party was then taken in car
riages through the leading business and
residence streets to the old Confederate
capitol The entire route was ablaze
with the national colors, while tremen-
dous crowds lined the streets as far as
the eye could reach. No such gather
ing has been seen here since C.eveIand's
visit during his first term.
Presidents Response to the Welcome.
When Governor Johnston escorted
President Mckinley into the hall in the
capitol there was a tremendous demon
stration. Governor Johnston made a
brief speech in which he took occasion
to say that Alabama had nothing to
take back for what she did in 1861. but
that she was back in the Union to stay
and that she welcomed the prezident of
the reunited country to the historic spot
Of the Confederacy. During the
course of his response the president
said: THE governor says he has noth-
ing TO take back. We have nothing to
take back for having kept you in the
Union: We are glad you did not go out
and you are glad you stayed in. Tire
mendous applause.l Everybody
is talking of Hobson. and justly so.
but 1 want to thank Mother Hobson in
this presence. Everybody is talking
about General Wheeler. one of the
bravest OF the rbave. but / want to
speak of that sweet little daughter that
followed him to Santiago [great ap-
plausel and minstered TO the sick at
Montauk- lCheers.l / like the |
feeling Of the American people that we |
ought not to have a large standing
army. but IL has been demonstrated in
the last few months that we need the |
standing army large enough to do ali /
the work required while we are at peace
and only rely on the great body of tho |
people in an emergency to hep US fight |
our battles" GAppiause.l
Crowd Calls for More Speeches.
AS soon as the president had finish ed |
the governor started to escort the pres
ident away for reception at his own 1
home, but the audience would not have /
ii. They called for General Wheeler. J
General Shafter. General Lawton. Sec |
retaries AlSsr and Long and Postnas-
ter General Smith. General Lawton j |
first refused to speak. then amidst great |
applause he said: Il am not an orator: |
am a solder: 1 was not hero; am
a regular; / am one Of the 16 900 rsEu-
lar soldiers sent to Cuba on behalf OF |
that part OF the army l commanded I |
thank you people of Alabama" After |
the speaking the presidential party
went to the governors office where |
public reception was held for half an |
hour. He next went to meet the COL /
ored people Of the city at Old Ship /
church, where a great throng received |
him enthusiastically. He made a shor: /
but forcible speech there. Thus ended /
the ceremonies here. The party Were |
conveyed back to the train and at $3.50 !
O'Clock amid the roar of cannon the /
president left for Savannah