Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-12-24
WEARS THEIR BADGE.
Confederate Veterans Decorate Pres
ident with an Emblem.
A Royal welcome Extended the Chief
Magistrate at Mncon-His Adj
dress-VIsit to MilIedgevine
and Augusta,

Macon, Ia, Dec, EU.-1 lie president
and his party reached Macon promptly
On time and were received by the larg-
est crowd which has gathered in
Macon since the last visit of jefferson
Davis 10 the city. At the station was
a reception committee consisting of a
number of the most prominent citizens
of the town. Drawn up in front of the
station was the Bibb county camp of
the Confederate Survivors association,
400 strong, headed by Commander C.
NJ. Wiley, AS the president reached
the old confederates he was halted by
Col. Wiley, who addressed him as fol-
lows:
Memorial Presented.
"Mr. President: AS commander of the
Bibb County Veterans association and
Bibb county camp No, 4S4, we extend to you
and your party a most generous, hearty
and sincere welcome TO our beloved city.
You, sir have endeared yourself to the
heart of all confederate soldiers on account
of the noble sentiments expressed by you
ir regard to our confederate dead. I as
cure you that these old, manned and in
firm veterans who have met here TO do you
honor to-day appreciate such words of love
and kindness, and uttered, too, by the
president of this great country and by one
who was a member of the union army in
the sixties, l hope and pray, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that God in His infinite mercy may
SO direct the future legislation of this coun-
try that the living confederates will be re-
membered. This country and the stars and
stripes belong as much to the confederate
veterans as it does to the Grand Army of
the Republic. The south proved it's 10y
atty to this grand old country when war
was declared with Spain and now, hence
forth and forever, she will be found ready
to take up arms to defend our country and
our flag. MIR. President, on behalf of these
brave and manned confederate soldiers of
Bibb county. Ca, l present to you this
parchment engrossed in letters of gold the
beautiful sentiment expressed Sy you in
our capital city in regard to our honored
dead"
Wears Confederate Badge.
As the president was about to pro-
ceed DIR. Roland b. Hall, another vet
eran, addressed him as follows:
Mr. President, in behalf of our noble
dead, and as confederate veterans, we are
here to manifest our appreciation of the
noble and generous sentiment you have re-
Gently uttered. Do us the honor, sir, to ac-
cept and wear this badge of a Confederate
Veterans association which bears your
likeness and words which should endear
you TO the heart OF every confederate"
Il do not know that it will be prop
IL, saIu thc pIeslueHt.
But you must" said DR.. Hall, and
without further ceremony the presi-
dent marched ahead with Judge Speer.
The sight of the confederate badge on
the presidents coat as he passed
through the lines of veterans called
forth vociferous cheering.
The president wore the badge during
his stay in Macon. One of Gen. Wheel
er's old cavalrymen also pinned badge
10 the lapel of his major generals coat,
and the doughty little warrior proudly
wore it away with him when he left the
city.
The presidential party was driven in
carriages to the stand where the pres
ident was to review the troops of Gen.
Bates division of Gen. Wilson's army
corps. AS his carriage passed the con-
federate monument an old confeder-
ate veteran frantically waved a coufed-
crate flag, while by his side was the son
of the colonel of one of Georgia's s
hardest fighting confederate regiments,
who was as vigorously waving the stars
and stripes. When the president was
abreast of them the two flags were
brought to a salute, side by side. The
incident seemed to appeal to the pres
ident. EmblaZoned on the base of the
monument were the words of the presi-
dent about the graves of the confeder-
ate dead. The line of march was
crowded. Mr.. Mckinley and the other
guests were vigorously cheered. The
troops made fine appearance in re-
View. After the review great crowd
gathered about the stand. though a
steady rain was falling. Judge Emory
Speer introduced the president, who
spoke as follows:
The Presidents Speech.
at gives me very great pleasure to meet
and greet the citizens of the city of Macon,
with many of whom l have been asso-
ciated in public life. 1t has gived me pleas
ure to witness the review of the soldiers
of the United States. How much. indeed.
has this nation to be thankful for at this
hour. With what reverent gratitude we
should express our thankfulness to Divine
Providence, who has so tenderly cared for
the American people. We have been at
war with foreign power. That war end
ed after 1l3 days of conflict a conflict on
two oceans. a conflict in the west and
east. 1900 miles apart. with $1,000 Of our
soldiers on distant shores and 10000 sailors
ana marines arOat, win loss In army and
navy of less than 1000. and without the loss
of ship or sailor or soldier or flag by cap
ture Never before was there a more mag
nificent army mustered for a hoIier cause
or under more glorious flag than the
stars and stripes. Cheers and great ap-
plause)
ION the 24th day of this month, the dav
before Christmas, our peace commission
Grs will deliver to the president of the
United States treaty of peace. peace with
honor peace with the blessings of liberty
to struggling peoples east and west,
IL congratulate my country on another
fact. We have not only triumphed over
our enemies, but we have triumphed over
our own prejudices. and are now united
country. Proionged applause and cheers }
1T has done my heart good to witness
the demonstrations of patriotism from one
end of this country TO the other. Six weeks
ag l went to the extreme west. i met
the wave OF patriotism there | come to
the south. and l witness the same spirit
of loyalty and devotion to a common coun-
try with common faith. under q common
flag. (Applause)