The record-union., 1898-12-19
he and His Party Attended
Church.
Camp Of the Seventh Army Corps
Visited.
Secretary A1ger Inspected 1t Crit
ically and Expressed Himself as
Well Satisfied With the State
of Affairs-The Visit Has Knit
the North and South Together
in Indissoluble Bonds.

SAVANNAH (Ga.), Dec. 1S.-Not-
withstanding this was supposed to be
a day of rest with the Presidential
party, it was, as a matter of fact, filled
with interest and activity. The day
was an ideal one.
Though they had sat late to the ban
Quet last night-it was near = O'clock
when General Wheeler delivered his de-
lghtfu peroration to Women THE
President and accompanying members
of his Cabinet arose to breakfast at
about the usual hour, and later they
separated to attend divine services.
President Mckinley attended church
at the Wesley Monumental Methodist
Church. Mrs. Mckinley did not ac-
company him. She is suffering from a
slight cold and remained in the hotel.
Her indisposition, however, does not
amount to real illness, and this after
noon she was able to take a carriage
ride about the city.
The President was met at the door
of the church by leading members of
the congregation who escorted him to
the pew reserved for him. AS he enter
ed standing until he had taken his seat.
The sermon was by Rev. John A.
Thompson, D. D. There was no refer
ence to the distinguished presence dur
ing the service, beyond an invocation
by the preacher for divine guidance
for the President during the crisis
which now confronted the country. Sec
retary Alger and General Shafter at
HA1 u
and after the service held an informal
levee in the aisles, many persons
crowding around them to shake hands
and bid them welcome.
General Joseph Wheeler and Secre-
tary Wilson Worshiped at the First
Baptist Church. After the service they
shook hands with several hundred per-
sons. Secretary Long attended ST.
Johns Episcopal Church. and Secre-
tary Smith attended the Independent
Presbyterian Church. They also were
greeted by many members of the CO...
gregations.
After dinner the President visited the
Georgia Agricultural and Medical Col
lege (cOlOred), where he delivered an
address. The route to the college took
the President through the camp of the
Seventh Army Corps, and, going and
coming, he stopped at the camp for a
brief inspection and to speak words of
appreciation and encoura cement to the
men. Secretary Alger and General
Shafter also visited the camps Secre-
tary Alger paid more attention to the
camp than any other member of the
party. He went through several of the
regimental villages, from headquarters
to kitchens and made a critical exam
ination. He also visited the hospital
Of the First Division, where he spoke
kindly to the sick men and made in
quiries into their wants and how they
were supplied. After his trip he ex-
pressed himself as very much gratified
with the camp and the work of the hos
pital corps.
Postmaster General Smith. General
Shafter and the newspaper correspond
ents with the Presidential party were
the guests of the officers of the Third
Battalion, Third Georgia Regiment. at
the camp this afternoon. An oyster
dinner was served. Postmaster Cen
eral Smith made a short address, dur
ing the course of which he paid a high
tribute to the press for its integrity.
General Shafter made an impromptu
conversational talk to the men as
sembled, which was full of suggestive-
ness and at once placed the General in
touch with all of his hearers. After
dinner the party made an inspection
of the camps. Without execution the
visitors pronounced the ARRANGEMENTS
excellent.
The members of the visiting party
spent the evening in the parlors of the
hotel until the time came for them to
depart for Macon, for which place their
train left at midnight On the wav to
the depot the President was greeted
with hearty cheers, as indeed he has
been every time he has come within
sight during his visit here
The visit of the President and his
party to Savannah ended tonight. af-
ter two days of remarkable displays of
enthusiasm. Although to-day was sup
posed to be a day of rest, the President
attended two public functions and re-
ceived ovatiOns. But far above the i'm
portance of the receptions to-day and
the receptions already reported is the
fact that the original object of Presi-
dent Mckinley's visit has been entirely
lost sight of. The unprecedented out
bursts of loyalty to the Union have
completely Overshadowed the rejoicing
over the peace with Spain, though par
tfcipation in the latter was the avowed
object of the Presidents Southern trip.
To thoroughly explain what is going
on in the South to-day it is necessary
TO not only record the continuous en-
thusiasm and hospitable receptions. but
also to recount the causes that have
made the trip so remarkable. In all
the speeches and in all the demonstra-
tions which have marked the Presi-
dents visit to Atlanta, Tuskegee. Mont
gomery and Savannah, there has been
the tacit admission that the war with
Spain was the great factor in achieving
the result, but it is to the result and
not to the factor that the chief trend
of speech-making and of enthusiasm
has lent itself. Political influences
seem to play no part in the reception
of President Mckinley. On all sides
there is an eagerness to publicly ex-
press the loyalty of the Southern States
and to admit that the war with Spain
not only helped to weld the compact
of the sections, but gave to the South
the opportunity to express sentiments