The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-20
The Presidents Visit to the First Capital of
the Confederacy.
THE WARM-HEARTED WELCOME
Given Him by the People of Alabama Feelingly Touched Upon in His
Speech.-From Atlanta the President Goes to Tuskegee Where
He Visits the Negro Normal School-A Speech of Welcome
by Booker T. Washington-The Party Pass Back
Through Atlanta O N Their Way to Visit
the CITY of Savannah.

dent Mckinney Quay VlSlleO the luS-
kegee normal school and addressed its
pupils. Two hours before the presi-
dents train reached here a special
train brought the membe.s of the Ala
bama legislature and a large crowd
from Montgomery.
A procession formed at Tuskegee de-
pot and marched through the city on
it's way to the normal school. The
presidents carrige was drawn by four
beautiful bays. In the carriage with
the president were Governor Johnston,
Of Alabama; Colonel Foster, of Tuske-
gee. and Hooker r. Washington. In
the other carriages were Mrs. Mckinley
and other aides of the presidents par
ty members of the cabinet and Cen
erals Wheeler, Shafter and Lawton.
At the entrance to the normal school
grounds was a beautiful arch inscrib-
ed, welcome to the Chief" and deco
rations Of bunting. Holly and moss
and products Of the field were scat
tered in p~rotu5ion along the ROAD
through the grounds.
The president and party first review
ed more han 600 boys and 3U girls OF
the normal school and 200 children OF
the training school. Each of the boys
carried q stalk of sugarcane with apalm
in the top, each of the girls a stalk
with cotton balls at the top, and the
children carried stalks tipped with mis-
IletOe.
President Mckinley showed much in
terest and pleasure as with uncovered
head he view the procession. After
the students had passed came some
fifty floats representing all departments
of school work.
After the procession all followed the
president to the beautiful chapel.
About 5000 people gained admittance.
Here singing by the students of plan
tation melodies, the most quaint and
beautiful of the blackbelt section, was
a special feature and was greatly en-
joyed by the president and the entire
audience.
Booker r. Washington, the principal
in introducing Governor Johnston, said:
ION this occasion, 1 do not trust my
self to give expression to the feelings
that fill the heart of every Whrte man
and men of the south because Of the
fact that the president of the United
States. who has the deepest place in
the hearts of every citizen high and
low; the members of his cabinet, the
governor of Alabama, the state legis-
lature, together with other distinguish
ed citizens, including our own brave
and good hearted General Joe Wheeler,
should lay aside their immediate du-
ties and responsibilities to pay a visit
to the town of Tuskegee and to this in
stitutiOn.
we welcome you all to this spot,
where, without racial bitterness, but
with sympathy and friendship, with
the aid of the state, with the aid of
black men and of White men, with
southern help and with northern help,
we are trying to assist the nation in
working out one of the greatest prob
lens ever giver~tO men to solve.
I'm the presence of the chief magis-
trate of the nation, I am glad to testi-
fly that in our efforts to teach our peo-
pie to put brains and skill and dignity
into the common occupations of life,
we have not only active help of all
classes of citizens in the little town
of Tuskegee, but of the best people Of
the south.
Said our present governor in his
recent message to the legislature: 'Ev-
cry dollar given to the cause of edu-
cation becomes invested capital that
cannot be lost or destroyed, but will
continue to pay dividends from one
generation to another These are the
words; this is the spirit that governs
the actions of the present governor of
Alabama, and / am sure that no one
can more fifty welcome our distinguish
ed guest to the state thar Governor
johnston, WnOm L take great pleasure
in Introducing"
Governor Johnston introduced the
president. who delivered an address.
The departure for Montgomery was
taken at | o'clock.
THE PRESIDENT AT MONT
GOMERY.
Montgomery, Ala, December 16.-The
president and his party were given a
magnificent welcome in the Confed-
~ nxv Gr-N ~ +nInxr Mn rrAc
ldentS train was escorted from At
lanta to Tuskegee and thence here by
the state assembly, Governor John
ston. Chief Justice Mcclellan and q
party of ladies. The assembly's trair
came in ahead of the presidents. A,
the Union station the presidential par
ty was met by the governor, commit
tees of the assembly, the mayor and
city council, and the commercial ana
industrial associations. Mayor Clisby
received the president with a wei
worded speech at the station. The
whole party was then taken in carri.
ages through the leading business and
residence streets to the old confederate
capitol. The entire route was bla
with national colors, while tremendous
crowds lined the streets as far as tn;
eye could reach. No such gathering
has been seen here since Mr.. Cleve.
lands visit during his first term. CAPT
toll hill was one mass of humanity
when the line of carriages. escorted by
the local military companies, reache;
it at 8 o'clock.
When Governor Johnston escorted
President Mckinley into the hall Their,
was a tremendous demonstration. Gov
ernor Johnston made a brief speech il
which he took occasion to say tina
Alabama had nothing to take back 70
h she did in 1861, but that she wa
back in the union to stay and that sh'
welcomed the president of the re-unitet
country to the historic pot around tn,
assemblage.
The president addressed his audi
nee as follows:
"The warm-hearted welcome whic!
has been given to me by the citizeni
of Alabama has deeply touched me
and in return for it I cannot find lang
mage to express my gratitude and ap