The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-20
A CONFEDERATE BADGE
Is Pinned on the Presidents
Coat and He Allows 1t
to Stay.

Macon. Ga, Dec 2O-The president
and his party were received here by the
largest crowd which has gathered in
Macon since the last visit of Jefferson
Davis to this city.
Drawn up in front of the station was
the Bibb county camp of the cOnfeder-
ate survivors association, 400 strong,
headed by Commands c. NJ. Wiley. AS
the president reached the old confeder-
ates he was halted by Col. Wiley who
in welcoming the visitors, said
I'VE extend to you and your party
most generous, hearty and sincere well
come 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 in
regard to our confederate dead. I as
sure that these old, MANNED and infirm
veterans who have met here to do you
honor TODAY. 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 hope and pray,
Mr.. President that God in His infinite
mercy may so direct the future 1egis-
lation of this country that the living
confederates will be remembered. This
country and the stars and stripes be-
long as much to the confederate vet
Grams as it does to the Grand Army of
the Republic. The south proved its
LOYALTY to this grand old country when
war was declared with Spain and now.
hencefOrth and forever she Will be
found ready to take up arms to defend
our country and our flag.
Mr.. President, on behalf of the brave
and manned confederate soldiers of
Bibb county, Georgia, present to you
this parchment engrossed in letters of
gold the beautiful sentiment expressed
by YOU in our capital city in regard to
our hOnOred dead.
AS the president was about to pro-
coed, DR.. 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 recently uttered. Do us the
honor, sir, to accept and wear this
badge of a confederate veterans asSOci-
words which should endear you to the
heart of every confederate"
Il do not know that it would be
proper" said the president. But
you must" said DR.. Hall, and without
further ceremony the president march
ed ahead with Judge Speer. The sight
of the confederate badge on the preSi-
dents 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 General Wheeler'S old cavalry
men also pinned a badge to 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 presi-
dent was to review the troops of Cen
eral Bates division of General Wilson's
army corps. AS his carriage passed the
confederate monument. an old confed-
crate veteran frantically waved a con-
federate flag, while by his side was the
son of the colonel of one of Georgia's
hardest fighting confederate regiments,
who was as vigorously waving the
stars and stripes.
When the president was abreast of
him the two flags were brought to a
cid sir he inc fanT
ed to appeal to the president. En-
blazoned on the base Of the monument