Evening star., 1898-12-15
President Widely Congratulated on
His Atlanta Speech.
CAPTURED TEE SOUTHERN HEART
One Continuous Ovation Accorded
the Distinguished Visitors.
THE PROGRAM OF TO-DAY
Special Fron a Statf Correspondent.

Special Fror, staf Correspondent.
ATLANTA, Ga, December 15.-Ali
Georgia is ringing with praises today of
the noted speech of the President yester-
day, in which he touched so tenderly upon
the confederate dead. With dozen words
of kindness and broadness he has made
friend of every man, woman and child in
the south. Standing before the joint ses
sion of the Georgia legislature, he caused
tears to flow down cheeks of bronzed faces
by uttering sentiments which no one was
expecting. On every street corner today
the sentimental words of the President are
repeated, even by the boys.
talked with Secretary Alger, Secretary
Gage and Postmaster General Smith this
morning about the Presidents speech OF
yesterday. They heartily approved his sen
dments and ideas. Asked as to the pd'ac-
lical effect of the speech Secretary Algar
said: THE idea is to let the national gov
ernment take charge of the cemeteries con-
aiming confederate dead and care for them
in the proper way
Postmaster General Smith thought the
same, and he believed the Presidents sug-
gestion would soon take material shape.
The time was ripe he said, for just
such a declaration from the chief magls-
trate of the nation, and particularly appro-
pirate to come from a who fought
against the confederate soldier The fra
,ernal feeling engendared by the war with
SPAN should not be allowed to die out and
L know OF nothing to perpetuate it better
Than the ideas Of the President. / believe
lhe whole country will approve the Presi-
dents suggestions"
Gage FavOrs His Views.
Secretary Gage said: THE south has for
many years been paying her part of s140,-
oNGoo in pensions annually, and we can
certainly do what the President suggests
Prominent southern men here rejoice in
The feeling brought around by the Presi-
dent, and believe that the result will be
that the United States will care alike for
the cemeteries of federal and confederate
dead. II is said here that if this becomes
law the south will adopt May 80 as Memo
rial Gay, aid when the people will go to
scatter flowers on the graves of the men
who wore the gray an equal snare will be
tenderly placed over the resting places of
men VINO fell under the stars and stripes
The President is today receiving mes
sageS of congratulaton from every part of
the United States. He is gratitied with the
reception of his speech. a committee =
here from New Orlea MS to urge the Presi-
Gent to visit that city whenever convenient.
The ovation to the President is growing
with Veery minute of his stay here. Since
his first appearance upon the streets yes
terday crowds surround the hotel to get a
glimpse of him and to cheer his every
movement. tnDUuntsu hospitality Is snow
cred upon every member of the Presidents
party, and nothing is too good for the men
and women who have accompanied the
chief magistrate. Every spare minute be-
tween pubic exercises is given to social
functions. The banquet to be given tonight
will be most elaborate affair.
Gold Nugget for the President.
The trustees of the North Georgia Agri-
cultural College have officially presented
the President a gold nugget a souvenir
of his trip south The nugget came from
the Georgia gold fields once owned by the
Cherokee Indians. 1t is tradition of In
dian days that when a noted chieftain visit
ed the Cherokees he was expected to smoke
the pipe of peace and was next presented
with a nugget in token of the rgard for
him. This tradition was recalled to the
President in the presentation of the mug
get. The county in which the college is
located was carried for Mckinley for Pres
ident two years ago, despite the fact that
it is normally democratic by hundreds of
votes.
The program today is the most extensive
of the series. The President is to review
an enormous parade, lunch with the Pied
mont Driving Club, deliver an address, at
tend a pubic reception and at night be
present at a banquet. w. w. P.