The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-16

ALlduId, I'D, DcCcuDci II. iOoA-
dent Mckinley made memorable the
first day of the Atlanta peace jubilee by
a notable utterance in his speech before
the Joint session of the Georgia legisla-
ture this afternoon. His reception by
the general assembly was warm and
hearty in the extreme, and his speech
was punctured with frequent outbursts
of cheering. 1t is admitted on all sides
that the address marked an epoch in
history and is tonight on every lip.
Upon the presidents arrival at the cap
itol he was greeted with a field ar
tillery salute and was at once escorted
to Governor Gamblers Office. There
short informal reception took place
Upon its conclusion the president was
conducted to the assembly chamber
where he occupied the speakers chair
with Governor Gambler on his right
When President Dodson, of the SEN
ate, called the legislature to order the
galleries were thronged with men and
women. The body OF the chamber was
we'll filled with state senator's and as
semblymen, while the uniforms of va
rious officers and the governors stan
gave a touch of brilliant color to the
gathering. On the first row back or the
speaker sat Secretaries rage, Long,
Wilson, and Smith and Secretary For
ter Beside the speakers desk and be-
low the president, Generals wheeler,
Lawton and Young in full uniform sat
on chairs. The speaker raped for 81
lence and introduced the president to
the audience after cOngratulating the
state OF Georgia upon the presence OF
their distinguished guests.
AS the president rose the audience
applarded Dnring the course OF his
short speech Mr.. Mckinley referred to
his notes and constantly paused for the
cheers to stop. A scene Of intense en-
thusiasm followed when amid impress
sive silence these words fell from the
lips of the president:
Sectional lines no longer mar
the unity of the United states. Sec
tional feeling no longer holds back the
love we bear each other. Fraternity
is the national anthem, sung by a
chorus of forty-f1ve states and our
territories at home and beyond the
seas The union is once more the
common Atlas of our love and loyalty,
our devotion and sacrifice. The old
flag again waves over us in peace with
new glories which your sons and ours
have this year added to it's sacred
folds. What cause we have for re-
joicing is saddened only by the fact
that SO many of our brave men fell
On field or sickened and died from
hardship and exposure, and others
returning, bringing wounds and disease
from which they will long suffer. The
memory Of the dead will be precious
legacy and the disabled will be the ma
tiOns care.
"A nation which cares for it's dis
abled soldiers as we have always done
will never lack defenders. The nation
al cemeteries for those who fell in bat
tie are proof that the dead as well
as the living, have our love. What an
army of silent sentinels we have and
with what loving care their graves are
kept
Every soldiers grave made during
the unfortunate civil war is attributed
to American valor; and while, wher
those graves were made. we differed
widely about the future Of the govern
ment, those differences were long age
settled by the arbitrarment of arms
anti the time has now come in the evO-
luton of sentiment and feeling under
the providence of God, when in the
spirit of fraternity we should share
with you in the care of the graves o.
the confederate soldiers"
THE cordial feeling now happily
existing between the north and south
prompts this gracious act, and if i
needed further justification it is found
in the gallant loyalty. to the union ant
the flag so conspiciously shown in the
year just passed by the sons and gTant
sons of these heroic deae.
What a glorious future awaits US if
unitedly, wisely and bravely We face
the new problems now pressing upoI
us, determined to solve them for righ
and Humanity"
A Wild cheer went up from evers
throat in the typical southern audience
a cheer that echoed and re-echoet
through the chamber until it was takez
up by the crowds outside. Old mer
who fought for the south, rose from
their seats and waved their hats.
One confederate veteran, nova ven
serable legislator, had passed forwart
until he was leaning against the speak.
er's desk, hanging on each word the
president uttered. When the refer
g ence was made to the confederate dead
; this old Elan buried his head in his