The age-herald., 1898-12-16

will receive at your hands All shades of political opinion are represented here to- night. but of those present there is not one who will not say that at the helm of the ship of state, in the stormy sea over which she has ridden there has been a captain who was honese and fearless, who com- manded and looked after the welfare of the whole ship, and not part of it. who has, at last, by his broad liberality in the recognition of southern men and ex-con- federate like Lee and Wheeler, broken for ever the barrier that divides north and south and stamped the indissolube seal of understanding and fraternity upon the union. duce the president of the United States who will respond to the sentiment ex- pressed in the magic words, Our Coun- try"
 President Mckinley
 The president, as he arose, was the re- cipient of hearty and spontaneous greet ing. The cordiality with which he has been received on all occasions during his visit was nowhere more evident than at torights gathering. The executive was compehed to stand and bow several minutes before those about the tables would permit him to pro ceed. The president responded to the toast, "Our Country" He said:
 q am not a stranger to your hospitality. You have always given me a courteous and ''NN- the auspices of your fellow-citizen, Captain Howell, and another distinguished Georgian the brilliant Grady-sinee called from the field of activity, where he was at the helght of his usefulness and when the whole na- ton could lilly spare him, and sorrowed at his untimely death. Then we were en- gagged in an economic discussion in which honest differences of opinion prevailed ana heated discussion ruled the hour l do not forget that then, although advocating the theory of taxation seemingly opposed To the majority sentiment of your state and city, you accorded me an impartial hearing. Stranger as I was to all of you, you made me feel at home, and from that hour Att lanta won my heart. My subsequent visits have only served to increase my admiration for your enterprising city.
 -Four years have gone since I last met the people of Georgia in public assembly. Much has happened in the intervening timc.
 '"The nation has been at gar, not within its own shores, but wit> a foreign power war waged not for revenge or aggrandize- ment, but for our oppressed neighbors, for their freedom and amelioration.
 Tt was short but decisive. It recorded succession of significant victories on land and sea. It gave new honors to American arms. It has brought new problems to the republic, whose solution will tax the genius of our people United we will meet and solve them with honor to ourselves and to the lasting benefit of all concerned The war brought us together; it's settlement will keep us together
 Dearest Thought of Mine
 "Reunitedi Glorious realization! It ex- presses the dearest thought of my mind and the long-deferred consummation of my hearts desire as stand in this presence. It interprets the hearty demonstration here witnessed and is the patriotic refrain of all sections and of all lovers of the republic.
 Reunited; one country again and one country forever. Proclaim it from the press and pulpit; teach 1t in the schools; write 1t across the skies. The world sees and feels it. it cheers every heart-every heart north and southland brightens the life of every American home Let nothing ever strain 1t again. At peace with all the world and with each other what can stand in the pathway of our progress and pros perity?"
 Secretary Long
 Hon. John D. Long, secretary of the navy, followed responding to the toast "The Navy" He said:
 The secretary's effort was in response to the toast, "The Navy" but his remarks for the first fifteen minutes were on almost every other subject than that assigned. It was nearly Il o'clock when Secretary Long was accorded the floor, and owing to the frequent and vociferous applause which in- terrupted him it was long after that hour before he had reached the end of his ad- dress. The secretary extended the greeting of the old commonwealth of Massachusetts to the state of Georgia, and said that as a fellow-eitizen of the old colony state he greeted the fellow-citizens of the state of Georgia. He referred humorously to every body from George Washington down to the present day and paid his tribute to the American blue jacket, whom he said was the typical American citizen.
 Referring to the famous dispatch to Dewey to sail to Hong Kong to meet and capture or destroy the Spanish fleet at Ma nila, the speaker said:
 Now, about that dispatch. On the Sun day after war was declared and after the dispatch had been sent to Admiral Dewey, took it over to the president and asked his permission to send 1t to Dewey. He of course, approved it and said it was in my department. Further regarding that dis patch, l do not know now who wrote it. It was handed me by Commander Crown inshied, of the navigation department, and l don't think he knew who wrote it. Com ing down to the facts it was probably written by some clerk in his department, but anyway 1t was sent and you all know the result''
 The speaker then referred in a happy vein to General Wheeler, Lieutenant Hob son and to the members of the fleet which for so many long and weary days watched the harbor at Santiago. He related an li- cident of the day which set the tables in an uproar. During the day, while the pa- rade was making its way to Exposition park, he said, a grizzled citizen from a county near Atlanta had rushed through the throng, passing the president, passing the postmaster-general, who might have given him position and reaching his hand out to him (the secretary of the navy) said: MT. President. I want to shake your hand"
 This, said the secretary, was no detrac- tion to the president, it merely denoting the timber the president was made of.
 Major-General William R. Shafter was heartily cheered when introduced by Mr. Howell. He responded to the toast, "The Army"
 Hon. George R. Peck, of Chicago, was believed to be the northern speaker of the evening, and rising to respond to the toast, "The New Union,' was loudly applauded.
 splendid speech was that of Hon. Ste phen O'Meara, of Boston, the next on the list and its reception was one of strong approval.
 Hon. Lyman J. Gage, secretary of the treasury, delivered concise and polished in rorIy t,f fl.af .zf 4l.|x