Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-17
AT CONFEDERATE CAPITAL.
Large Numbers Turn Out at Montgomery to
Welcome Presidential Party.

Montgomery, Ala, Dec. 16.-The
President and his party were given a
magnificent welcome in the Confe ler-
acy's capital, today. The Presidents
train was escorted from Atlanta 70
Iuskegee and thence here by the State
Assembly, Gov. Johnston, Chief Jus
tice Mcclellan and a party of ladies'.
At the Union station the Presidential
| party was met by the governor. COM
mittees of the assembly, the mayor
and city council and the commercial
! and industrial associations. Mayor
Closby received the President with a
Well-Worded speech at the station.
! The whole party was then taken In
carriages to the old Confederate CAPT
| toll.
The entire route was ablaze with col
ors, white crowds lined the streets.
| When Gov. Johnston escorted Presl-
dent Mckinley into the hall, there was
! tremendous demonstration. Gov.
Johnston made brief speech in which
| he said that Alabama had nothing TO
take back for what it did in 1851 but
that she was back in the Union to stay
and that she welcomed the President
of the reunited country to this historic
| spot.
| The President said:
ITO the General Assembly and Citi-
zens: The warm hearted welcome
| which mas been give INTO me by the
citizens of Alabama has deeply touch
ed me and in return for it. l cannot
| lind language to express my gratitude
| and appreciation. To be welcomed
| here in the city of Montgomery, the first
capital of the Confederate states.
| warmly and enthusiastically welcomed
asa President of a common country,
| has filled and thrilled me with emotion.
| once the capital of the COME ,eracy,
now the capital of great and glorious
| state, one of the indestructible states
! of an indestructible Union.
The governor says he has nothing to
| take back. We have nothing to take
! abck for having kept you in the Union.
| We are glad you did not so out andyou
are glad you stayed in. TREMENDOUS
applause). Alabama, like all the states
| of the Union, North and South has
been loyal to the flag and steadfastly
| devoted to the American nation and TO
| American honor. There never tYas
been in the history of the United
| States such demonstration of pa
| triotism from one of the country to the
| other as in the year just passing: and
never has American valor been more
! brilliantly illustrated in the battle line
on shore and on the battleship at sea
| than by the soldiers and sailors of the
| United States.
Everybody is talking of Hobson and
| justly SO. but l want to thank Mother
| Hobson in this presence. Everybody Is
| talking about General Wheeler, one of
| the bravest of the brave. but want TO
! speak of that sweet little daughter
that followed him to Santiago. Great
| applause), and administered to the
| sick at Montauk (Cheers). l have
! spoken in many places and at many
! times of the heroism of the American
army and the American navy, but In
/ our recent conflict the whole people
were patriots. Two hundred thousand
men were called for and a 1000 900
rushed to get a place in the ranks.
| Great applause). And million more
| stood ready, if need be. (Prolonged
| applause).
| I like the feeling of the American
| people that we ought not to have a
| large standing army: but it has been
/ demonstrated in the last few months
| that we need the standing army large
| enough to 90 all the work required
! While we are at peace and only rely
/ on the great body Of the people in an
emergency to fight our battles. CAP
/ plause).
I'VE love peace, we are not a mill
tary ration, but whenever the time of
peril comes, the bulwark of this people
rests in the patriotism of its citizens
| and this nation Will be safe for all
| time, because 100000 Of people love