The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-15
AN EPOCH IN HISTORY.
Nothing Has So Stirred Southern
Audience Since Grants Time.
SECTIONAL LINES ARE ERASED.
Our Differences Were Settled. Said He
by the Arbitrament Of Arms, and
Now Fraternity is Our National
Anfhe EN- - General Joe
Wheeler Enthusiast
caiIy Greeted.

ATLANTA. GA. Dec. H.-PresiIen Nc
Kinley made memorable the first day OF
the Atlanta Peace jubilee by a notable
utterance in his speech before the joint
session Of the Georgia Legislature this
afternoon. His reception by the General
Assembly was warm and hearty in the
extreme ana his speech was punctuatod
with frequent outbursts of cheering It
IS admitted on an sides that the address
marked an epoch in history and is to-
night on every Up.
Upon the Presidents arrival az the cap
iioi he was gretted with a field artillery
salute and was at once escorted 10 Gov
ernor Gamblers Office. There a short
informal reception took place. Upon its
conclusion the President was conducted
90 the Assembly Chamber where he oc-
cuDied the Speakers chair with Governor
Gambler on his right.
a BRILLIANT GATHERING.
When President DOds0n Of the Senate
called the legislature TO order the gal
leries were thrOnged with men and wO-
men. The body OF the chamber was well
filled with State Senator'S and Assembly
men. while the uniforms Of various Of
fcers and the governors stan gave a
touch Of brilliant color TO the gathering.
on the first row facing the speaker sat
Secretaries CAGE. Long. Wilson and
Smith and Secretary Porter. Beside the
speaker desk and below the President.
Generals Wheeler. Lawt0n and Young I'm
fun uniform. SAT on chairs.
The speaker raped for silence ard In
trOduced the President 10 the audience
after consratuia.ing the State Of Georgia
upon the presence Of their distinguished
guests. As the President rose. the au-
,ience appiauded. During the course
of his short speech Mr.. Mckinley referee
20 his notes and constantly paused 10.
the cheers 20 stop
THE AUDIENCE ELECTRIFIED
A scene Of intense enthusiasm followed
when amid impressive silence. these
words fell from the lips OF the orator:
Every soldiers grave made during
the unfortunate civil war Is a tribute 20
American valor. And while. when those
er' YES we're made, we differed widely
about the future Of the government
those differences were long ago settled
by the arbitrament OF arms. and the time
has now come in the revolution OF senii-
ment AMI feeling under the providence
of God when. in the spirit Of fraternity.
we should share with you IN the care OF
the graves Of the Confederate soldiers.
a TOUCHING SCENE.
4 wild cheer went up from every throat
I'm the typical Southern audience cneef
that echoed and re-ech0e1 through the
chamber until it was taken Up by the
crowds outside. Old men who fought for
the South rose from their seats and
wavei their hats. One Confederate veie-
ran. now a venerable legislator had
pressed forward until he was leaning
against the speakers desk hanging on
each word the President uttered. Mnrh
the reference was made 20 the Confede-
rate dead this old man buried his heal
In his arms and. while cheers rang out
cried ike a little child.
OF all the many concliiatory speeches
which have been made since Grant said
1T 90 .rero be peace" nothing has more
6aenl,. stirred a Southern audience than
tba simple words of President Mckinley
+bfa afternoon. The President spoke as
THE presidents SPEECH.
Sectional lines no longer mark the
man Of the United states. sectional teeI
Inc no longer holds back the love We
bear each other. Fraternity is the na-
,ional anthem. sung by chorus OF lor-
.v-ive S-ates and our Territories az home
ard bevond the seas. The Union IS once
moro the common atlas % our love anu
LOYALTY. our devotion and sacrifice. Inc
Old flag again waves over us IN pei'-
with new glories which your s1is ana
onrs have this year added % its sacred
hlr ~
sad1ened only By the fact that 50 many
m our brave men fell on field or sickened
and died from hardship and exposure, anQ
others returning. bringing wounds ano
disease from which they viii long suffer.
The ruen7orv of the dead viii be precious
legacy and the disabled will be the ma
ions care.
OUR SILENT sENTINELS.
- nation which cares for its disabled
soldiers as we have always done, VIII
never lack defenders The national ceme-
.erIes for those who fell in battle are
proof that the dead as well as the iivlng
have our love. What an army of silent
,entineis We have. and with what loving
are their graves are kept.
NOW THE NATIONS DEAD
.rverv soldiers crave made during our |
Unfortunate civil war Is a tribute % |
american valor. and while when those |
graves were made We differed widely |
,bout the future of this Government the !
differences were long ago settled Dy the |
.rbitrament Of arms-and the time has /
low come in revolution OF sentiment and |
feeling under the Providence OF God, |
when. in the spirit OF fraternity We
Ihould share with you In the care Of the |
,raves OF the Confederate soldiers.
The cordial feeling that now happily |
exists between the North and south /
prompts this gracious act, and II II need |
a further justification, It i found in |
he gallant loyalty 70 the Union and /
he dag. so conspicuously shown IN the |
ear Just passed by the sons and grand /
ons OF these heroic dead.
What a glorious future awaits us n
initedly. wisely and bravely We face the |
.ew problems now pressing upon Us. de-
ermined 70 solve them for right and
THE GALLANT WHEELER.
No sooner had President Mckinley con-
luded than there We're loud cries for
Wheeler. and when the little man stood
IN. his head scarcely higher than the
;reaker's desk. the audience once more
ave vent 10 wild enthusiasm. General
Wheeler referred e1logistically TO the ef-