Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-22
M'kINLEY AND WHEELER
They Deliver the Principal Addresses
800 Guests at the Board-Wheeler
Pays Pretty Tribute to Southern
Bravery and Patriotism-Constitu-
ton Editor Is POSTMASTER.


guished guests were present and seated
at the presiuent's table. Many prom
inent men from all parts of the south
also graced the tables. Clark Howell,
editor of the Atlanta Constitution, was
toast-master. When President McKin-
ley was introduced he was compelled
to stand and bow some minutes before
those about the table would permit
him to proceed.
The president responded to the toast
Our Country. He said: 81 am not a
stranger to your hospitality. You
have always given me a courteous,
cordial reception. My first visit was
made under the auspices of your fellow
citizen, Capt. Howell, and another dis
tinguished Georgian-the brilliant
Grady-since called from the field Of
activity when he was at the height Of
his usefulness. Then we were engaged
in an economic discussion in which
honest differences of opinion prevailed
and heated discussion ruled the hour
[ do not forget that then, although ad-
Vocating a theory of taxation seeming
ly 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 Atlanta
won my heart. My subsequent visits
only served to increase my admiration
for your city. Four years have gone
since last met the people of Georgia
in public assembly. Much has hap
peued in the intervening time The
nation has been at war, not within its
own shores, but with a foreign, power;
a war waged not for revenge or ag-
grandizement, but for our OPP
pressed neighbors, and for
their freedom and amelioration. 1t
was short but decisive. 1t recorded a
succession of significant victories on
land and sea. 1t gave new honors to
the American arms. 1t brought new
problems to the republic, whose solu-
ton will tax the genius of the people
The United States will meet and solve
them with honor to ourselves and to
the lasting benefit of all concerned
The war Brought us together: it's set
Element will keep lis together Re
united, a glorious realization. This
expresses the thought of my mind, a
long deferred consumma ton of my
hearts desire as I stand in this pres
ence. 1t interprets the hearty demon
stration here witnessed and is the pa
triotic refrain of all sections and all
lovers Of the republic. Reunited, one
country again and one country forever
proclaim it in press and pulpit!
Teach it in the schools! Write it across
the skies! The world sees and feels it.
1t cheers every heart, north and south;
it brightens the life Of every American
home. Letnothing ever strain it again
At peace with all the world and with
each other, what can stand in the path
way Of our progress and prosperity"
John D. Long, secretary Of the navy,
responded to the toast, The Navy
Following Secretary Long toasts were
responded to by Gen. Shafter, George
R. Peck of Chicago, Stephen O. Meara
of Boston and Secretary of the Treas
ury Gage.
All decorum was laid aside when
Gen. Joe Wheeler arose to respond to
the toast The South's Part in the War,
1t was fully five minutes before he was
permitted to proceed. He said:
From the earliest history of our
country in all conflicts of arms, the
southern people have done brave and
honorable service. Twenty years be-
fore the declaration of independence,
it was brave Virginian, who, leading
Firginian soldiers, backed by courage,
skill and determination, saved General
Braddock's army from complete an
Inhalation. When the sound of war
was heard at Lexington and Concord,
it was a brave band of Virginians, un-
der Captain Morgan, that fastened to
the defense of their American brothers
in New England. The Virginian boy
hero who fought under Braddock, now
in the maturity Of manhood, fastened
to the army in front of Boston and
after seven years of battle, finally con-
quered a peace ana laid the foundation
of what is now the most
powerful government on earth.
Among other heroes from southern
states who were distinguished in that
war was the brave Sumter of South
Carolina. and the chivalrous Light
| horse Harry Lee, of Virginia The
leading generals of the war of 1S12-15
were Winfield Scott of Virginia, the
hero Of Lundy Lane and Andrew
Jackson of Tennessee, the hero of New
Orleans and the victor in many other
sanguinary battles. Also prominent
among the actors in that war were Ma
| jor Generals Thomas Pinkney, Wade
Hampton and George lizard of South
Carolina, James Wilkinson, of Mary
land and Thomas Flouroy of Georgia
In our war with Mexico, it was Zach
| Taylor Of Louisiana who won Palo AL
| to, Resaca De La Palma, Monterey and
Buena Vista, and it was Scott of Vir-
| ginia who led Our armies in their tri-
umph of victories from Vera Cruz TO
| the City of Mexico. Prominent in
| that struggle, also, was the gallant
| Guitman of Mississippi. Twiggs of
Georgia and Pillow of Tennessee; and
our southern troops in that war suf-
| fered proportionately much greater
| than did those of any other section. In
| the war of 1876. the martial spirit
of the southern people was most sig
nally demonstrated. The entire coun-
try rose to arms, the ahle-bodied men
of the southern states focking to one
| or the other of the standards OF the
contending hosts, the records showing
that me people of the slave-holding