The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
BRIGHT CLIMAX TO THE TOUR.
AUGUSTUS ROYAL OVATION TO
PRESIDENTIAL PARTY.

Reviewing Staud-President Says
He win Ever Remembcr Georgin'S
WeIcOme-Augusta Gen. wheeIer's
Home.
Augusta, Ca, Dec. 19-The demonstra-
tion In Augusta this evening in honor of
President Mckinley was a fitting climax
to one of the most remarkable presidential
tours ever undertaken.
Had the President Travelled through the
state that gave him his greatest majorl-
ties the ovatons that would greet him
could not have been more sincere and
heartfelt, and II they would have sur
passed the Georgia article in size and
volume, the fact would be due alone to
the greater density OF population of the
Northern states.
The trip from Macon to Augusta was
without special incident, the only stop be-
ing at Milledegevine. The boys OF the
Georgia Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege and the girls Of the State Normal
and Industrial Institute were gathered at
the depot 10 greet the party. A company
of artillery from the college fired pres
idential salute
DHE HN MaEOns
Tho day opened with rain at Macon but
the train passed out of the drizzle after
a while and though the clouds hung low
all along the route the SUMS rays strug-
| gled through them with determination OF
giving the President and his party a
| glimpse, at least of that weather that has
won for this section the title of the sunny
| South.
Al Wheless Station, four miles from Au-
| gusta the party left the train and entered
carriages that were awaiting them. on
| either side of the road leading to Camp
Mackenzie were drawn up the six troops
of the Third Cavalry that saw service with
Gen. Shafter in Cuba. As the last carriage
passed, the cavalry under command OF
Maj. swigert fell in tine as escort to the
| President with each carriage rode a spe-
| cial courier selected from the citizens COM
| mittee. The drive was up a long incline to
| a level plateau of wide expense on which Is
| located the camp Of the First Division of
/ the Second Army Corps under command
of Maj Gen Young. The public road
passes through the camp and on either
| side the various regiments were drawn up.
Visit 10 the Augusta Camps.
| IL was q naBnlucenI spectacle and ono
| of the most interesting experiences ia tha
whole tour The camp Is an ideal one
| The ground slopes off in all directions and
the soil Is sandy and porous, so that not
withstandng the heavy rain Of the morn
/ ing there was no mud to mar the pleas
ure of the drive. After passing through
! the camp the route lay through the
| United states arsenal grounds and the
/ village Of Summerville, where the corps
| headquarters are located From here the
| drive was through the cotton mill dis
trct and over the canal where the Pres
ident saw the magnificent mills to which
he and Postmaster General Smith referred
| in their addresses.
Roses for Mrs. Mckinley.
In passing down Broad street, the Pres
| Ident halted for a few minutes before the
| residence OF ex-United States Senator Pat
| rick Walsh, mayor of the city. who -
| confined TO bed on account of Illness. Mrs.
! Walsh presented TO Mrs. Mckinley, with
| the mayors compliments, a magnificent
| bunch OF La France roses. and expressed
| to the President Mr.. Walsh's regrets that
no was not able TO participate In the re-
| ception. The President sent a message OF
| sympathy 10 the Mayor whose illness. he
said, marred the otherwise perfect pleasure
| OF his visit
In the heart Of the city reviewing stand
had been erected and from this the Pres
"
the review of the First Division OF infan-
try having taken place at noon by Gen.
| Young.
Large Crowd Gathered.
The crowd that gathered was the largest
| throng of the whole tour, and the demon
stratlon excelled that given the President
In any other place. Gen. Wheeler was
| the hero, Augusta being his birthplace
| and here rest the remains of departed
| loved ones, whose lives and precepts have
| given 10 the nation SO remarkable man.
Gen. Shafter was also given an ovation.
| A unique feature of the demonstration
| was a company of uniformed veterans OF
| the Confederacy, with their battle-scarred
| flags waving with the Stars and Stripes
They were under command of Mai c. A.
| Withers aged and bent, clothed ia the
| historic gray of the lost cause The spec
! tadle was a most touching one They
! stood Immediately in front of the Presi-
dent during his address, and no cheers in
the vast throng were more hearty than
| theirs.
The President was formally welcomed bv
| ex-Congressman J. G. Q. Black, who paid
| beautiful tribute 10 the spotless purity of
| his private life, his exalted administration
| and his broad Americanism, but did not
| forget her who in private life gladdened
his home, flied his heart with love,
lightened his burdens and fostered his
laudable ambition.
President Felt IFonored.
The President said:
Mr. Chairman, My Fellow Citizens:
| have been received by many people and
Ia many places West and North, and
| South and East, but nowhere have / had
welcome that has given me greater
pleasure chan you extend TO me here TO-
day. ! wish II was in my power to make
| suitable response to the gracious and elo-
/ quent words Of him whom you have chosen
| to speak IN your behalf. my Old friend.
whom 1 met for the first time In the Con-
| gress of the United States.
."It IS, indeed. an honor to me ana one
| that shall never be forgotten to stand In
/ The place associated with the names Of
! Washington and Lafayette, and Clay ana
| Webster. il Is also pleasure TO me 10
| be in the city where the gallant cavalry
officer. Gen. Joe Wheoler. was born. (An-