The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-15
PRESIDENT AT ATLANTA
he Arouses the Enthusiasm Of the
-. Ex-Confederates.
4 MOST NOTABLE DECLARATION.

sin the Spirit of Fraternity, We
Should Share With You In tho Care
of the Graves Of tho Confederate
Dead.'
Atlanta, Ca, Dec 15.-Presdent Nc
Kinley made memorable the first day
of the Atlanta peace jubilee by q
notable utterance In his speech before
the Joint session of the Georgia leg
islature yesterday afternoon His re-
ception by the general assembly was
warm and hearty in the extreme, and
his speech was interrupted with fire.
quent outbursts of cheering. 1t Is ad-
mitted on all sides that the address
marked and epoch in history, and 1t Is
today on every lip. Upon the pres-
dents arrival at the capitol he was
greeted with field artillery salute
and was at once escorted to Cover
nor Chanler's office. There a short In
formal reception took place. Upon its
conclusion the president was con-
Quoted to the assembly chamber, where
lle occupied the speakers chair, with
Governor Chanler on his right. The
speaker introduced the president to the
audience. During the course Of his
short speech Mr.. Mckinley referred to
his notes, and constantly paused for
the cheers to stop. A scene of intense
enthusiasm followed when, amid i'm
pERssiye silsnce, these words fell from
the lips of the PRESIDENT:
-.Eyefy soldler's esavs made during
tha"unfortunatc civil .w1ar is a tribute
40 American valor. And while, when
these graves were made, we differed
widely about the future of the gov
ernment, those differences We're long
ago settled by the arbitrament of arms
and the time has now come In the
evolution of sentiment and 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"
3, Old men who fought for the south
rose from their seats and waved their
hats. One Confederate veteran. now n
venerable legislator had passed for
ward until he was leaning against the
speakers desk, hanging on each word
the president uttered. When the ref
erence was made to the Confederate
dead this old man buried his head in
his arms, and while cheers rang out
cried like little child. OF all the many
concilatory speeches which have been
made since Grant said Let us have
peace" nothing has more deeply stirred
a southern audience than these simple
words of President Mckinley.
d, No sooner had President Mckinley
concluded before there were loud cries
for Wheeler. and when that little man
got up, his head scarcely higher than
the speakers desk the audience once
more gave vent to wild enthusiasm.
General Wheeler referred enthusiastically
TO the efforts of the president towards
preserving peace as long as the coun-
try'S honor would permit such efforts,
and of his masterlul policy after it
was inevitable General Wheeler paid
q tribute to Admiral Dewey, and added:
'"The army, in conjunction with the
navy, was ordered to attack and de-
etroy the Spanish forces at Santiago.
In four weeks that order was obeyed
and its purposes accomplished. The
proud Spanish nation stood suing for
before IL had held up to iidicule and |
scorn."
Calls for Brgadier General Young |
brought that officer to his feet with |
a short speech regarding the conditions |
of the army camps in the south. lie |
said that no troops in the world were
better more regally fed and treated |
than We're the troops In South Caro- !!
lima and Georgia. General I4awton was
loudly cheered, but refused TO make /
speech. He simply thanked, on behalf |
Of his men at Santiago. the Legislature
and people of Georgia for their tribute
to himself. Secretary Alger refused to /
speak, and the legislature dissolved.
The president held private recep-
tion In the senate chamber and after
ward a public reception on the steps
Of the rotunda. There We're hundreds
Of southcrners crushed and jostled by
each other in their anxiety to shake
a northern presidents hand
The days festivities included a
unique floral parade, which was re-
viewed by the president. and a festival
last night to the distinguished guests
at the Capital City club.