The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-21
THE PRESIDENT In ATLANTA.
His Speech at the State Capitol Brings
Down the House.


ATLANTA, Ga, Dec. 14.-Prcsident
Mckinley made memorable the first
day of the Atlanta peace jubilee by u
notable utterance in his speech before
the joint session of the Georgia Legis-
lature this afternoon. His reception
by the General Assembly was warm
and hearty in the extreme, and his
speech was punctuated with frequent
outbursts of ofchecrins. 1t is admitted
on all sides that the address marked
an epoch in history and is. tonight on
every lip.
Upon the Presidents arrival at the
Capitol he was greeted with Il field
artillery salute, and was at once cs-
corted to Governor Candlcl's office.
There short, informal reception took
place. Upon its conclusion the Presi-
dent, followed by members OF the Cab
met, was conducted to the Assembly
chamber, where he occupied the Speak
er's chair, with Governor Gambler on
his right. When President DOdson, OF
the Senate, called the Legislature TO
order the galleries were thronged with
men and women. The body OF the
chamber was we'll filled with State
Senators and Assemblymen, while the
uniforms of various officers and the
Governors staff gave touch OF bril-
liant color to the gathering. On the
first row facing the Speaker sat Secre-
taries Gage, Long, Wilson and Smith,
and Secretary Porter. Beside the
Speakers desk, and below the Presl-
dent Gems. Wheeler, Lawton and
Young, in full uniform, sat on chairs.
The Speaker raped for silence and
introduced the President to the audi
ence after congratulating the State OF
Georgia upon the presence OF their
distinguished guest. AS the President
rose the audience applauded. During
the course Of his short speech Mr.. Nc
kinney referred often to his notes, and
constantly paused for the cheers to
stop. A scene of intense enthusiasm
followed when, amid impressive silence,
| these words fell from the lips Of the
President: every soldiers grave made
during the unfortunate civil war is a
| tribute to American valor, and while,
when those graves were made, we diff
fered widely about the future of the
Government, those differences were
long ago settled by the arbitramcnt 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"
A wild cheer went up from every
throat in the typical Southern audi
ence, cheer that echoed and re-echoed
through the chamber until it was taken
ND by the crowds outside. Old men
who fought for the South rose from
their seats and waved their hats. One
| Confederate veteran, now venerable
Legislator, had pressed forward until
he was leaning against the Speakers
desk, hanging on each word the Presi-
dent uttered. When the reference was
made to the Confederate dead this old
man buried his head in his arms and,
while the cheers rang out, cried like a
little child. Of the many conciliatory
speeches which have been made since
Grant said "Let there be peace" moth
ing has more deeply stirred Southern
audience than the simple words of
President Mckinley this afternoon.
The Presidents speech follows:
Sectional lines no longer mar the
map of the United States. Sectional
feeling no longer holds back the love
we bear each other. Fraternity is the
national anthem sung bya u chorus of
forty-fve States and our Territories at
home and beyond the seas. The Union
is once more the common altar OF our
love and loyalty, our devotion and sac
rifce. The old flag again waves over
us in peace, with new glories, which
your sons and ours have this year added
to it's sacred folds. What cause we
have for rejoicing, saddened only by
the fact that so many of our brave men
| fell on field or sickened and died from
hardship and exposure, and others re-
turning, bringing wounds and disease
from which they will long suffer. The
memory of the dead will be u precious
legacy and the disabled will be the
nations care.
ga nation which cares for its dis
abled soldiers, as we have always done
| will never lack defenders. The nation
al cemeteries for those who fell in bat
tie are proof that the dead as we'll as
the living have our love. What al
army Of silent sentinels we have, anC
with what loving care their graves are
kept.
every soldiers grave made during
our unfortunate civil war is tribute
to American valor. And while, whel
those graves were made, we differed
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