The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-20


| The troops made a fine appearance.
| After the review of the troops the
| President spoke at some length to the
| throng who had gathered about the
| stand in spite of Il soaking rain that
was falling.
He congratulated the country on the
| fact that the day before Christmas onr
| peace commissioners would deliver
| toJthe President of the United States y
treaty of peace, peace with honor. peace
| with the blessings of liberty TO strug-
Cling people East and West H2 also
congratulated the country on another
| fact-we had not only tyiumphed over jour
| enemy, but we had triumphed over our
| own prejudices and we were now a
| united country. prolonged applause
and cheers.)
The Presidents remarks were fire.
quently interrupted by cheers. Then
there were loud calls for General
Wheeler, Little Old Fighting Joe" as
he was affectionately called. He re-
sponded as follows:
1T is impossible for me to find words
| to express my appreciation Of the honor
and pleasure accorded to me by the
| invitation of His Excelency. the Presi-
| dent. to visit with him and his Cabinet
the city of Macon. | am glad for your
citizens that the President has come
among YOU and looked at You face to
face. / am glad that he has come among
you to learn for himself the spirit OF
our people and the wonderful resources
of our land which viii eventually make
us the richest and most prosperous
country upon the face of the earth. |
am glad he brought with him his Cabi-
+ net. among them the Secretary of
( War and the Secretary Nof the
Navy, his special advisers during this
conflict, when he. as commander in
chief Of the army and navy, conducted
for the first time in fifty years war
against a foreign foe. | am glad he
brought with him the distinguished gen
tIeman-General Shafter. who com
manded the American forces in their
successful and great campaign in Cuba
(great applause:) that superb soldier,
General LaWton Qoud applause) who
commanded the forces at the battle Of
El Caney (applause9 / am glad they
have all come and / am more than
glad TO see the demonstrations which
the President has witnessed during all
his tour
Il would love, az yen know / would
To talk 10 you, TO talk TO all of my old
friends, TO talk with those with whom
/ stood side by side But i must give
way and bid you adieu and thank you
for your kind demonstrations TO me and
allow you TO see the distinguished men
the President has brought with him.
loud and long continued applause"
General Shafter was next called for
and spoke as follows.
Il thank you for this enthusiastic re-
ception. | am not deserving Of the ap-
plause you give me. There were 10000
men in front Of Santiago every one Of
whom was as much Ii hero as his Gen
eral. (Applause.1 All risxed their lives
for their country and without the hope
Of reward, some of those higher i'm COM
manding might expect
with such an army and with such
supporters as General Wheeler. General
Lawton, General Bates and in fact all
the general officers Of my command, the
matter of the capture Of Santiago was
only Il question of time, and it was GER
tain that the time was not long.
"The enthusiasm with which the re-
turning army of the United States has
been receuived throughout the length
and breadth of this country is an indi-
cation of how willingly and how gladly
the people recognize public service.
Great applause.)"
General Lawton would not speak, but
appeared on the stand and bowed. The
crowd was much disappointed.
General Bates said a dozen or two
words and then General Wilson took the
stand He made the speech of the oc
cason. He said:
Fellow Citizens: 1t is with infinite
pleasure that ] address myself in words
of peace to IA Macon audience (cheers).
Thirty odd years ago | came into this
town with 10000 cavalry laundering at
my heels daughter and shouts.) ! was
met with the roaring of cannons and
the firing of musketry (cheers.) | was
greeted by the bursting of warehouses
and destruction Of property which | now
profoundly regret (cheers). The well
come that was extended to me then was
of the silent quality Qaughter.) An IL
lustrious citizen, then your chief magis-
trate. the Honorable Joseph Il. Brown,
after few hours interview, speaking
of me, then said to another gathering
of illustrious citizens mt the head of
which was Howell Cobb:
He is clever young man, but,
gentlemen, he takes the military view
Of the situation 0aughter.)
THAT was a fact then, but now /
come among you and | receive Il differ
ent welcome. | was then victor, to-
day | am Il captive. (Cheers) | must
say | am willing captive of your city.
The fair women and the brave and ex-
cellent gentlemen of your town have
by their open and generous hospitality
imprisoned me deep down in their
hearts. and | would be recreant to every
feeling of my own, if | desired release
from such pleasing bondage. Now just
one word more:
''fhe President has come among YOU.
your President and my President, and
he comes as the eXamplar and the head
of the great American nation. Great
chcers.) He has done more for it than
any President since the days of Wash
ington, for he has added vastly to its
extent and striven TO. make it a con
tinental republic as the fathers designed
it to be. (Cheers.) He has extended its
borders to such distance that the sun
rises upon it III the East before it sets
upon it i'll the West (Cheers.) Twelve
81 IL.