The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
WORE A CONFEDERATE BADGE.
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY DECORATED
BY A MACON VETERAN.


peared-AppIause for Wheeler.
Review of the TrOOps-Speeches
From the Reviewing Stand.
Macon, Ca, Dec. 19.-The President and
his party reached Macon promptly on time,
and were received by the largest crowd
which has gathered in Macon since the
last visit of Jefferson Davis to the city.
At the station was a reception commit
tee consisting of a number of the most
prominent citizens of the town, including
United States Judge Emory Speer, Maj.
]. F. Hanson, who is spoken of as a sue
cessor TO Secretary of the Interior Bliss;
United States Senator A. o. Bacon and
Representative Charles L. Bartlett of this
congressional district.
Drawn up in line in front of the station
was the Bibb County Camp of the Con-
federate Survivors Association, 400 strong,
headed by Commander C. NJ. Wiley As
the President reached the old ex-Confed-
crates, he was halted by Col. Wiley vino
addressed him as follows:
"Mr. President: AS commander of the
Bbb County Veterans Association, and
Bibb County Camp No. 4S4, we extend TO
you and your party a most generous,
hearty and sincere welcome to our beloved
city. You, sir, have endeared yourself to
the hearts of all Confederate soldiers on
account of the noble sentiments expressed
by you in regard TO our Confederate dead.
assure you that these Old manned and
infirm veterans, who have met here to do
you honor to-day, appreciate such words
of love and kindness, and uttered, too, by
the President of this great country, and
by one who was a member of the Union
army in the sixties.
south Proved Her Loyalty.
Il hope and pray, Mr.. President, that
God, in His infinite mercy, may so direct
the future legislation of this country that
the living Confederates will be remem-
bered. This country and the Stars and
Stripes belong much to the Confederate
veterans as they do to the Grand Army of
the Republic The South proved her 10y
atty 10 this grand old country when war
was declared with Spain, and, now hence
forth and forever, she will be found ready
to take up arms 10 defend our country and
our flag.
mir. President, in behalf of these noble
and brave Confederate soldiers of Bibb
county, Georgia 1 present to you this
parchment, engrossed thereon In letters of
gold the beautiful sentiment expressed by
you in our capital city in regard to our
hOnored dead
As the President was about to proceed
DR.. Roland b. Hall. another veteran, ad-
dressed him as follows:
Put on "a Confederate Badge.
"Mr. President: In behalf of our noble
dead and as Confederate veterans We are
here to manifest our appreciation of the
noble and generous sentiment you have
recently uttered. Do us the honor sir, to
accept and wear this badge of a Confed-
crate Veterans camp. which bears your
likeness and words, which should endear
you to the heart of every Confederate"
'T do not know that it will be proper"
said the President
But you must" said DR.. Hal, and with
out further ceremony the President march
ed ahead with Judge Speer. The sight
of the Confederate badge on the Presi-
dents coat as he passed through the lines
of veterans called forth voeiferous cheer
ing, and as long as the President was in
sight they cheered him.
The President wore the badge during his
stay in Macon. One of Gen. Wheeler's Old
cavalrymen also pinned a badge to the
lapel of his major generals coat, and the
doughty little warrior proudly wore it
away with him when he left the city.
The presidential party was driven in car
riages to the stand where he was 20 re-
View the troops of Gen. Bates division of
Gen. Wilson army corps.
Saluted With Flags.
As his carriage passed the Confederate
monument an old Confederate veteran
trantically waved Confederate flag, while
by his side was the son of the colonel
Of one of Georgia's hardest-ighting Con-
federate regiments, who was as vigorous
~ waving the Stars and Stripes When
the President was abreast of them the
two flags were brought % a salute side
by side. The incident seemed to appeal to
the President. Emblazoned on the base
OF the monument were the words of the
President a the graves of the Confederate
dead.
The streets were packed all along the
lines of march, and Mr.. Mckinley and
the other celebrities were vigorously
cheered
The following troops marched past the
reviewing stand: Seconds Brigade, First
Division, First Army Corps. Gen. W. w.
Gordon commanding; Third United States
Volunteer Engineers, Second Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry
Third Brigade, First Division, First
CNipHf zen. W. =. AcfNce commanding
Seventh and Tenth United States Volun-
teer Infantry. Third North Carolina and
Sixth Virginia
The Seventh Regular Cavalry followed.
Inc troops made a fine appearance.
The Presidents speech.
After the review great crowd gathered
about the stand. though a steady. soaking
rain was falling. Judge Emory Speer in
troduced the President
Among other things President Mckinley
said:
'On the cath Of this month, the day be-
lore Christmas, our peace commissioner
VIII deliver to the President Of the United
States treaty Of peace, peace with honor
peace with the blessings Of liberty tc
struggling peoples East and West
II congratulate my country upon an
other fact; We have not only triumphed
over our enemy. but we have trumphcd
over our own prejudice and we are now q
united country prolonged applause and
choors)"
Loud Calls for "Fightlng Joe"