The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
TO UNITE ALL THE PEOPLE.
THAT WAS THE OBJECT OF THE
PRESIDENTS SOUTHERN TRIP.

tory as the President who Wiped
Out the Last VeStIges of Sectional
ism Than as the Great Expansion
INTERPRETATIONS Left by the Visit
Here-HOw the Party Kept in Con-
slant Communication With the
Capital.
There was a general air of satisfaction
yesterday among the members of the sew
eral committees entrusted with the man.
agement Of the programme for the visit
of the Presidential party. 1t was ac-
| knowledged on all sides that the pro-
CRANE had been carried through without
a single marring hitch. Congratulations
We're showered upon the committeeman by
those who were aware of the great amount
of work required to perfect the programme
and carry it through so successfully.
The Presidents visit and his speech
made a strong impression on Savannah
ians, and especially on the business men.
Many who were half inclined to be ex-
pansionists became firmly such after the
| President had spoken. There have been
a number of business men who have been
outspoken expansionists since the war be-
! gan AlGiE uuillDtT mas uOuDlltSS DtGn
added to by the Presidents visit.
There has been considerable discussion
as TO whether the President had any espe-
cial object in selecting the South as the
place for the utterance of views which al
lowed the world to see the position of the
! administration in reference to the Philip
pine Islands. A gentleman who spent
| considerable time with the Presidential
party said last night that the President
desired to pay what honor he could to the
South
Il was convinced from the statements
made to me by those close to the Presi-
| dent" he said, ''that he is actuated by
| sincere belief that there is no longer
| sectional line in this country; that the
| war with Spain has demonstrated a COM
mon patriotism, and that the time has
| come for the burying of all issues based
on sectional feeling. The President, I was
| told, was possessed with the idea that the
grand opportunity had come to show 10
the South and to the country at large,
what was already appreciated by many
| throughout the country, that the country
is one: that the war has demonstrated the
| fact that there is a passionate love of
common country and flag that knows no
sectionalism and that that fact must be
publicly recognized and its influences be
allowed to be felt. To seize this opportuni-
~ to bring all the people of the United
States closer together, TO lead in the grand
reunion of the country, the President con-
siders as the greatest ambition that could
possess him. He was DESTROYS that the
Southern people should know that he APP
preciated their love of country and flag,
and applauded their valor. He would
rather go down into history as a Presi-
dent who wiped out the last vestige of sec
tionalism than as the President who
broadened the territory of the country
That is the true secret of the matter.
The trip was actuated by sentiment. The
President returns to Washington inspired
still more with the hope that his noble
aspira tons on this line will be successful
and that there will be no more North or
South i'm political sense His trip, it is
thought, will have a beneficial effect on
national politics in this way. 1t is the
burial forever of the bloody shirt" and
the beginning of a better feeling between
the two sections. That is all the Presi-
dent hoped for
The decora tions which adorned a num-
Der of buildings were largely removed
yesterday morning Among the first TO be
disrobed was the Board of Trade build
ing or rather the Penn Mutual Life Insur-
ance Company's building. The Penn Mu-
tual decorated this large building prettily
When the time for decorating came Capt.
Purse, as president Of the Board of Trade,
telegraphed the company that the pres-
dental party would visit Savannah and re-
qucstins that the big building be decor
ated The company promptly wired back
TO have the building decorated. In the alb
sence of Mr. Julian Schfey there was no
one feeling authorized TO expend much
money on the building Capt. Purse tele-
graphed again, asking that a certain
amount be directed spent Back came IA
MESA sc which said:
I'VE have read the Presidents address
at Atlanta. Approve every word of it and
cannot say no. Have wired as requested -
The decorations of the building were at.
tractive and showed off to much advant-
age.
Many compliments continue to be paid
the decorations which rendered the De
Soto's dining room so attractive and which
also beautihed the exterior of the house
the corridors, etc. This work was done by
Savannahian Mr.. Adolph Goss. The
floral decorations were by Mr.. Carl DEL
schig.
The telegraph arrangements for the oc-
casion proved perfect In ALL outside of
The dispatches from the regular local cor
respondents and the Associated Press re-
ports there were fully 10000 words of
special correspondence telegraphed out on
Saturday and Sunday nights by the rep
resentatives of papers accompanying the
President. There was also considerable
private telegraphing done by the Presi-
dent and members of the cabinet with
Washington. The Western Union placed
an office, with a skilled telegrapher, in the
private reception room of the President
| which put him in direct communication
with the White House. Not for a minute
while away was the presidential party out
of touch with the capital. On his special
train were two expert telegraphers and
electricians, and in addition, a Hneman
always accompanied the train, a new line
man covering each telegraph district The
train could stop anywhere in the woods
and soon be in communication with Wash
ington.
A large batch of the Presidents mali
reached him here and was quickly gone
over, The most important matters being
given prompt attention. The management
throughout the trip seems to have been
| In, nd