The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-23

OF President Mckinley Through the
Valley Of vfrgfnia-His Speech az
Harrisburg.

Harrisburg.
Harrisburg. Pa, May 20.-The presi-
dents train was received enthusiast
cally during its run through the Snen-
andoah valley. Staunton was reached
at an early hour and there the train
vas sidetracked until s O'Clock this
morning. All along the road expectant
Virginians a gathered. AT this point
a large crowd had collected and the
town was gaily decorated with flags.
while pictures OF the president were
generally displayed. \ committee in
vited Mr.. Mckinley 10 address the as
semhled crowd, and. preceded by a
band, the president was escorted TO the
public square, where some Introductory
remarks were made by Colonel Rohrer.
Of the citizens committee.
He said: My Fellow Citizens OF
Rockingham County: The great honor
has been assigned TO me OF introducing
to you. as president OF these United
States of America. one whom We can
call, for the first time in 1orty years,
the president of a united country. There
- iAo " a. 49, 11AAAs AZ 49, - "N~Nt
but one. AT last and forever we wei
come You, our chieftain and our pilot,
not just as the patriots OF the olden
times did our George Washington, as
first in war. u as las for war and
first in peace. l have, my fellow citi-
zens. the satisfaction OF introducing To
you the honorable William Mckinley.
the president OF the United States, the
grandest country on the face OF this
globe"
The president replied as follows:
Fellow Citizens: l beg TO acknowledge
the very warm and generous welcome
which has been extended on your be-
half by Colonel Rohrer. l assure you
that this is altogether an unexpected
courtesy and pleasure n all the more
appreciated, for, in passing so rapidly
through your valley, l had no thought
hat / Of be thus greeted by the
people of Rockingham county. l am
glad, my fellow citizens, to look upo
| your beautiful valley once more, one OF
the richest and most attractive in our
great country. 1t is a rich heritage
you possess and enjoy. l heartily join
with your speaker in congratulations
| upon a reunited country. We are now
| happily one in purpose and n in pa
triotism. l congratulate o upon the
evidences of prosperity, participated in
by both the north and the south. 1t
now rests upon us and those who follow
us TO see to it that this union of states
established by the fathers, representing
liberty and justice, representing the
highest opportunities and blessings.
; shall not perish from the earth. I
thank you, and bid you goodbye"
cloud and prolonged ~applause.)
! Woodstock, Va, May 20.-Though no
stop was intended until Fishers Hill
was reached, the people at many sta
tons were given an opportunity II
! greet the president, and as many hands
were shaken as could be reached from
the platform On the end of the rain. All
New Market, Broadway and Mount
Jackson, the stations were crowded
with people, many waving the Ameri-
can flag At the last point a huge cake
was handed the president with the fol
lowing note attached: THE ladies and
gentlemen of Mount Jackson gave a
burlesque on the old time colored cake
walk last night for the benefit of the
Methodist church n they desire the
cake to go to the White house and here
with present the same ITO the president
and Mrs. Mckinley.
Winchester, Va, May 20.-As the
train passed through the historic bSs-
! tlegrounds of the Shenandoah valley
the ride became Of increasing interest
to the president. Fishers Hill and Ce.
dar Creek were passed and Mr.. Nc.
kinley recalled with great detail the
various points and positions of the con.
tending armies.
At Winchester a protracted stop wa:
made. The presidential party drove
through the town and stopped at tn,
present Masonic hall, about a block be
yOnd the humble house now occupied
as a barber shop, in which the presi
dent was initiated into the Masonic or
] 6n~ Tho n oru historic 6y-alinn1 xr-nr
pointed out, including the ~headquartert
of General Washington during the rev
dictionary war and General Sheridan
at the time of his raid through the val
ley. The reception here was most en-
thusiastic, crowds cheering and wavin,
hats. running along the street besid
the presidents carriage.
. Strasburg Junction, Va, May 90
One of the most conspicuous feature
of each stop was the ever-presen
confederate veteran who pressed for
ward to grasp Mr.. McKinley's hand
AT Woodstock, General James H. VIII
liams, a grey haired soldier who com
manded a confederate battery a
Kernston, pushed to the steps of tn
car, and, taking the president by tn
hand, said: I'VE, of Woodstock. ar
all here to greet you and to welcom
you irrespective OF race, color or pre-
Ivious condition of servitude. 1 wan
70 tell you, MT. PRESIDENT, that this
the town from which the celebrate
Muhlenberg Dutch regiment went (
the revolutionary war, and there ar
still some of their descendants here
!, and they are all still loyal. I was or
of those who shot at you'll am glad
missed you, and o / am glad [
shake your hand"
This sally was greeted with shou;
} Of so are WEI from many in til
crowd.
= With appreciation Of the humor an
patriotism in these remarks the pres
| ident replied: But 1 am glad We a,
all together now