Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-21
down THE VALLEY.
Presidents Return Along the
Famous Shenandoah
ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTIONS,
Mr.. Mckinley Warmly Welcomed ~
People Of Various Towns.
nArTLE-FIELD FONTS REcALLEDs
CHIEF Executive Lives Over AgasH
tho Part lie Took in Several Cons
texts-He is Heartily Greeted by
Confederate Veterans
nArrLE-rIELD POINTS REcALLED.
Chief Executive Lives Over Agasx
Confederate Veterans

| IIeSluCnlS Train WAS received ohtHoAioS~
ticaly during its run through the Shcas
andoah Valley. Stanton was reached as
an early hour, and there tho train was
side-tracked until o'clock this morning,
All along the road expectant Virginians
| had gathered. At this point large crowd
| had collected, and the town was gayly
decorated with flags, while pictures Of
the President were generally displayed.
| 4 committee invited Mr.. Mckinley 90 ado
! dress the assembled crowd. and preceded
| by a band the President was escorted tG
| the Public Square, where some intro~
| ductory remarks were made by Colonel
| ROhrer, OF the Citizens Committee. Ha
said:
| INTRODUCTION OF PRESIDENT.
my Fellow-CitiZens of Rockinghany
| County,-The great honor has been as
signed to me OF introducing TO YOU, az
! President of these United States Of Amer
lea, one whom we can call. for the first
| time in forty years the President OF
| united country. There Is no North. No
South no East, no West, but one country
at last. and forever. We welcome you.
our chieftain and our pilot, not just al
the patriots of the oden times Gid Gun
chief. George Washington, as first in
war; but as last for war and first I'm
| Ifdtf nave my ltI'W-NANiNNn'f NsN'
| satisfaction Of introducing 10 YOU the
| Hon. William Mckinley, the President %
| the United States the grandest country
| on the face OF this globe"
| The President replied as follows:
PRESIDENTS RESPONSE
| "Fellow-Citizens,- beg TO acknowledge
| the very warm and generous welcome
| which has been extended on your behalf
| by Colonel Rohrer 1 assure you that
| A., al bes N, az cd CnUrtaE1
and pleasure, and all the more appreeis
ated for. in passing so rapidly through
4 your valley, i had no thought that I
wou be thus greeted 9y. the people al
! Rock ~ ham county. | am glad, my felt
lowe! items, TO look upon your beautirut
valley once more, one of the richest ana
most attractive in our great country. IL
is rich heritage you possess and enjoy.
I heartily join with your speaker In con.
| CALCULATIONS upon reunited country Wa
! are now happily one i'm purpose and ono
| in patriotism. / congratulate you upon
the evidences of prosperity that | see ac
every hand. 1t Is a common prosperity,
participated in by both the North and
| the South II now rests upon US and
| those who follow US to see TO II that this
| union of States, established by the IA
| theirs, representing liberty and justice.
representing the highest opportunities
and blessings. shall not perish from tho
| earth. | thank you and bid you good-by.'
| loud and prolonged applause)
HUGE CAKE PRESENTED.
| WOODSTOCK, VA, May 20.-Though no
| stop was intended until Fishers Hill was
reached, the people at many stations were
! given an opportunity to greet the Presi-
/ dent and as many hands were shaken as
could be reached from the platform on
! the end Of the train. At Newmarket.
! Broadway. and Mount Jackson the sta
| lions were crowded with people, many
waving American flags. Al the last point
a huge cake was handed the President.
! with the following note attached:
The ladies and gentlemen OF Mount
] Jackson gave burlesque on the old-time
| colored cake-walk last night for the ben
! eft Of the Methodist church. and they
| desire the cake to 20 to the white House.
! and herewith present the same 10 tha
| President and Mrs. Mckinley"
CONFEDERATE GREETINGS.
! STRASBURG JUNCTION, VA, May
! 2O.-One Of the most conspicuous features
! Of each stop WIS the eyer-present Con-
| foderatc veterans, who pressed forward
! 10 grasp Mr.. Mckinlcy's hand. At Wood
| stock. General James ii. Williams.
! cray-haired soldier, who commanded u
| Confederate battery at Kernstown, push
J cd 10 the steps OF the car, and taking
| the President by the hand, said: we OK
| Woodstock are all here TO greet you, and
10 welcome you, irrespective OF race.
color. or previous condition Of seryitude.
! / want to tell you. Mr. President. thar
! this is the town from which the cele-
| brated Muhlenberg Dutch Regiment went
! 10 the Revolutionary war, and there are
still some Of their descendants here, and
they are all still lcyal. / was one OF
| those who shot az you. am glad miss--
| ed YOU, and now | am glad 70 shake youc
hand"
This sally was greeted with shouts OF
go are we" from many In the crowd.
with appreciation OF the humor and
patriotism in these remarks. the Presi-
dent replied: But | am glad We are all
together now"
BATTLE-FIELDS RECOGNIZED.
WINCHESTER. VA, May Gas tho
train passed through the historic battle
grounds Of the Shenandoah Valley tho
ride became OF increasing interest 60 tho
President Fishers Hill and Cedar
creek were passed, and Mr.. Mckinley
recalled with great detail the various
points and positions OF the coptcnGias
armies
At Winchester n protracted stop was
made. The presidential party drove
through the town. and stopped at the
present Masonic Hall. about block be-
yOnd the humble house now oScuyieu
as u barher-shlJ. In which the Pr"sidene
was initiated into the Masonic order.
| The many historic dwellings, were point
ed out. including the headquarters of
General washington during the Reyola-
tlouary war. and Of General sheridan &C
the time Of his raid Through this valley.
| rho reception here was most entkusi-
astic. crowds cheering and waving hats.
and running along the street beside tho